Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor W.R.A. Davies.

No public questions had been received.

The Executive Board Member – Resources presented the Authority’s Corporate Budget Monitoring Report and the Chief Executive’s and Corporate Services departmental reports as at 28^th February 2021 in respect of the 2020/21 financial year. The report also included an appendix detailing Savings Monitoring 2020-21.

Amongst the issues raised on the report were the following:

·       Reference was made to the fact that due to the increase in the number of calls received as a result of the covid pandemic additional call-centre staff had been appointed to help reduce caller waiting times;

·       The Committee was advised that identified corporate risks would have first call on any available underspend. Members were also reminded that whilst the Authority had set aside a modest reserve for Brexit contingencies there had as yet been no call on that budget;

·       It was clarified that the reference to repair costs to ‘new’ properties related to the fact that these properties were not newly built but rather properties which could be a few years old but ‘newly’ acquired by the Authority;

·       Tribute was paid to all staff who had gone above and beyond their normal duties during the current pandemic;

·       With regard to the forecasted expenditure of £700k for the renewal of the core HR/Payroll system the Committee was advised that the existing infrastructure was nearing the end of its life and revenue funding therefore needed to be provided for a new system  over a number of years;

·       In response to a query regarding delays in carrying out Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) works members were advised that during the current pandemic this was, in some circumstances, at the request of the grant recipient for safety reasons.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to receive the report.

The Committee considered the proposed Council CCTV Policy which would ensure effective governance arrangements were in place with regard to the Council’s use and management of its public space CCTV camera systems in compliance with the Protection of Freedoms Act (POFA) 2012. It was also important to embed a consistent approach across the Council in relation to all aspects of its CCTV systems.

It was noted that when and where appropriate there was close collaboration between the Council and Police with regard to making available information and data from CCTV.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the proposed CCTV Policy be endorsed.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Mr. Barry Liles, Principal of Coleg Sir Gar and Chairman of the Public Services Board [PSB], who presented the Carmarthenshire Public Services Board Well-Being Plan Annual Report 2020-21. This was the third Carmarthenshire Well-being Plan annual report and it covered progress for the period 2020-21 after the Plan had been published in May 2018.

While it was recognised that due to the pandemic less activity had been possible in the last year significant progress had been made in a number of areas. Furthermore, all important relationships built up through the work of the PSB had contributed greatly at a time where multi-agency working and response had been essential. The Board had reviewed its priorities to consider opportunities arising from the lessons learnt from organisations’ experiences of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and the enhanced collaborative working that had developed as a result. The report provided information on:

·       PSB structure

·       Regional working

·       Five ways of working

·       Delivery Group progress reports

·       Safer Communities Partnership

·       Development areas.

Mr. Liles commented on the need for the PSB to raise awareness of its activity and functions with the public and local communities.  

In response to a concern regarding response times on the non-emergency 101 phone number the Leader commented that he would raise the matter at a forthcoming meeting with the Police Commissioner.

Whereupon the Chair thanked Mr. Liles for attending.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Carmarthenshire Public Services Board Well-Being Plan Annual Report 2020-21 be received.

The Executive Board Member for Resources presented the minutes of the meetings of the Carmarthenshire Public Services Board [PSB] held on the 15^th Decemer 2020, 2^nd February 2021 and 23^rd March 2021. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 required that a designated local government scrutiny committee was appointed to scrutinise the work of the PSB. In Carmarthenshire, the Council’s Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee had been designated as the relevant scrutiny committee.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the PSB meetings held on the 15^th Decemer 2020, 2^nd February 2021 and 23^rd March 2021 be received.

The Committee considered the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for the 2020/21 municipal year which provided an overview of the work of the Committee including:-

·       Overview of the Scrutiny Work Programmes

·       Key issues considered

·       Issues referred to or from Executive Board/Other Scrutiny Committees

·       Member attendance at meetings

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to endorse the report.

The Committee received the Non-Submission report.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Committee was informed that the Digital Schools Strategy Annual Report 2021 would now be presented at the meeting scheduled for 20^th October 2021.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, subject to the above, that the list of forthcoming items to be considered at the next scheduled meeting to be held on the 21^st July 2021 be received.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on the 30^th April 2021 be signed as a correct record.