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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the Annual Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report for 2024-2025 be approved.
RESOLVED that the report be approved.
RESOLVED that: 8.1 the budget monitoring report be received and the budgetary position and appropriate corrective action taken be noted; 8.2 in respect of significant overspends on specific budget areas, Chief Officers and Heads of Service critically review options available to them to address the ongoing impact across both departments and schools.
RESOLVED that: 9.1 the capital programme update report 2025/26 be received; 9.2 the new projects as detailed within the report be noted and agreed.
RESOLVED that:- 10.1 the initial budget outlook be received, taking into consideration the level of Council Tax rises and the level of budget reductions across all services as appropriate for the development of the Medium Term Financial Plan; 10.2 the significant financial risks currently underlying the budget outlook, including the overall schools position be noted; 10.3 the proposed approach to identifying the required savings be endorsed; 10.4 the proposed approach to the Budget Consultation be noted.
RESOLVED that the Carmarthenshire Equestrian Access Strategy, including its outcomes and strategic actions for delivery, be approved.
RESOLVED that the Climate Action Sir Gar – Addressing the Climate Change and Nature Emergencies report be endorsed.
There were no apologies for absence.
There were no declarations of personal interests.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 31st July 2025 be signed as a correct record.
The Chair advised that no questions on notice had been submitted by members.
The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the Annual Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report for 2024-2025 be approved.
As part of the requirements of the revised CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management, the Cabinet considered the Council's Annual Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report for 2024-2025. The Council adopted the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy and the five-year capital programme for 2024-2025 on the 28th February 2024. The annual report detailed the activities that took place during the year and confirmed compliance with the Code of Practice. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the actual Prudential Indicators were within the limits set by the 2024-2025 Budget and the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy for the reporting period. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the Annual Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report for 2024-2025 be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be approved.
Cabinet considered the Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report which provided an update on the treasury management activities from 1st April 2025 to 30th June 2025. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 8.1 the budget monitoring report be received and the budgetary position and appropriate corrective action taken be noted; 8.2 in respect of significant overspends on specific budget areas, Chief Officers and Heads of Service critically review options available to them to address the ongoing impact across both departments and schools.
The Cabinet considered the revenue budget monitoring report which provided the latest budgetary position as at 30th June, 2025 in respect of 2025/26. Overall, the monitoring report projected an overspend for the year at departmental level of £12.9m including school budgets, with a forecast overspend on the Authority’s net revenue budget of £11.4m. The working budgets for schools forecasted a net overspend in year of £9.1m. The Cabinet Member for Resources expressed the urgent need to address key issues which continued to put significant strain on finances, with the underlying contributors, being: • continued high levels of demand and complexity within adult social care, with a higher level of pressure than previously seen in mental health budgets. • further pressures within children’s services, with the largest overspend again driven by an increase in the number of very high-cost residential placements. • increased costs in school transport as well as school meals supplier costs rising much faster than budgeted inflation. The Housing Revenue Account was predicted to be overspent by £2,178k for 2025/26 and would be reviewed as the significant issues identified become clearer from a financial perspective. The Cabinet considered detailed budgetary analysis set out in the report whereby it was considered that the projected overspend remained substantial. Accordingly, Chief Officers and Heads of Service were requested to continue to review options available to them in order to take urgent and significant action to address the ongoing impact across both departments and schools. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 8.1 the budget monitoring report be received and the budgetary position and appropriate corrective action taken be noted; 8.2 in respect of significant overspends on specific budget areas, Chief Officers and Heads of Service critically review options available to them to address the ongoing impact across both departments and schools.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 9.1 the capital programme update report 2025/26 be received; 9.2 the new projects as detailed within the report be noted and agreed.
The Cabinet received a report which provided an update on the latest budgetary position for the 2025/26 capital programme, as at 30 June 2025 and detailed new projects and virements for Cabinet to note and approve. The report indicated a forecasted net spend of £106,686k compared with a working net budget of £133,551k, thereby giving a variance of -£26,865k variance. The Cabinet Member for Resources referred to key areas of investment and provided an update on developments in respect of public housing, Canolfan Pentre Awel and the redevelopment of Oriel Myrddin. The net budget included the original Housing Revenue Account and General Fund capital programmes approved by Full Council together slippage from 2024/25. Some of the budgets had also been amended to account for differences in actual grant allocations compared with the anticipated allocations at the time the programme was approved, and new grant awards received during the year to date. The projected outturn for the year totalled £177m gross which represented an increase of £11m compared with the final outturn from 2024/25 and which was largely attributable to higher or new spend on LGBI Highway Structures Programme and Levelling up Projects. Appendix B to the report detailed the main variances within each department. The report detailed the new projects and virements to be noted and approved for the current year. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 9.1 the capital programme update report 2025/26 be received; 9.2 the new projects as detailed within the report be noted and agreed.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that:- 10.1 the initial budget outlook be received, taking into consideration the level of Council Tax rises and the level of budget reductions across all services as appropriate for the development of the Medium Term Financial Plan; 10.2 the significant financial risks currently underlying the budget outlook, including the overall schools position be noted; 10.3 the proposed approach to identifying the required savings be endorsed; 10.4 the proposed approach to the Budget Consultation be noted.
The report set out the current financial outlook and provided an update on the financial model covering the next financial year. The report also outlined the proposals for taking forward the budget preparation for the next year and took account of new circumstances and information since the approval of the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) at Council earlier in the year. The Cabinet was appraised of the macro-economic factors that implicated the Authority’s budgetary position in terms of the 3 year comprehensive spending review and Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and attention was drawn to the key assumptions to the Authority’s financial plans, particularly in respect of pay settlements and National Insurance Contributions. Concerns were raised that the Authority would need to realise budget reductions in the region of £12m for the next year, and a total of £32 million over the three-year period which would require difficult decisions. At this stage, there remained significant uncertainty on the way forward, including the current year financial position as detailed in section 2.3 of the report. The Cabinet recognised the inherent risks within the initial budget outlook, particularly regarding the schools position, and endorsed the proposed approach to identifying the required budget reduction and plans for the budget consultation. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:- 10.1 the initial budget outlook be received, taking into consideration the level of Council Tax rises and the level of budget reductions across all services as appropriate for the development of the Medium Term Financial Plan; 10.2 the significant financial risks currently underlying the budget outlook, including the overall schools position be noted; 10.3 the proposed approach to identifying the required savings be endorsed; 10.4 the proposed approach to the Budget Consultation be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Carmarthenshire Equestrian Access Strategy, including its outcomes and strategic actions for delivery, be approved.
The Cabinet considered the Equestrian Access Strategy, the aim of which was to promote and develop an accessible network for equestrian use. In view of there being no local, Regional or National policy or guidance in place for the management, promotion or improvement of access opportunities, it was considered that the Carmarthenshire Equestrian Access Strategy would assist the Authority in its endeavours to improve and enhance existing equestrian access provision. The Strategy was the first of its kind in Wales, and would enable the Authority to prioritise actions, embed them into service work plans, and demonstrate the council’s commitment in supporting equestrian access as part of its wider commitment to access, recreation, and wellbeing. The Cabinet reviewed the action plan appended to the report to assist the Authority to achieve the vision set out within the strategy and deliver positive change, primarily within available resources. UNIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Carmarthenshire Equestrian Access Strategy, including its outcomes and strategic actions for delivery, be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Climate Action Sir Gar – Addressing the Climate Change and Nature Emergencies report be endorsed.
Cabinet gave consideration to the “Climate Action Sir Gar – Addressing the Climate Change and Nature Emergencies” report. The report brought together the Council’s climate and nature ambitions and set out the progress made at the midway point on the Net Zero Carbon Plan and the actions being taken to address the Nature emergency by way of the Environment Act Forward Plan. The report reflected on the good progress made to date, together with the need to lead by example, by reframing the Council’s approach to capture the wider activity the council was taking to mitigate and adapt to the challenges faced. It was concluded that the Council had implemented effective strategies and plans that aligned with the Welsh Government’s targets and ambitions to make Carmarthenshire and the Council more sustainable and nature rich to improve the well-being of the current population and those of future generations. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Climate Action Sir Gar – Addressing the Climate Change and Nature Emergencies report be endorsed.
The Chair advised that there were no items of urgent business.
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