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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 Councillor Handel Davies replace Councillor Andrew Davies on the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.” It was requested that the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority be amended to read Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority. RESOLVED that subject to the amendment raised being made, the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on the 23rd July, 2025 be signed as a correct record
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that: 7.1 the job profile and person specification for the post of Chief Operating Officer for South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC) be approved; 7.2 the appointment of the Chief Operating Officer be delegated to the Corporate Joint Committee
RESOLVED, that as a result of changes to the overall political composition of the council that: 8.1 the changes to the number of seats held by the, labour group, independent group and unaffiliated members as detailed within tables 1, 2, and 3 of the report be adopted; 8.2 in accordance with corporate procedure rule CPR 2 (2) (o) the changes in committee membership as a result of recommendation 1 above (as detailed within the report) be approved; 8.3 in accordance with part 6 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, the existing arrangements for the allocation of the 5 scrutiny chairs remains unchanged be noted.
RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 14th July, 2025 be received.
RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 31st July, 2025 be received.
RESOLVED that the Motion be supported and referred to the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee and the Wales Pension Partnership Joint Governance Committee.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Lewis Davies, Sharen Davies, Denise Owen and Sean Rees.
Councillor Minute Number Nature of Interest Martyn Palfreman 6 – Governance and Audit Committee Annual Report 2024/25 He runs a Health and Social Care Consultancy. Cllr Palfreman has been granted a dispensation to speak but not vote at meetings of Carmarthenshire County Council in relation to the provision of social care services in Carmarthenshire and across the South West Wales Region. Phillip Warlow 10.1 – Notice of Motion Submitted by Councillors Rob Evans and Emyr Rees He is a Member of the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee. Elwyn Williams 10.1 – Notice of Motion Submitted by Councillors Rob Evans and Emyr Rees He is a Member of the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee. Dai Thomas 10.1 – Notice of Motion Submitted by Councillors Rob Evans and Emyr Rees He is a Member of the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee. Neil Lewis 10.1 – Notice of Motion Submitted by Councillors Rob Evans and Emyr Rees He is a nominated substitute for the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee.
• The Chair announced that she accompanied by her consort had recently attended the Llanelli and District Civic Society Local Design Awards, where Carmarthenshire County Council was successful in the following categories: - Theatr Ffwrnes – winner in the commercial new-build category - The Beacon Enterprise Centre - winner in the commercial new-build category - Zion Chapel - winner in the commercial new-build category - Discovery Centre - winner in the commercial new-build category • The Chair welcomed Cllr Carmelo Colasanto to his first meeting following his recent election as County Councillor for Llangennech Ward. • The Chair formally expressed condolences to the family of former Councillor Huw John, who was the representative for the Llandyfaelog Ward, following his recent passing. • Condolences were conveyed to His Majesty the King and the Royal Family regarding the passing of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent. • Following the approval of the Chair, Councillor Jane Tremlett – Cabinet Member for Health and Social Services, took the opportunity to highlight the new preventative service by Carmarthenshire County Council named ‘Connecting Carmarthenshire’. It was reported that all partners had worked tirelessly since the mobilisation of the service to establish healthy and effective partnership relationships with a common goal. The aim of the service is to provide an access point to preventative services at an early stage to avoid escalation. In May 2025, the Connecting Carmarthenshire service won the Working in Partnership Social Care in Wales accolade where representatives of Carmarthen Council’s Commissioning Team and Third Sector Delivery Partners attended the ceremony and received the award on behalf of the partnership.
Councillor Alun Lenny - Cabinet member for Resources provided Council with an update in relation to the budget forecast. He reported that the Central Government budget that was scheduled to take place on 26 November 2025 would impact the timing of the Welsh Government budget via the Barnett Formula and the Revenue Support Grant, which was a key funding source for local authorities. In addition, Carmarthenshire Council as a large employer also faced the budgetary challenges including staff pay rises and the forthcoming changes in the National Insurance contributions. It was highlighted that the Council faced cuts of £12m next year and £32m over the next three years. In conclusion, it was acknowledged that, given the current financial climate and existing challenges, certain difficult decisions would be necessary.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that Councillor Handel Davies replace Councillor Andrew Davies on the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.” It was requested that the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority be amended to read Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority. RESOLVED that subject to the amendment raised being made, the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on the 23rd July, 2025 be signed as a correct record
Minute 14.1 – “THE PLAID CYMRU GROUP HAVE NOMINATED COUNCILLORHANDEL DAVIES TO REPLACE COUNCILLOR ANDREW DAVIES ONTHE BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY:- UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Councillor Handel Davies replace Councillor Andrew Davies on the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority.” It was requested that the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority be amended to read Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority. RESOLVED that subject to the amendment raised being made, the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on the 23rd July, 2025 be signed as a correct record
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be received.
[NOTE: Councillor Martyn Palfreman, having earlier declared an interest in this item, re-iterated his declaration and in accordance with his dispensation, remained in the meeting but did not partake in the voting thereof.] The Chair welcomed Mr Malcolm MacDonald, Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee to the meeting. Council received the Governance and Audit Committee Annual Report 2024/25 for consideration. In presenting the report, Mr MacDonald, on behalf of the Governance and Audit Committee wished to express sincere gratitude, to Mr David MacGregor, the former Chair of the Committee for his dedication, commitment and hard work throughout his tenure. The report provided a reflection of the range of issues considered by the Governance & Audit Committee, and the effectiveness of its work throughout the 2024/25 municipal year. The report detailed information on the Committee’s performance and provided assurance on the role, effectiveness and the work of the Committee in ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective governance. During the consideration of the report, an update was requested from the Cabinet Member for Social Services on the progress of review of children services and advise on the extend of the £9.2m additional investment in children and family services in the current year. In response, the Cabinet Member for Social Services explained that Children Services were continuously working to address the needs of the population of the children in Carmarthenshire. It was reported that a significant project was currently in progress as part of the transformation programme, with updates being provided to the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee on a regular basis. Acknowledgement was given to the contributions of Mr David MacGregor, the former Chair of Governance, as well as the lay members of the Committee and the Audit team. RESOLVED that the report be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 7.1 the job profile and person specification for the post of Chief Operating Officer for South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC) be approved; 7.2 the appointment of the Chief Operating Officer be delegated to the Corporate Joint Committee
Council received a report which sought the Council’s endorsement of the job profile for the recruitment to the Post of Chief Operating Officer for South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC). The report explained that the role of Corporate Joint Committees (“CJCs”) in Wales was becoming increasingly significant as the Welsh Government continued to devolve more responsibilities to these bodies. Established under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, CJCs were designed to facilitate regional collaboration through a consistent and democratically controlled framework. This would enable local authorities to work together more closely and address regional issues with greater autonomy and flexibility. The report highlighted that the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (“SWWCJC”) must ensure that it had the necessary support and resources to effectively manage their expanded roles and responsibilities and key to this will be the person identified as the statutory chief executive officer, who shall have the overarching responsibility for ensuring all obligations are met. The report explained that the Statutory Chief Executive Officer of the SWWCJC (appointed pursuant to the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021) currently rotated on an annual basis between the constituent councils of Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Swansea. However, it was acknowledged that it would be prudent to review this process and assess its effectiveness by exploring the potential benefits of appointing a permanent officer to fulfil the statutory role. Therefore, members of the SWWCJC had considered a number of options and had taken the decision to appoint of a permanent Chief Operating Officer who would provide consistent leadership and strategic direction for the SWWCJC. It was noted that the proposed Chief Operating Officer post would be employed under Carmarthenshire County Council’s terms and conditions. The report sought that County Council delegates the responsibility of the appointment to the CJC for reasons set out in the report. In response to a question about assisting the successful candidate in achieving the necessary level of Welsh, if required, the People Services Manager clarified that the individual would have access to the same Welsh Language development opportunities as all other employees. While recognising the scope and ongoing contributions of CJCs, it was emphasised that significant challenges remain in achieving the objectives set for the CJC due to budgetary constraints. Consequently, to successfully implement the strategic plans, as well as to advance key areas including transport and regeneration, it will be necessary to secure additional funding. RESOLVED that: 7.1 the job profile and person specification for the post of Chief Operating Officer for South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC) be approved; 7.2 the appointment of the Chief Operating Officer be delegated to the Corporate Joint Committee
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED, that as a result of changes to the overall political composition of the council that: 8.1 the changes to the number of seats held by the, labour group, independent group and unaffiliated members as detailed within tables 1, 2, and 3 of the report be adopted; 8.2 in accordance with corporate procedure rule CPR 2 (2) (o) the changes in committee membership as a result of recommendation 1 above (as detailed within the report) be approved; 8.3 in accordance with part 6 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, the existing arrangements for the allocation of the 5 scrutiny chairs remains unchanged be noted.
In line with the requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) regulations 1990, as amended, and the Local Government Wales (measure) 2011, the Council considered a report detailing the outcome of a review of the composition of the Council’s Scrutiny, Regulatory and other Committees. The report included suggested changes, following the news of Councillor Gary Jones, a member of the Labour Group who sadly passed away on 27th May 2025 and the notification received that Councillor Louvain Roberts had moved from the Independent Group to sit as an Unaffiliated Member. RESOLVED, that as a result of changes to the overall political composition of the council that: 8.1 the changes to the number of seats held by the, labour group, independent group and unaffiliated members as detailed within tables 1, 2, and 3 of the report be adopted; 8.2 in accordance with corporate procedure rule CPR 2 (2) (o) the changes in committee membership as a result of recommendation 1 above (as detailed within the report) be approved; 8.3 in accordance with part 6 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, the existing arrangements for the allocation of the 5 scrutiny chairs remains unchanged be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 14th July, 2025 be received.
Th Leader, in response to a query in regard to the nursery provision in Ammanford explained that the Cabinet’s decision was strategic in order to tackle the potential to undermine the smaller rural schools. It was highlighted that Ammanford was currently the only location which has a dedicated nursery school and therefore it was recognised that there was a need to address the consistency, fairness and equity for the County. There was a commitment to provide the best facilities for pupils in Ammanford. In terms of capacity, the Leader provided assurance that there was capacity in Ysgol Bro Banw and Ysgol Gymraeg to deliver the agreed plans. It was also highlighted that independent facilities played a crucial role in meeting educational needs for 3-year-olds. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 14th July, 2025 be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 31st July, 2025 be received.
Reference was made to the Cabinet’s decision to approve a phased rollout, with approximately one-third of the county transitioning to the new Blueprint service commencing in Autumn 2026. Clarification was sought on which third of the County would initiate the new Service. The Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services explained that Officers were currently working on the plan, and an announcement would be made in due course. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 31st July, 2025 be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Motion be supported and referred to the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee and the Wales Pension Partnership Joint Governance Committee.
[NOTE: Councillor Phillip Warlow, Dai Thomas, Neil Lewis and Elwyn Williams all having earlier declared an interest in this item, remained in the meeting but did not partake in the voting thereof.] The proposer and seconder of the notice of motion, as set out the Council Summons, confirmed that they were happy to accept the amendment as submitted, and agreed that the substantive motion be put forward for consideration. Accordingly, Council considered the following Notice of Motion:- "The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in significant loss of life, is horrifying. Despite a temporary ceasefire in January 2025, hostilities have resumed and conditions on the ground continue to deteriorate. This council believes that: • The Dyfed Pension Fund and the Wales Pension Partnership (WPP) should not partake in investments which fund war, human rights violations, or the potential breaking of international law regardless of how profitable they are. • although the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee makes decisions independently of the political structures of Carmarthenshire and other constituent Councils, Full Council is within its rights to express a view on the matter. This council resolves to: • express in the strongest terms its view that it does not wish to be associated with companies complicit in the conflict in Gaza and potential war crimes. • write to the WPP to make these views clear and urge them to consider divesting from such companies on the basis of the WPP's fiduciary responsibilities; Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk; and their Responsible Investment Strategy. • ask the Dyfed Pension Committee and WPP to regularly review and report on the divestment process. The motion was duly seconded. The proposers and seconder of the Motion were afforded the opportunity of speaking in support thereof and outlined the reasons for its submission. A number of statements were made in support of the substantive motion. Council was advised that if the motion was supported it would be referred to the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee and the Wales Pension Partnership Joint Governance Committee. RESOLVED that the Motion be supported and referred to the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee and the Wales Pension Partnership Joint Governance Committee.
Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillors Rob Evans and Nysia Evans:- “The Union Jack Flag signifies the unity of the Nations that make up the United Kingdom and dependencies. Whatever our differences may be, whatever faith, culture, political views, ethnicity, first language or traditional customs, we can all stand beneath this flag, united together in common purpose. The Union Jack represents our armed forces, Veterans and is a symbol of respect to all those fallen heroes from across the Nation. I call on Carmarthenshire County Council to fly the Union Jack Flag alongside our Welsh Flag, 365 days a year at all our Civic Buildings throughout Carmarthenshire.” The motion was duly seconded. The proposers and seconder of the Motion were afforded the opportunity of speaking in support thereof and outlined the reasons for its submission, as set out in the Motion. A number of representations were made in support of and against the Motion. Council was advised that if the motion was supported it would be referred to the Cabinet. Following a requisition by more than ten members, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.4, a recorded vote was taken with the votes cast being as follows:- For the Motion (22): Councillors M. Beer, P. Cooper, C. Colasanto, D.M. Cundy, S.A. Curry, C. Davies, M. Donoghue, N. Evans, R.E. Evans, S. Godfrey-Coles, T.M. Higgins, J.D. James, D. Jones, K. Madge, M. Palfreman, E. Rees, B.A.L. Roberts, H.B. Shepardson, M. Thomas, P.T. Warlow, J. Williams and S. Williams. Against the Motion (42): L.R. Bowen, K.V. Broom, J.M. Charles, A. Davies, W.R.A. Davies, T.A.J. Davies, B. Davies, G. Davies, H.L. Davies, K. Davies, Ll.M. Davies, T. Davies, A. Evans, D.C. Evans, H.A.L. Evans, L.D. Evans, W.T. Evans, A.D. Harries, J.K. Howell, P. Hughes-Griffiths, S. Hughes, P.M. Hughes, M. James, G.H. John, A.C. Jones, B.W. Jones, H. Jones, A. Lenny, M.J.A. Lewis, N. Lewis, D. Nicholas, B.D.J. Phillips, D. Price, E.M.J.G. Schiavone, R. Sparks, D. Thomas, E.G. Thomas, G.B. Thomas, J. Tremlett, A. Vaughan Owen, F. Walters and D.E. Williams. Abstentions (2) M.D. Cranham and R. James. On putting the matter to the vote, the Motion was lost.
Pursuant to his written reply to myself after the last Meeting of the County Council, will he now explain how the political group that he is Leader of – Plaid Cymru – decide which two members of that group will be nominated for appointment by the Council to the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee? Response by Councillor Darren Price, Leader of the Council: The way that we appoint members to sit on the Dyfed Pension Fund follows the same process as we do for appointing to any other panel or body. As usual, at the beginning of each term, the Democratic Services department ensures that leaders of the groups and unaffiliated members are aware of the number of seats that are available for every group on different committees and bodies, and those groups are then required to fill those gaps. In line with the Constitution, it’s up to the Council to appoint members to provide service on these committees, so that it reflects the political composition of this council. As you saw in the meeting this morning, to give you an idea – there are 15 formal committees; Licensing, Scrutiny and Planning, there are 10 Cabinet Advisory Panels – Tackling Poverty, Rural Affairs, Welsh Language and Climate Change and over 60, yes 60 internal and external bodies including the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel. The Dyfed Pension Fund falls under the formal committee category. At the beginning of each term, it’s customary to invite group members to express their interest in serving on various committees, and that happens across every group. In addition, I refer to the information provided on data collection forms that members complete after being elected when relevant. I anticipate that members present themselves as knowledgeable, experienced and eager to attend those meetings. And once enough nominations have been received, I discuss with my deputy and other members within the group and then assign members to those committees where they can best serve the group. Those nominations are then agreed by the full Council, along with the nominations from the other groups. Therefore, just to confirm, the process for selecting two members of the group to be nominated by the Council to the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee follows the same procedure as that used for other Panels, Committees or Groups. Supplementary Question by Mr Bob Clay: I take it from the answer that I think the Leader thought, that effectively this means that the nominations ultimately will be the responsibility of the political group that makes them to the full Council meeting. I understand all the points about people applying so on and so forth, but I think from his answer, it’s clear. I would just like to say, in the spirit of the motion passed earlier today [Chair intervenes], which I think you should all be congratulated, but I do hope that not only his group but the Labour group can nominate one person who will make sure that from now on, that members of that Committee are ones that will [incoherent] the motion passed today. Response by Councillor Darren Price, Leader of the Council: I think we’ve been fortunate in one sense that we’ve had a debate this morning around a pretty important ethical consideration for the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee. But of course, that is just one of a number of issues that the members on that Committee have to grapple with. Mr Clay is right to say, it’s up to individual groups to put forward those nominations but formally, it is full Council here that ratifies those names. I think, I would like to say that I fully concur with the motion that has been passed this morning and I’m also in favour of seeing divestment in example, from fossil fuels. There are lots of issues that we all feel passionately about that we would like to see progress being made. And I think it’s fair to say, progress has been made on a number of fronts when it comes to divestment as part of the Dyfed Pension Fund. But one thing I’m becoming acutely aware of, in my lobbying and discussions with members of that fund – there are two key issues here. Legally, we are not allowed to mandate that members act in a particular way in terms of their investment decisions, and I think that is a really important decision. This is an autonomous body, which is there, primarily, to secure the pensions of those that have given a lifetime of service, very often to public services across Dyfed. That is the fundamental duty on them, and I know they take that seriously and it is, it needs to be noted, that the fund has performed exceptionally well over the past few decades – in terms of protecting pensioners, and in terms of returning sufficient financial returns to the pot, which means we as a local authority don’t then have to chip in further contributions. [Chair intervenes] But I’m acutely aware that the members of the Pension fund understand the representation we make to them, but it’s important to note that we have not got the legal right to mandate, and that is a really important principle, because I think the risk with that is, we look at autocracy and central rule, which is not something we want to go down – so that principle of democracy is important.
Barclays Bank holds over £2 billion in shares and provides £6.1 billion in loans and underwriting to 9 companies whose weapons, components, and military technology are being used by Israel in its attacks on Palestinians. Will the council please give notice to Barclays that unless they divest from these companies the Council will consider moving its banking services to another Bank?" Response by Councillor Darren Price, Leader of the Council: As you may be aware, we are currently in a five-year contract with Barclays until March 2030 in terms of our banking services. This contract was renegotiated earlier this year, and during our contract negotiation, the authority carried out extensive due diligence, researching Barclays’ environmental, social and governance policies and the authority will continue to engage with Barclays on those policies. As I suggested in my previous answer, one of the issues that we wanted to discuss with Barclays when we contracted anew was the issue of investing in fossil fuel companies. What became clear during that procurement exercise was that no other major banks have a clean bill of health when it comes to ESG issues – that was reported to Cabinet, we had a very comprehensive report to Cabinet members which set that out quite clearly. Now, since the question has been put to Council, we have researched further the issues of Barclays investments and I’m aware, and I’ve seen public statements of course made by Barclays defending the allegation that they invest into the 9 defence companies you have mentioned there. As I’ve suggested, we have lobbied Barclays in terms of its investments around fossil fuels and I am happy to commit this morning to write to Barclays on this issue as well. However, I would reiterate the point that there is an absence of major banks who are fully in alignment with our ethical aspirations and we’re also able to deal with the thousands of transactions that this Council undertakes over the course of any year. Supplementary Question by Ms Biasutti: I am aware that the conclusions of the Council were that the policies were concerning fossil fuels and climate change. Is the Leader aware that a range of concerns [incoherent] and reputable organisations have listed Barclays as among the worst banks in relation to funding weapons for Israel and companies linked to illegal settlement in the West Bank.
The Co-op are amongst a number of major retailers who have announced that they will no longer sell Israeli goods. Will the Council make a decision to no longer buy Israeli goods? Response by Councillor Darren Price, Leader of the Council: I’m aware that the Co-op has announced that it will stop sourcing relationships with countries where there are internationally recognised, community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law. As I understand, they have changed their sourcing policy and have listed so far, 17 countries that fall short of the criteria they have set. Those countries include Russia, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and of course, Israel. However, the path for us is not as it is for the Co-op. As you’re aware, as a local authority, we are bound by different requirements and code of practice, indeed different laws, to some other service providers and retailers. As you are no doubt aware, in 2023, when Conservative Government brought about the Procurement Act – which came into force on the 24th February this year. As a local authority, we are bound by the Procurement Act and in the context of our discussion this morning, this is what the Act means here – when we decide who to buy from, we must legally treat all treaty state suppliers, that means suppliers from countries who either trade or procurement deal with the UK, fairly and equally. This includes Israel, because of the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement signed in 2019. Now, we can only think about excluding suppliers if they’re not on a treaty state supplier, and even then, only for good reasons that are connected to the contract itself, not because of political or personal beliefs. I should note, however, that as a matter of practice, we don’t record the origin of goods, but I can say that no company on our contracts register or spend information have a registered office or base in Israel. However, we do not have information confirming whether Israel-based firms supply elements of products which we later buy, and to provide an example of that, I mean the microphone units we are using here and you’ve used just a couple of minutes ago were procured from a locally-based firm and installed by Welsh tradesmen. But of course, I can’t guarantee that there’s not an element within that product that hasn’t been sourced from Israel – somewhere along the supply chain. It is a hugely complex piece of work, and to give you an idea of our volume of spend, in 2024/2025, the Council spent over £457 million with over 5,000 suppliers so that gives a flavour of the complexity that we’re dealing with here. But just to confirm, my understanding is that we don’t contract any, with any direct company based in Israel or procure directly, and that doesn’t come as a surprise to me. I referenced the legislation that was introduced by the previous Tory Government in 2023, that is still in existence of course, and so any change in the law would need a pretty significant lobbying effort to the UK Government at this moment in time, to rescind that legislation, which every local authority in the UK is bound by. Supplementary Question by Mr Li-Rocchi: I don’t really know everything that you spoke of, with regard to procurement and on reading that I’ve done, other Councils seem to have tried to go further in terms of what they’re doing with regards to purchasing from different companies. So, I guess, if it was to be found that other Councils were going further within the laws, is that something that this Council would be able to do as well? Response by Councillor Darren Price, Leader of the Council: I think if we look, the dates are important here, a lot of the Councils that have pushed and passed resolutions to this effect, to say to prohibit the purchase of Israeli goods – most of them did that prior to the legislation. The legislation was a response to what the Government of the day was seeing happening on the ground. To my knowledge, not one single local authority has passed a resolution on this since the Act has come in to force at the start of this year, but I’m more than happy, if you’ve got examples, then I’m more than happy to investigate that further. But my understanding is, not one single council in the UK has passed a resolution because of course, it can be contrary to the law of the land.
“Can the Leader of Council provide an update on what action this Council has taken to convey our views to the WRU on the proposed reduction of Welsh regional rugby teams, and whether an impact assessment has been undertaken on the potential impact of the Scarlets losing their direct funding from the WRU?” Response by Councillor Darren Price, Leader of the Council: This really is a vital issue facing us as a County and a Council currently, and I think I welcome the fact that we get an opportunity to outline really where we've been on this over the past few weeks. So clearly, as members will be aware, it's a hugely concerning time for the Scarlets, given the ongoing consultation that has started with the Welsh Rugby Union. As you would expect, we have been engaging closely with the Scarlets, the board and senior staff over that period. Clearly we are unique, as a local authority in Wales, given the extent of our interest with the success of the Scarlets. It is no secret here, of course, that we are the freeholders of the stadium and we have a close working relationship with the Scarlets and also financially as well that’s been developed over a number of years. Keeping the Scarlets and professional rugby in Llanelli is of vital importance to us as an authority. We will clearly be making written representations to the Welsh Rugby Union as part of the consultation process, but I'm pleased to report that we were able to secure a face-to-face meeting with the with the union, which took place yesterday afternoon at Parc y Scarlets. That was attended by myself, Hazel Evans - the Cabinet member, the Chief Executive and the Director of Corporate Services. At that meeting, we were clear in our message, in terms of the importance of the Scarlets to the town of Llanelli and the wider County. As part of the work and the engagement we've been doing in the past few weeks, we have commissioned an additional piece of work which looks at the economic impact of the loss of the Scarlets. We know, don't we, because previous studies have shown that it is worth millions of pounds to the town and the wider county through the supply chains, the staffing, the jobs that are linked to the Scarlets and other economic factors so it's vitally important economically to us and that work has been commissioned and will be reported hopefully by the end of the consultation period that the union have started. One of the key issues that we pressed on the union yesterday, of course, was the unique position that we find ourselves in as a Council and I think the unique opportunities that there are in terms of building on the strong relationship that we have with the Scarlets on any future structure that they seek to implement. I think there are options in terms of land holdings and others to try and deliver some of the ambitions that they have set out in the consultation document around, for example, the development of National Academies and Centres of Excellence. We also pressed on them, the importance of culture and language. With the Scarlets, there's no other team in the world – there’s certainly no team in Wales where the two major anthems – Sosban Fach and Yma o Hyd are Welsh songs. The importance of culture and the linguistic element is really important as well. But fundamentally, this is important to the town and the county. It's a source of great pride for us, and we are absolutely determined to do all that we can to make sure that it continues. Supplementary Question by Councillor Rob James: Would the leader agree with me that given us, as freeholders of the stadium and with the outstanding loan owed to this Council, because of the imperative nature of the rugby team to this area, that all Councillors of this Council should be speaking very loudly on this issue and doing all we can to lobby WRU on this matter. Response by Councillor Darren Price, Leader of the Council: Yes, absolutely and I agree with that Rob. And of course, there's a march before the Munster game which we'd encourage everybody to be on. The key message I think that we need to get across here is that in terms of that facility, it is the best facility in Wales when it comes to regional rugby. No other region can match what we collectively have provided here in Llanelli, and that is a message that needs to go loud and clear to the decision makers. It's vitally important history and what's gone in the past is really important, but we firmly believe that there's a there's a bright future here if we build on the excellent facilities that we've got in Llanelli, and that's a message that we all need to take to the Welsh Rugby Union over the next few weeks.
“Could you please explain why although you have promised Option 4 from the “Review of Special Educational Provision in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire County Council” which states: In addition to implementing either Option 2 or Option 3, develop new proposals to build one Primary and one Secondary Centre for pupils with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) attached to mainstream schools. It appears that you have decided instead to go ahead with Option 3 of building the new school only and ignoring the advice in the report of creating 2 new Specialist Centres in Llanelli, as is the case in both excellent centres at Carmarthen and Ammanford, despite the huge waiting list for ASC education in Llanelli.” Response by Glynog Davies, Cabinet member for Education and Welsh Language: Thank you, Deryk. I’m extremely pleased that you recognise the excellent centres that we have as an Authority in Carmarthen and Ammanford. And this is, of course, in line with our vision of being inclusive and creates an ethos which is acceptable and pleasant. Wherever possible, we cater to the needs of learners where the expertise has been co-located across the County. David Davies noted, and he was right to do so in his report, that we as an Authority have developed a range of specialist provisions to meet the needs of learners with ALN. He also underlined the need for us to continue to develop the provision in the Llanelli area – provision suitable for the children and young people with conditions on the Autism spectrum. And that is exactly what we are doing, and doing so long before David Davies’ report was published. We developed the ASC – the Autism Spectrum Condition provision, that I referred to earlier. The provision has been co-located with several mainstream schools in the Llanelli area – more primary provision is in Burry Port school and new provision; new provision in Penygaer and provision for those with severe learning difficulties (SLD) in Y Felin. We have also increased the provision for secondary-aged children at Glanymor, and I want to emphasise this – we will continue to increase capacity in the future to fully meet the demand as David Davies suggested. The new provision is in place, that I referred to and they are already in place, they were available for the pupils at the start of this term. A provision, that believe me, meets the additional demand. So, Deryk, one other point – there are no long waiting lists – they don’t exist. Supplementary Question by Councillor Deryk Cundy: That's excellent. I do appreciate the thing we are trying to do. I do believe there are quite a few, according to an FOI, I've recently had people waiting. However, my concern was really about Glanymor. In the report, it's referred to as being a temporary thing and you've actually said that you're going to be building on this, so for I think it's another four years, you'll have 69 places or so. But if it's only a temporary situation/base now that seems to not marry up so that was my concern. Response by Glynog Davies, Cabinet member for Education and Welsh Language: Can I assure you, it is now permanent. We have spent £1.25m of capital funding on Glanymor – the Canolfan y Mor as it’s called, and £0.9m of additional funding is to be spent again this year. And that is excellent that we are spending there, and 10 additional pupils are now able to get their education there. And the additional spend runs alongside the revenue costs; the cost for specialist teachers, assistants, specialist IT provision and ASC resources. It is worth noting that there is an increase in ALN across Wales – we’re not unique here, it is across Wales and we are constantly reviewing the situation. Yes, regularly. We’re keeping an eye on the situation and all authorities are currently working closely with the Welsh Government as part of the ALN review.
"The bank holiday just gone; residents surrounding the Tirycoed site in my ward of Glanamman are devastated to see the destruction of protected trees/hedges, rhos pasture, and wooden riparian corridors the breeding ground for protected marsh fertility butterflies and bats. This site has had 4 planning applications rejected due to its biodiversity, but this didn’t stop the developers from distorting it. Therefore, what realistic protection can this authority provide for sites like this in Carmarthenshire and what deterrents are in place to prevent developers from continuing to do this please?" Response by Councillor Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability: Although planning policy is not within my portfolio as Cabinet member, I understand that the local planning authority have investigated the allegations and come to the conclusion that no breach of planning has occurred at the site. But, as you know, the planning authority has transferred details of the allegations to Dyfed-Powys Police, which is the appropriate authority to investigate under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. As the member will be aware, it’s inappropriate for me to make further comment on the matter while investigations still continue. But, of course, we will continue to support that investigation where appropriate. However, residents are absolutely right to be concerned about biodiversity in Tirycoed – sites like this are the exact kinds of habitat that we need to protect if we are serious about tackling the nature emergency. The State of Nature in Wales 2023 shows that 1 in 6 species in Wales are in danger of disappearing and the number of wild animals has fallen by around 20% since 1990 – that is the context we are working in. And, as you know, since the declaration of the nature emergency in 2022 – we have worked to embed biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem resilience in everything we do as a Council. We have set-up a Climate and Nature Emergency Advisory Panel, with representation from across this Chamber and we have developed and implemented forward-looking strategies such as the Tree and Woodland Strategy, our Pollinator Strategy and our Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy. This administration will continue to push for stronger biodiversity protection across Carmarthenshire and we will use every tool at our disposal to prevent developers from damaging habitats that are important for nature, so I would advise you to refer further questions relating to planning and enforcement to Councillor Carys Jones in the future, who is the Cabinet member for Planning and Rural Affairs.
“On 11th September last year I put a notice of motion to Council calling on the cabinet to bring Garnant Workman's Hall into public ownership. Demolishing the building and then using the land to develop an extra care home, flats, or affordable housing for local people. Could I have an update from the Leader what action has been taken by Council over the last year to resolve these dangerous buildings on Cwmaman Road Garnant?” Response by Councillor Darren Price, Leader of the Council Just to clarify to start, then there's reference to buildings on Cwmaman Road – my understanding there's only one building, of course, that's the Garnant Working Mens Hall. From our discussions last year, although the building is under private ownership, we have used our powers to make sure the building is safe and there's no risk to the public. As you know, officers inspect the building regularly and it is inspected thoroughly every quarter. I understand that planning officers have also given you a direct number should you need to advise them of any issues in the meantime. And of course, it's vitally important that you do that if things crop up. Primarily, of course, as we've discussed previously, the responsibility for the building rests with the private owner but we take our responsibility seriously to address the other points. To completely address the other points in terms of the question so the first one is around using the land to develop an extra care home, flats or affordable housing for local people. Again, as the Chamber’s aware, our plans to increase the supply of affordable housing across the County is based on housing needs – that's something that's discussed here regularly. So, whilst every ward in the County has a need for more affordable homes, some wards have more need than others, reflecting where people want to live. Due to the large investment associated with developing more homes, our assessment of new potential sites must be prudent of course. Sites must offer value for money as well as meeting the housing needs. Now, unfortunately, the former Garnant Workmen's Hall is a large building that would require significant investment to convert it into residential use. Assessment of the building itself is over three storeys high, and it sits within a relatively small plot of sloping land. The plot size and the topography, don't lend itself to the development of individual homes or bungalows, meaning that the use of the site for residential use would be limited to the conversion of the existing building into flats. Now, whilst there is a need in all areas of the County for single person accommodation, developing large blocks of flats is not sustainable in every community. Single person accommodation must, of course, be dispersed and blended into our communities and housing need in the Garnant ward would also not support the development of a high level of single person flats. The demand for this type of accommodation is greatest in the more urban areas – Llanelli, Ammanford and Carmarthen, and as there's evidence that we have to – and the evidence shows that single people tend to live close to amenities and good transport links. So, due to the limitations of the site, we are unable to support a request to convert Garnant Working Mens Hall into residential use currently. Supplementary Question by Councillor Kevin Madge: I have written on this subject more than nearly anything else that I've done since I've been in my 40 odd years as a member. Since last year, and now there's a forest growing out of both buildings. One building's got woodland now coming out of one, and trees growing out of the Workmen's hall. I do worry that is making it more dangerous. Local people have asked me to ask you [Chair intervenes] The question is, local people are asking, once and for all the Council find out if the hall itself and the building and the shop have been abandoned by the owners. And couldn't we do a project like Arcade Terrace, where we now got the Co-op – there’s jobs and local housing, people are desperate living around there. So that's the question. People are desperate to get rid of that eyesore, so that's the question. You know, we need to find out if those owners have abandoned that building. Thank you Chair, and thank you for what you've said. Response by Councillor Darren Price, Leader of the Council: So unfortunately, we've got empty buildings right across the County. And unfortunately, given the limitations of the budget, in an ideal world, it'd be great to buy them all but we know that we can't – we're struggling to fund our schools, as you mentioned earlier in Ammanford, for example. So, buying extra buildings which are in this state, you know, would not be a prudent use of public funds from our point of view. However, there are lots of examples across the County where town councils, community councils, community groups have looked to have sought grant funding, for example, to bring buildings back into use and there've been lots of success stories there. I would suggest maybe there might be a role for the town council here in terms of trying to seek funding. I know the bureau that we have supports a lot of town and community councils in similar positions, and obviously we haven't had a chance to respond to each and every member who have similar issues in their ward. I think there is an avenue for local communities and town and community councils to secure that funding and I would urge them to look at that. Clearly, we will do all that we can to keep the thing safe, but that private individual is responsible for that land, unfortunately and we need him or her to take action.
Question by Councillor Kevin Madge: “A year ago, I asked you as cabinet member to provide the Council with a statement regarding the purchase of the former Wilko store at Friars Park in Carmarthen. Could the cabinet member provide an update regarding the former Wilko store on what are the Council plans for it?” Response by Councillor Alun Lenny, Cabinet Member for Resources Members may recall that the former Wilko store in Carmarthen was one of 400 stores across the UK that were closed in 2023 when the company sadly went bust. When the building came on the market, its purchase was discussed at length by the Cabinet and Regeneration officers. It's in a key location in the town centre, so we took proactive steps to purchase the building from the administrators. It's got a lot going for it – as well as being in a prime site in Carmarthen town centre, it’s next to our Council owned car park, which has 250 spaces. Now, since then, we've taken essential safety works, including the removal of an unsightly pedestrian canopy to ensure the building remains secure and structurally sound. Meanwhile, I can assure you that we are in ongoing discussions with interested parties and, for reasons of commercial confidentiality, cannot announce the purchase price at this stage. As a former leader of this Council in the distant past, Kevin should know that revealing the price could influence discussions with those interested parties and be detrimental to the interests of Council taxpayers. I'd also remind Kevin and all members in this Chamber that the UK Labour government sees economic growth, and I quote their website as the “number one mission”. “Growth can only be achieved in partnership with businesses”, says Labour. Growth and regeneration is also a priority here in Sir Gar to help create jobs for our young people in particular. Enabling growth means acting responsibly but constantly with an eye on future development. This Council did just that by buying the former store. To conclude, this is a fantastic location, has the potential for an exciting development which will contribute very positively to the economic and social fabric of Carmarthen town centre and all who live within commuting distance, including residents of the Amman Valley, two of whom are sitting by me here. Supplementary Question by Kevin Madge: How much money has the Council spent already on this development? Response by Councillor Alun Lenny, Cabinet Member for Resources The money spent on the safety works will come within the envelope of the money that has been set aside for buying the building. I will need to confer with our Legal department to see whether it is going to be right and proper for me to reveal that element of the expenditure. That's all I can say at the moment.
Question by Councillor Kevin Madge: “A year ago, I asked you as cabinet member to provide the Council with a statement regarding the purchase of the former Wilko store at Friars Park in Carmarthen. What was the cost of purchasing the building for ratepayers of Carmarthenshire?” Response by Councillor Alun Lenny, Cabinet Member for Resources As they say in Parliament Chair, I refer the honourable member to my previous reply. Supplementary Question by Councillor Kevin Madge: I'm aware that other buildings in Carmarthenshire, especially in Ammanford have been offered to the council in previous – in the last year or so. I won't name them. But as far, this Council should be open and transparent, a year since this purchase, I think the ratepayers should be able to know how much you paid for it by now. Response by Councillor Alun Lenny, Cabinet Member for Resources I'm not sure who the ratepayers are, but the Council taxpayers will be informed in due course when everyone else, of course, will be told once we know what's what the legal position is and what the developments, what the potential for developments, if the potential for developments will turn into reality. Then, of course, everything will be announced. But in the meantime, it is commercially sensitive.
The Chair stated that the minutes outlined on the agenda under 13.1 – 13.6 were available for information on the Council website.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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