Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S. Matthews and G.B. Thomas.

There were no declarations of any prohibited party whips.

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

The Committee considered a report presented by the Executive Board Member for Housing and supported by the Executive Board Member for Communities and Rural Affairs, on the Council’s proposals for the Tyisha/Station Road Area of Llanelli. The report detailed the work undertaken to date, including the pending demolition of the vacant flats in the 4 “Ty’s”, together with outlining other key priorities for moving the programme of change forward. One of the proposal’s key objectives aimed to develop a transformational plan to address the significant issues affecting the Tyisha community and making the area a vibrant place to live and work.

The following issues were raised on the report:-

·       Reference was made to the social housing provision situated near to the level crossing on Station Road and to whether there were any plans for their demolition.

The Executive Board Member for Housing confirmed there were no such proposals at the present time, with the main emphasis being on the demolition and redevelopment of the “4 Ty’s” site, together with the redevelopment of the Llanelli Railway Station and the Copperworks site. The Head of Homes and Safer Communities, whilst confirming there were no such proposals, advised that nothing could be ruled out as part of the early marketing proposals. However, any future proposals would be subject to consultation with local residents.

·       With regard to a question on the historic problems of fly tipping within the area, the Committee was advised that was being addressed in a number of ways which were having a positive impact on the levels of fly tipping. Those included, for example, community wardens liaising with the police and other community groups, educating the public, placing skips in the area and advertising their use by residents together with the waste being collected twice a week. The Council was also working with local social landlords to encourage them to install larger waste bin facilities at their premises.

·       Reference was made to the former Copperworks School and to whether there were any firm proposals for its future role in the community as part of its regeneration, especially in light of its historic importance. The Committee was advised that although there no firm proposals at the current time, the community would be consulted on the site’s future.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

(NOTE: Councillor Ken Howell, having earlier declared an interest in this item left the meeting during its consideration)

The Committee considered a report, presented by the Executive Board Member for Housing, on Cartrefi Croeso, the Council’s Local Housing Company, established in 2018 to support the Council in delivering affordable homes for sale and rent thereby ensuring a range of options to help it deliver on its affordable homes commitment in meeting affordable housing needs and aspirations, supporting economic growth and strategic regeneration. The report detailed the progress achieved by Cartrefi Croeso to date, and addressed its future role in light of different circumstances that had arisen subsequent to its initial establishment. One such change related to the Welsh Government’s decision to lift HRA borrowing restrictions that had enabled the Council to become more ambitious and to build up the appropriate skills and capacity in the number of homes it could deliver.

The following issues were raised on the report:-

·       With regard to a question on any potential staffing implications of the proposal to make Cartrefi Croeso a dormant company, the Committee was advised that there would be none on the basis the Managing Director had recently retired and the other staff member involved worked as a part time company secretary for half day a month as part of their normal council duties

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

UNANAMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 1^st July, 2021 be signed as a correct record.