Agenda item

LEADER OF THE COUNCIL’S ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18

Minutes:

The Leader presented his Annual Report 2017-2018, copies of which were made available at the meeting, which looked back upon the achievements of the Council over the past 12 months. 

 

This was the Leader’s third Annual Report but his first since the 2017 elections which had seen a change in the balance of power within the council. He reflected upon the fact that this time last year he had welcomed 29 new faces to the benches of the council chamber which represented over a third of the total number of councillors. Whilst, over the last year there had been many training sessions and induction seminars, it was hoped that the new members had a much better understanding of the ways of local government and were better equipped to take crucial decisions over the remaining four years of this council. He expressed the hope that this council would have a lifespan beyond the four years left of this current term.

 

Referring to the recurring theme of austerity the Leader commented that financial efficiencies had been sought in every aspect of the council’s work and he was full of admiration for the staff of the council for coming up with a whole host of innovative money saving ideas. However, services had been pared to the bone and it was now becoming virtually impossible to continue protecting front line services. It was hoped that the impending retirement of the First Minister would lead to a change in emphasis and that local government would be protected from further cuts. Nevertheless although it had been a difficult time much had happened in Carmarthenshire over the last 12 months that made it possible to feel very positive about the future.

 

The Leader referred to the aims of the TIC Programme to think differently, behave differently and through that also act differently. To date it had helped to identify and achieve some £12m worth of savings in terms of actual money and saving costs. Many improvements were happening across the Authority in parallel with the TIC Programme and last year, with a desire to acknowledge and reward that, the TIC Awards ceremony had been launched July. Five inspired projects had been placed on the shortlist and the overall winner had been the Housing Options Team for the way in which it had improved its systems for giving a wide range of advice to the people who need housing. TIC had also supported a key corporate initiative for digital transformation encompassing the ‘changing channel’ programmes in order to expand the way in which residents could interact with services by creating an account and managing services online. A key initiative with regard to flexible working had also been launched that would make better use of the authority’s offices and technology allowing staff more flexibility in working and providing services. To help schools to make savings in order to safeguard the attainment of pupils and education a specific TIC post for schools had been created and a programme of work was being put in place which identified the possible savings that schools could, and were, making. TIC had consulted with all staff and elected members to identify time wasting and some 17 improvement areas had been identified which were being worked through at present.      

 

The Leader reminded Council that this time last year the Prime Minister had signed the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal. The Deal, thanks to a combination of funds from the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the public sector and the private sector, would boost the regional economy by £1.8bn and create up to 10,000 high-quality jobs over the next 15 years. Over the last 12 months, considerable progress had been made behind the scenes. This included the £200m Life Science and Well-being Village set for Delta Lakes in Llanelli, and the ‘Yr Egin’ creative digital cluster development at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s campus in Carmarthen. The Executive Board was determined to ensure that Carmarthenshire took full advantage of the opportunities that would be created through the Swansea Bay City Deal.

 

The Executive Board had, in its 5 Year Plan outlined almost 100 priority projects, schemes or services which it hoped to deliver over the next five years. The Plan, launched in January, identified key areas of investment and improvement that would be driven forward during the remaining term of this council, in addition to running the council’s day to day services. They included – in terms of the environment – plans to establish Carmarthenshire as the Cycling Capital of Wales, improving road infrastructure and public transport, reducing the council’s carbon footprint, supporting sustainable farming initiatives and improving the county’s recycling rates. In education, there were plans to deliver a further £129 million Modernising Education Programme investment, make best use of school facilities to support community activities, engage with more young people and move schools along the Welsh language continuum. In social care and housing, the Board intended to develop a homelessness strategy, meet its commitment to developing 1,000 affordable homes with emphasis on bringing empty properties back into use and build new, strengthening Welsh language provision within social care settings, provide more support for carers and reduce loneliness and isolation in vulnerable and older people. Planned investment in the county’s leisure provision included development of new and existing facilities, including leisure centres, Burry Port Harbour and Pembrey Country Park. The regeneration of Carmarthenshire was a key feature. Transformation strategies were focusing on improving Llanelli, Ammanford and Carmarthen town centres, the county’s coastline, key growth zones such as Cross Hands and importantly, the regeneration of rural areas. Although local government was facing an uncertain time due to severe cuts in public spending, the council continued to provide hundreds of services, on a day to day basis, to residents and visitors to Carmarthenshire.

 

The Executive Board, had identified a number of key projects and programmes that it would seek to achieve over the next four years. By delivering these projects and programmes the Board believed it could contribute towards making Carmarthenshire the best place to live, work and visit. The ambitious plan sought to continuously improve economic, environmental, social and cultural wellbeing in the county to ensure that residents, communities, organisations and businesses were supported and enabled to develop and thrive for the benefit of our county. Detailed reports and recommendations on specific projects and programmes would be presented through the council’s democratic processes over the course of the next four years. The Leader commented that he was fortunate to have an extremely capable and talented group of people who made up the Executive Board who all brought their individual strengths to the table but were at their best when they worked collectively. He paid tribute to the Authority’s staff led by the Chief Executive, Mark James CBE. In his closing remarks he paid tribute to the hard work and endeavour of the thousands of people employed by the Authority. He had made an effort to meet as many of members of staff as possible over the last 12 months and had been overwhelmed by their sheer enthusiasm and commitment to make Carmarthenshire the best county in Wales and thanked them all.

 

The Leader of the Labour Group thanked the Leader of the Council for his report. He congratulated the Council on what had been accomplished and referred to the contribution of the previous administration in those achievements.

 

Councillor Jane Tremlett, speaking on behalf of the Independent Group, stated that the Leader’s report encapsulated all the excellent work being undertaken by the Authority.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Leader’s Annual report, as circulated at the meeting, be noted.

 

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