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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that: 6.1 6.2 6.3 the report be received. a progress report on the Better Broadband Infill Project be presented to Scrutiny, date to be confirmed a Member Development Session be arranged on AI
RESOLVED that : 7.1 the report be received. 7.2 a Member Development Session be arranged to view the Dashboard
RESOLVED that the minutes of the PSB meeting held on the 19th November, 2024 be received.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the PSB meeting held on the 21st January, 2025 be received.
RESOLVED that the report detailing progress in relation to actions, requests or referrals emerging from previous scrutiny meetings be noted.
RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items to be considered at the next scheduled meeting be received.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Jean Lewis.
Councillor Minute Number Nature of Interest A. Evans Item 4 – Revenue and Budget Monitoring Report 2024/25 Family member works in Democratic Services section R. James Item 4 – Revenue and Budget Monitoring Report 2024/25 Partner works for Llanelli library A. Evans Item 6 – 2024/25 Quarter 3 – Performance Report (01/04/24-31/12/24) Relevant to this Scrutiny Family member works in Democratic Services section There were no declarations of any prohibited party whips.
No public questions had been received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be received.
[Note: Councillor A. Evans having earlier declared an interest, re-iterated his declaration, remained for duration and voted. Councillor R. James, declared interest at start of item and remained for duration and voted.] The Cabinet Member for Resources presented the Authority’s Corporate Budget Monitoring Report and the Chief Executive’s and Corporate Services departmental reports as at 31st December 2024 in respect of the 2024/25 financial year. The report also included an appendix which detailed the revenue budget monitoring report as at 31st December 2024. Overall, the monitoring report forecasted an overspend for the year at departmental level of £16.9m including school budgets, with a forecast overspend on the Authority’s net revenue budget of £5.3m. The Committee were informed that a number of schools had received bespoke support and advice from the consultant headteacher seconded to lead this work and are in the process of implementing changes to bring down costs. Over half of the schools expect to end the year with positive balances to carry into next financial year, but the other half do not. The authority’s finances remain under sustained pressure with the main factors being: · a continued high level of demand and complexity within adult social care · Children’s Services · increased costs in transport due to increased supplier costs and operational increase this particular year because of the way the school year falls due to Easter. Amongst the issues and queries raised on the report were the following: · In response to a question on the possibility of either approaching government or claiming insurance to cover the financial costs for storm damage during storms Darragh and Burt, it was confirmed that the cost of the damage was below the level for government support and below the excess level for insurance claims, therefore both avenues were not available. · In response to a query regarding if the authority was reviewing its pricing structure, as there was a shortfall in building reg fee income due an increase in competitors, the Head of Financial Services confirmed that a response would be provided post-meeting. · Members were advised that the Committee would receive an intervention report, providing an update on governance and crucial data points for schools, at a future meeting. · In response to a query regarding the vacant post for environmental enforcement not being filled due to the recruitment freeze plus flexi retirement within the team, the Head of Financial Services confirmed that a response would be provided post-meeting. · The Committee was advised that the Council currently had a recruitment freeze but an exemption list would allow for any eventualities. · Members were informed that the TIC team were looking at how much was being spent on external officers and looking at new ways of working. · In response to a query regarding income efficiencies not being achieved, members were advised that there was strong governance in place and new ways of working would help with an introduction of AI to assist staff. · In response to a query regarding the 12 vacant positions within the revenue housing benefit department, members were advised that the posts had been transferred to other departments. · Members were informed that the overspend within the TIC team, was due to a member of staff joining from another department and the deficit was being resolved. · Members were informed that since the technological world was changing so quickly, there would be opportunities in the future for the application of AI in all services, to aid with efficiencies. The AI Strategy was to be presented to Cabinet in the near future. · It was noted that the Ty Elwyn works had come in under budget, which members praised. · In response to a query regarding why the duties of the Commercial Manager were being re-aligned within the TIC team, members were informed that this was due to staff within the team already having the expertise, therefore the new post would not be necessary. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be received.
The Committee considered the Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report 1st April 2024 to 31st December 2024 update. The Treasury report listed the treasury management activities which had occurred during the period 1st April, 2024 to 1st December, 2024 in line with the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy 2024 -2025 adopted by Council on 28th February, 2024. The Committee noted that the Authority had not breached any of its Prudential Indicators during the period. RESOLVED that the report be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 6.1 6.2 6.3 the report be received. a progress report on the Better Broadband Infill Project be presented to Scrutiny, date to be confirmed a Member Development Session be arranged on AI
[Note: Councillor A. Evans having earlier declared an interest, re-iterated his declaration and remained for duration and voted.] The Committee considered a report for monitoring purposes, on Quarter 3 -2024/25 of the Actions and Measures linked to the Authority’s Corporate Strategy and the Well-Being Objectives. Amongst the issues and queries raised on the report were the following: · In response to a query regarding the number of calls received within the contact centre, and whether Delta calls should be included in the figure, the Corporate Policy and Partnership Manager informed that a response would be provided post-meeting. · Members noted that collaboration was ongoing on the Better Broadband Infill Project. Officers are promoting options available to businesses in rural areas and a progress report would be provided at a future meeting. · It was noted that use of electronic signatures was being rolled out across the authority and this would be beneficial to all. · In response to a query regarding if there was to be an assessment on vehicles replacing the 4x3.5tonne diesel vehicles that were shown not suitable for requirements, the Head of Economic Development and Property informed that a response would be provided post-meeting. · In response to a query regarding apprentices and how many stay on with the authority, the Assistant Chief Executive informed that an update report would be provided to the Committee at a future meeting. · Members requested a development session on AI and the opportunities provided by the technology. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 6.1 6.2 6.3 the report be received. a progress report on the Better Broadband Infill Project be presented to Scrutiny, date to be confirmed a Member Development Session be arranged on AI
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that : 7.1 the report be received. 7.2 a Member Development Session be arranged to view the Dashboard
The Committee considered a report reviewing the Authority’s approach to transformation, ensuring that the programme is aligned with the aims and objectives of the new Corporate Strategy. The programme will provide the strategic framework to drive change and transformation across the organisation over the next 5 years. The development of the Workforce Strategy will enable the Council to become a more modern and responsive organisation and an “Employer of Choice”. The strategy focuses on delivering on the following 8 thematic priorities: · Efficiencies and Value for Money · Income and Commercialisation · Service Design & Improvement · Workforce · Workplace · Customers and Digital · Decarbonisation · Schools Amongst the issues raised on the report were the following: · In response to a question asking how effective the Dashboard was for schools, the Assistant Chief Executive suggested holding a development session for members to view the Dashboard. · Members were informed that officers were working together to ensure that contract management was robust. · Members were advised that a Transformation Board had been established, to oversee the implementation of commercialisation strategy. The Board held its first meeting in February and the next steps would be to identify and agree the key strategic priorities. · It was noted that a project was undertaken to reduce the use/cost of agency provision through making better use of the in-house resources which included casual workers. A casual pool of workers had recently been established in Waste, Residential Care and Children’s Services with a feasibility study planned to possibly extend to the TA role within schools. Members thanked officers for the work undertaken by the team. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that : 7.1 the report be received. 7.2 a Member Development Session be arranged to view the Dashboard
The Committee considered the minutes of the Carmarthenshire Public Services Board [PSB] held on the 19th November, 2024 and 21st January, 2025. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 required that a designated local government scrutiny committee was appointed to scrutinise the work of the PSB. In Carmarthenshire, the Council’s Corporate Performance & Resources Scrutiny Committee had been designated as the relevant scrutiny committee.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the minutes of the PSB meeting held on the 19th November, 2024 be received.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the PSB meeting held on the 19th November, 2024 be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the minutes of the PSB meeting held on the 21st January, 2025 be received.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the PSB meeting held on the 21st January, 2025 be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report detailing progress in relation to actions, requests or referrals emerging from previous scrutiny meetings be noted.
The Committee received a report which detailed the progress achieved in relation to requests or referrals emerging from previous meetings of the Corporate Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee during the 2024/25 municipal year. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report detailing progress in relation to actions, requests or referrals emerging from previous scrutiny meetings be noted.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on the 31 January, 2025 be signed as a correct record.
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