Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of personal interest.

RESOLVED that the decision record for the meeting held on the 14^th July 2022 be signed as a correct record.

FOLLOWING CONSIDERATION OF ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE AND FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TEST THE CABINET MEMBER MAY CONSIDER THAT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS THEY CONTAIN EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 14 OF PART 4 OF SCHEDULE 12A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) (WALES) ORDER 2007.

RESOLVED pursuant to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation)(Wales) Order 2007 that the following items were not for publication as the reports contained exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED pursuant to the Act referred to in minute 3 above not to publicise the content of the report as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) (Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act).

The public interest test in this matter related to the fact that the report contained information regarding individuals that were liable to pay council tax and maintaining the exemption under paragraph 14 of Schedule 12A of the 1972 Act outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information contained in the report as disclosure would have the potential to have a disproportionate effect upon the individuals concerned and was not necessary for any of the purposes specified in Schedule 2 of the Data Protection Act 2018.

The Cabinet Member considered a report detailing applications received for discretionary reduction of Council Tax, whereby either the claimant or partner were in receipt of a war pension.

It was noted that regulations had been introduced with effect from April 2004 giving local authorities discretionary powers to grant locally determined Council Tax discounts or reductions, over and above existing statutory reductions. 

The report set out cases whereby had Council adopted the Prescribed Scheme, the income received from these pensions would have been disregarded in full, resulting in a higher award of Council Tax Reduction.

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED pursuant to the Act referred to in minute 3 above not to publicise the content of the report as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) (Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act).

The public interest test in this matter related to the fact that the report included personal data relating to former council tenants, including details of their rent arrears and therefore disclosure of the information was considered to be an unwarranted and excessive intrusion into the private and family lives of the individuals concerned. 

The Cabinet Member considered a report prepared in accordance with the Council’s Procedure Rules, providing the current position on current and former tenant debt and seeking the write-off of those debts in excess of £1,500.

The Cabinet Member noted the cases outlined in the report and considered the individual reports for each of the current and former tenants detailing the reasons why write-off was being sought which included personal circumstances.

RESOLVED that the current and former tenant debt arrears detailed within the report be written-off as irrecoverable.

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED pursuant to the Act referred to in minute 3 above not to publicise the content of the report as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) (Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act).

The public interest test in this matter related to the fact the report contained information, the disclosure of which, would be likely to undermine the Council’s position in any subsequent negotiations. Accordingly, public in disclosure was outweighed by the public interest in maintaining confidentiality.

In accordance with the legal procedure set out within the report, the Cabinet Member considered proposals for the future tenancy for Danyrheol Farm, St Clears, Carmarthenshire, SA33 4NF.

RESOLVED thatthe Council enter into a new Farm Business Tenancy with to Mr Lyn Davies of Danyrheol Farm, St Clears, Carmarthenshire, SA33 4NF.