Agenda item

In accordance with the CPR 11.1, the Leader, in Councillor Deryk Cundy’s absence asked the following question on his behalf:-

“Firstly I would like to compliment the Carmarthenshire Rural Affairs Task Group on a remarkable and probably the most detailed report of its kind for Carmarthenshire.

There are a number of excellent recommendations and the complete 55 taken jointly are indeed breath-taking in their scope, breadth and aspirations.

My only concern is the current uncertainty regarding the take up of Universal Credit, PIP reviews and of course Brexit and the effect that these changes will have on the wider economy and focussed funding for the various projects.

We need to be prepared financially to cover the short to medium term (the Transition Period) and be careful how and in what priority we implement the recommendations. 

Without adequate funding many if not most of the projects cannot be delivered which would be a major setback.

It seems to me that it is essential that we put in place funding to replace those that we are about to lose including CAP, LEADER, Direct Payments and the Rural Enterprise Fund, that is without the constant reduction in Benefit Support over Universal Credit and PIP which is hitting the Rural Spend and will have a knock on effect on local retail in all its forms.

My question is:

In this way how and when would you best prioritise funding and actions – for example:

·         Recommendation 39 - Liaise with Welsh Government for replacement for CAP and the funding regarding Production and Nurture and the continuance of Direct Payments until the full effects of Brexit are understood,     

·         Recommendation 12 – Create Small holdings and expand it to include failing farms funded by ourselves,

·         Recommendation 34 regarding the local processing immediately to protect our Milk Production and Delivery,

·         Recommendation 47 - Renewable Energy Investment,

·         Recommendation 54 – ongoing discussions with all stakeholders

…as we need to take action now……”

The Leader informed the Executive Board that Councillor Cundy would be provided with a written response.

The Executive Board considered a report on the Carmarthenshire Rural Affairs Task Group which following a review on the key issues facing Carmarthenshire’s rural communities going forward had included a number of recommendations.

The cross-party Task Group, established in September 2017 was chaired by Cllr Cefin Campbell and consisted of three representatives from each political group.

The report detailed the following recommendations and reported on eleven areas of influence that the Council could affect in terms of the county’s rural communities as follows:

·         Economic development

·         Planning and housing

·         Education and skills

·         Broadband and digital skills

·         Tourism

·         Transport and highways

·         Agriculture and food

·         Community resilience, access to services and third sector

·         Renewable energy

·         Environment and waste

·         The Way Forward.

The report stated that evidence was provided by a number of organisations and individuals with regard to the above-mentioned areas of influence and that the Task Group had suggested 55 recommendations for implementation.

The Executive Board Member for Communities and Rural Affairs reported that once approved the Council would work to develop an action plan to ensure progress on each of the recommendations and would also be embedded into the business plans for the respective Council services to take forward. In addition, any recommendations that may require further investment, a feasibility would be established or any opportunities identified a further business case would be presented to Executive Board for consideration.

The report suggested that in order to support the Executive Board Member for Communities and Rural Affairs in taking forward these recommendations the Task Group would continue in an Advisory Panel capacity to monitor progress and review and respond to the possible implications of Brexit and any other emerging issues that could affect rural communities.

The Executive Board noted that 61% of the Carmarthenshire population lived in rural areas which was significantly higher than the percentage of all Wales residents deemed to live in rural areas, which was currently 33%.  The report set out a table which contained a list of 39 wards that were considered to be rural Carmarthenshire wards.

The Executive Board commended the Rural Affairs Task Group and Officers for their hard work in providing a comprehensive report.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that:

6.1      the Task Group’s final report and recommendations be approved;

6.2      that a Rural Affairs Advisory Panel to follow on from the work of the Task Group be established;

6.3      an action plan to ensure progress on all of the recommendations with progress to be monitored through the Advisory Panel be prepared.