Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of personal interest.  

RESOLVED that the decision record of the meeting held on the 11^th August 2023 be signed as a correct record.  

The Cabinet Member considered application received from Likeafish Swim School Ltd for assistance from the Shared Prosperity Fund Business Renewable Energy Fund.

It was reported that Likeafish Swim School Ltd was a swimming school based at Pensarn, Carmarthen who provided swimming lessons and other aquatic activities.

The report provided detailed information on the proposed project which involved the installation of a 60kw solar panel system with a 10kw battery storage support. It is anticipated that the project would reduce the businesses demand on the grid by as much as 60-70% and produce an annual output of around 48,000kWh.  Further benefits included an estimated saving of 30.57552 tonnes of carbon over the course of 3 years.

It was noted that as a condition, the grants legal charges would need to be registered on the lease for the building that was supported under the scheme. In addition, the terms and conditions and grants agreement for the Shared Prosperity Fund Business Renewable Energy fund had been approved by the legal department.

RESOLVED to approve the grant award of £25,000 towards an eligible project cost of £56,656.42 for the installation of 60k/w solar panel system and a 10kw battery storage support, subject to:

• Legal charge placed on lease,

• Landowner consent query being resolved.

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AND FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TEST THE CABINET MEMBER MAY CONSIDER THAT THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS IT CONTAINS EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 14 OF PART 4 OF SCHEDULE 12A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT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as amended by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007 that the following items were not for publication as the reports contained exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.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 no. 4 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 detailed information about the business and financial affairs and ambitions of the applicants. In this case, the public interest in maintaining transparency and accountability is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining confidentiality, as disclosure would be likely to place persons and businesses named in the report at an unfair disadvantage in relation to their commercial competitors.

The Cabinet Member considered project applications received from three businesses seeking assistance from the Shared Prosperity Fund – Business Renewable Energy Fund.

RESOLVED that the projects submitted to Shared Prosperity Fund – Business Renewable Energy Fund as detailed in the report be approved.

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED, pursuant to the Act referred to in minute no. 4 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 detailed information about the business and financial affairs and ambitions of the applicants. In this case, the public interest in maintaining transparency and accountability is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining confidentiality, as disclosure would be likely to place persons and businesses named in the report at an unfair disadvantage in relation to their commercial competitors.

The Cabinet Member considered project applications received from three businesses seeking assistance from the Shared Prosperity Fund – Business Renewable Energy Fund.

RESOLVED that the maximum grant available under the Carmarthenshire Rural Enterprise Fund (CREF) be increased from its current level of £100,000 to £200,000 per project / application whilst maintaining maximum grant of 45% of eligible project cost or £20,000 per job created whichever is the lesser figure.

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED, pursuant to the Act referred to in minute no. 4 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 detailed information about the business and financial affairs and ambitions of the applicants. In this case, the public interest in maintaining transparency and accountability is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining confidentiality, as disclosure would be likely to place persons and businesses named in the report at an unfair disadvantage in relation to their commercial competitors.

The Cabinet Member considered a report detailing information in regard to the project list for the Carmarthenshire Property Development Fund (PDF).

It was reported that following a recent review of projects that was approved in 2021, some had yet to submit detailed applications and subsequently a number of projects had withdrawn from the process.

RESOLVED that the reserve PDF project list for the additional monies that have become available for the funding be approved.