Agenda item

[Note: Councillors M. Palfreman, H.B. Shepardson, K. Madge, B.A.L. Roberts, P.T. Warlow and S. Godfrey-Coles had earlier declared an interest in this item and remained in the meeting during the deliberation and voting thereof]

In reference to Minute 6, of the Cabinet Meeting held on the 19^th June, 2023 regarding the Health & Care System For West Wales : How Far, How Fast? the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Services was asked if she could provide assurance of her confidence of the plan being delivered in Carmarthenshire, given the significant risks identified in the report including workforce availability across the system, a lack of available, robust evidence of formal integration across Wales and the need for radical rethinking of governance and management control the system to make a transformation of this kind work.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Services stated that the workforce challenges were recognised and were at the forefront of Hywel Dda Health Board and the County Council as an ongoing priority.  The Health & Social Care Scrutiny had also received and endorsed the report. She advised that integration work in Carmarthenshire had started several years ago, and the relationship of trust has developed with partners and that work would continue at pace.

In reference to Minute 9, regarding the Burry Port Harbour petition to Full Council update position it was asked why there were no mention in the minutes of Burry Port Marina Ltd going into administration on the 7^th June. Clarification was also requested on the current position regarding the future of Burry Port Harbour. 

In response the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism confirmed that he had provided a comprehensive update at the meeting and that while the minutes were correct, they were not a verbatim record of discussions. He stated that it was on public record that it was announced that the company in question had been placed into administration. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism further advised that the current position remains and that senior officers had met and continued to be in regular dialogue with the administrators while the formal administration process ran its course.  Due to the legal process it was advised that specific details could not be shared at this stage but that he hoped to achieve a position where the future of the harbour becomes clearer. Assurance was provided that all relevant stakeholders would be kept updated whenever possible during this process.

In response to clarification regarding Minute 5.1, Question by Mr Havard Hughes, the Leader advised that the project had been developed over a number of years and had been subject to a number of reports. He advised that the project was a massive opportunity in terms of generating tourism revenue and economic development.  He stated that the timescales attached to the funding of this project was challenging and that initiating the CPO process was a sensible approach otherwise there was a greater risk of the scheme not being delivered next year.

In reference to Minute 9, regarding the Burry Port Harbour petition to Full Council update position, it was asked if a meeting could be held with the administrators and other interested parties so that the administrators could be get an understanding of local perspective.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism advised that the administrators were now running the harbour and that as a major stakeholder the primary aim of the Council was to ensure that the harbour was safe to open and operate. While he could not comment on behalf of the administrators, he hoped that they would take into account all stakeholder views as part of the process. 

RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of Cabinet held on the 19th June, 2023 be received.