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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: 3.1 the findings and recommendations of the Audit Wales report be noted; 3.2 the Carmarthenshire County Council response to the recommendations of the report relevant to the Council be noted.
RESOLVED that: 4.1 the Internal Audit Plan Update 2025/26 be received; 4.2 the request to defer the Cyber Security and Risk Management Arrangements elements of the Internal Audit Plan be accepted.
RESOLVED that: 5.1 the Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025-2030 be received; 5.2 subject to the consideration to include the process of handling concerns at top management level, the Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025-2030 be approved.
RESOLVED that: 6.1 the Council Complaints Annual Report 2024-25 be approved; 6.2 the data and information included in terms of compliance with the Corporate Complaints Policy and Social Services (Complaints Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2014 and Welsh Government’s ‘A guide to handling complaints and representations by local authority Social Services be received.
RESOLVED that 7.1 the Ombudsman’s Annual Letter 2024/25 Carmarthenshire County Council be received; 7.2 the Committee observations and comments be included in the response to the PSOW.
RESOLVED that: 8.1 the findings and recommendations of the Carmarthenshire Panel Performance Assessment be noted; 8.2. the Council’s draft response to the report and recommendations and provide be approved.
RESOLVED that the Progress on Regulatory Report Recommendations be received.
RESOLVED that the Governance and Audit Committee Action Log be received.
RESOLVED that: 11.1 the Corporate Governance Group – Actions/Progress Update appended to the report be received; 11.2 Members of the Committee provide their comments via email no later than 7th January 2026.
There were no apologies for absence. The Chair acknowledged that as this was Mrs Karen Davies' final meeting as a Lay Member, expressed appreciation for her contributions to the Committee, and extended best wishes for her future endeavours.
There were no declarations of personal interests.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 3.1 the findings and recommendations of the Audit Wales report be noted; 3.2 the Carmarthenshire County Council response to the recommendations of the report relevant to the Council be noted.
The Chair welcomed representatives from Wales Audit to the meeting. The Committee received the Audit Wales report on Temporary Accommodation, Long-Term Crises? Mr Gareth Jones, Wales Audit representative in his presentation explained that the national study was carried out to identify opportunities to improve the value for money of councils’ approaches in responding to the demand for temporary accommodation. Audit Wales aimed to explain the cost and increase in demand for temporary accommodation and councils’ plans to deal with these challenges. It was reported that Audit Wales reviewed how councils assess and enhance value for money in temporary accommodation spending. They also examined if councils were adopting preventative measures by training staff, collaborating with partners, and improving demand analysis for temporary accommodation. Audit Wales provided three recommendations in their report, focusing on increasing the cost-effectiveness of temporary accommodation and lowering demand by preventing homelessness. These recommendations included: • defining and evaluating value for money; • strengthening the planning of homelessness prevention through better use of data; and • modelling the impact of policy and legislation changes on councils’ workforce needs Carmarthenshire Council’s Management Response, appended to the report, provided the steps the Council would take to address and implement the recommendations. The following queries/comments were raised in relation to the report: • Reference was made to Paragraph 107 – Assessing Options in the Audit Wales Report. It was observed that the Council’s Management Response did not reference the cost-benefit analysis tool developed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the UK Government. The Head of Housing assured Members that this cost-benefit analysis tool will be incorporated into future value for money assessments. • It was noted that homelessness constitutes a significant concern, with disparities among landlords, benefit costs, and tenants contributing to challenges for affected individuals. The need for policy review and a more proactive strategy was emphasised to address these issues effectively. Additionally, it was suggested that the Council re-evaluate its housing stock designated for temporary accommodation needs. The Head of Housing acknowledged the feedback provided and stated that plans are being adjusted accordingly. Paragraph 22 of the report indicated that council efforts are hindered by local housing allowance rates, which are much lower than market rents. It was asked whether Audit Wales plans to take further action. The Audit Wales Representative acknowledged the comment, explaining that while they could not provide input on policy decisions, they were permitted to audit how the policy was implemented. They agreed to consider this and would report to the Committee in due course. For clarification, the Head of Housing informed Members that Local Government housing allowances were set by UK Government policy, not the Welsh Government. • Members shared their difficult experiences with homelessness in their wards and expressed disappointment over the recent negative comments about Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs), noting that three proposals were recently rejected by the Planning Committee. They felt that, when properly managed, HMOs provide an essential option for temporary housing. The Head of Housing agreed with the comments raised and stated that the Committee would be receiving a report in the new year on HMO’s. • To better understand the nature of the ‘long term crises’, it was noted that comprehensive data on volume and projected pressures must be gathered to accurately forecast demand for temporary accommodation. The Head of Housing stated that approximately 1,800 individuals experiencing homelessness approached the Council during the past year, a figure which has remained stable over the last 24 months. However, it is anticipated that this number may rise moderately due to the implementation of new homelessness legislation scheduled for 2027. Currently, 170 households are living in temporary accommodation, a 50% rise over five years, with a modest further increase being expected. With effective prevention and improved accommodation options, projections indicate that numbers should stabilise and eventually decline as supply grows. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 3.1 the findings and recommendations of the Audit Wales report be noted; 3.2 the Carmarthenshire County Council response to the recommendations of the report relevant to the Council be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 4.1 the Internal Audit Plan Update 2025/26 be received; 4.2 the request to defer the Cyber Security and Risk Management Arrangements elements of the Internal Audit Plan be accepted.
The Committee considered an update report on the implementation of the Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26 as at 11th December 2025. The Committee duly reviewed the progress made in respect of the delivery of the audit programme which showed a completion rate of 53% against a target of 55%. Members were made aware that there had been a vacancy within the team since July 2025 which had a minor impact on the delivery of the plan. The Principal Auditor requested the Committee's approval to defer the Cyber Security and Risk Management reviews, noting that Audit Wales had recently examined these areas. The Cyber Security review was addressed under agenda item 14, and the Risk Management review report would be presented to the Committee in March 2026. In regard to Report B of the Internal Audit Update of the Audit Review Appointeeships (2025/26) within the Social Care and Housing Department, the Principal Auditor reported that the actions in relation to the two recommendations within the following areas had been completed:- • Governance arrangements • Financial management and control UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 4.1 the Internal Audit Plan Update 2025/26 be received; 4.2 the request to defer the Cyber Security and Risk Management Arrangements elements of the Internal Audit Plan be accepted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 5.1 the Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025-2030 be received; 5.2 subject to the consideration to include the process of handling concerns at top management level, the Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025-2030 be approved.
The Committee received for the Anit-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025-2030 for approval. Members noted that Carmarthenshire County Council has a zero-tolerance stance to all forms of fraud, corruption and theft, both from within the Council and from external sources. It was reported that good Corporate Governance required the Council to clearly demonstrate its commitment to preventing and addressing fraud and corruption, ensuring that all cases were dealt with fairly and consistently, whether they involve Members, employees, or external parties. The report highlighted that the current strategy 2020-2025 had been reviewed and updated and provided a summary of the key changes. The following queries/comments were raised in relation to the report: • It was observed that, in the event of a complaint involving the Leader, Chief Executive, or S151 Officer, the Strategy does not seem to address matters concerning the upper levels of the Council’s structure. The Head of Revenues and Financial Compliance explained that the report was inclusive of all staff and all Members and all providers, suppliers and contractors and therefore it was felt that it was not necessary to single out specific job roles. The Principal Auditor further stated that it was considered inappropriate to single out any individual staff member in the Strategy, as the document advocates a uniform approach and applies zero tolerance to all forms of fraud, corruption, and theft. In response to an additional query regarding the procedure for handling complaints made against the Chief Executive, the Head of Revenues and Financial Compliance clarified that the S151 Officer would be responsible for conducting any such investigations. In cases involving serious concerns, the matter would be referred to the police. Members were advised that regular meetings with the police were held to discuss the handling of potential instances of fraud and corruption within the Authority. The Director of Corporate Services stated that, as a Statutory Officer backed by legislation, the S151 Officer can report directly to Members when needed. It was raised, however, that the report did not clearly articulate the process for managing complaints at the highest level in the Authority and it was strongly suggested that this be included. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 5.1 the Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025-2030 be received; 5.2 subject to the consideration to include the process of handling concerns at top management level, the Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025-2030 be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 6.1 the Council Complaints Annual Report 2024-25 be approved; 6.2 the data and information included in terms of compliance with the Corporate Complaints Policy and Social Services (Complaints Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2014 and Welsh Government’s ‘A guide to handling complaints and representations by local authority Social Services be received.
The Committee received for consideration the Complaints Annual Report 2024-25 which provided an overview of corporate and social services related complaints received and closed by the Council during the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025. The annual report also detailed compliance with the Social Services (Complaints Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2014 and Welsh Government’s ‘A guide to handling complaints and representations by local authority Social Services’. The Corporate Policy and Partnership Manager highlighted to the Committee the key changes that had been included within the report. Following the increase in the number of corporate complaints received in recent years, it was pleasing to report that during 2024-25, the number had reduced however, Members were informed that due to the nature of complaints becoming more complex and the communication from complainants becoming more detailed, the level of support and advice required from the corporate team for officers in departments has also increased. Members were provided with a concise verbal summary of the complaint figures for the current 2025/26 period for their information. • It was commented that the report had developed over the years with the incorporation of suggestions provided by Members of the Governance and Audit Committee, resulting in a document that was both clear and informative. • Reference was made to page 15 of the report. With respect to the data on compliments received by each department, it was suggested that incorporating figures from previous years would be beneficial in illustrating trends, similar to the approach taken with complaint data. • In observing the 2024/25 complaint data which was concerning, it was expressed that the verbal update on the preliminary figures for the 2025/26 period provided reassurance. • Reference was made to the work the contact centre was undertaking to support with updating the Council website to enable customers to self-serve – page 16 of the report. It was asked whether the potential application of artificial intelligence had been considered to help guide complainants towards earlier resolution? The Corporate Policy and Partnership Manager explained that a similar number of redirects and formal complaints were being handled. Although processing redirects was not a mandatory obligation, it was acknowledged that doing so enhances the quality of service provided to customers. To enhance user experience and minimise potential complaints, customers are now directed to report their issues or concerns through a form available on the Council website. This approach has already shown positive results. In terms of the use of artificial intelligence, this was currently being explored. • Reference was made to page 39 of the report – Training. It was suggested that, to ensure all necessary staff members receive training, it would be helpful to provide both the percentage of staff who attended and the total number of attendees. The Corporate Policy and Partnership Manager agreed to include this in future reports. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 6.1 the Council Complaints Annual Report 2024-25 be approved; 6.2 the data and information included in terms of compliance with the Corporate Complaints Policy and Social Services (Complaints Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2014 and Welsh Government’s ‘A guide to handling complaints and representations by local authority Social Services be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that 7.1 the Ombudsman’s Annual Letter 2024/25 Carmarthenshire County Council be received; 7.2 the Committee observations and comments be included in the response to the PSOW.
The Committee received the Ombudsman’s Annual Letter 2024/25 Carmarthenshire County Council, for consideration. The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) on an annual basis provided every Welsh Local Authority with a letter in the form of a fact sheet and accompanying data in order to assist with understanding performance. The report provided a summary of the information contained within the letter which included factsheets to aid in understanding the breakdown of the information. It was highlighted that the number of new cases the PSOW received relating to local authorities was 1,137 which was an increase of 20% from last year. It was reported that the main complaint subjects accounting for the increase related to social services; environment and environmental health; and housing. 86 complaints were received about Carmarthenshire County Council in 2024/25, an increase of 14% on last year, it was noted that all 86 cases had been closed. More information was provided within Appendix A of the letter where a further breakdown into the subject areas was provided within Appendix B. The rate of interventions was for CCC was 11 cases, as shown at Appendix C. Appendix D provided a list of complaint outcomes. The PSOW made 56 recommendations to CCC, with 67% being completed within the timescale agreed as compared to 52% last year. Of the remainder there has not been a report of non-compliance so they would have been complied with but outside the required time. The figures were provided at Appendix E. Figures relating to the Code of Conduct Complaints Closed and Town/Community Council Code of Complaints were provided at Appendices F and G respectively. The following queries/comments were raised in relation to the report and/or letter: · A query was raised regarding the discrepancy in figures cited on pages 7 (Appendix A) and page 12 (Appendix F) of the Ombudsman’s Letter. It was guessed that the discrepancy was likely attributable to several complaints still being under investigation. The Business Support Manager indicated that she would provide clarification regarding the difference after the meeting. · The Chair emphasised that the Committee's responsibility was to provide comments on the letter from the PSOW, and recommended that the response note the Committee’s consideration of the PSOW’s letter and that the Council's implementation of processes in regard to complaints aimed at achieving a positive outcome for 2025/26. The proposal was duly seconded. · Reference was made to Appendix E. With respect to the 27 recommendations due in 2024/25 and the 67% compliance rate aligned with the agreed target date, it was asked if the Committee would be informed about the implementation status of these recommendations in future letters? The Chair agreed and suggested that this be incorporated into the response to the PSOW. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that 7.1 the Ombudsman’s Annual Letter 2024/25 Carmarthenshire County Council be received; 7.2 the Committee observations and comments be included in the response to the PSOW.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 8.1 the findings and recommendations of the Carmarthenshire Panel Performance Assessment be noted; 8.2. the Council’s draft response to the report and recommendations and provide be approved.
The Committee received a report on the Carmarthenshire Panel Performance Assessment together with the Council’s response. The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 places a duty on councils to arrange for a panel to undertake and respond to a corporate, organisational level assessment, at least once during the period between two consecutive ordinary elections of councillors to the council, of the extent to which the council is meeting its performance requirements The Leader in presenting the report, informed the Committee that the Carmarthenshire PPA was carried out between 10-13 June 2025 with a feedback presentation provided to the Council outlining the key findings as detailed within the report. It was reported that the Council was now at Stage 3 (Follow Up) of the process and had received the final report and recommendations of the Panel. The report comes to the following overall Conclusion: ‘Carmarthenshire is a well-run and values-based organisation with strong and visible leadership at political and Officer level and has an awareness of its key challenges’. The Committee noted that the Council was required to prepare a response to the report stating: • The extent to which it accepts the conclusions in the report • The extent to which the council intends to follow any recommendations contained in the report; and • Any actions it proposes to take to increase the extent to which it meets the performance requirements The Council’s response form appended to the report outlined the actions that was proposed to make progress against the report recommendations in order to further strengthen the Council’s performance requirements. It was reported that after the Committee’s consideration it would be presented to the report, and response would be presented to Cabinet (January 2026) and Full Council (February 2026) for formal approval. The following queries/comments were raised in relation to the report: • Reference was made to page 16 of the report. In observing that the Governance and Audit Committee had been mentioned twice in the report, the Chair commended the work of the Committee under the leadership of the previous Chair and also the recent work in relation its effective oversight of both the impact and costs of children's services, as well as the troubling financial situation of schools, especially those with deficits. • The Director of Corporate Services pointed out the continuing challenges involved in forecasting long-term financial issues. • In noting the positive outcomes it was asked if this could be included onto the Committees Forward Work Plan in order to monitor the progress of the actions. The Corporate Policy and Partnership Manager agreed to provide a progress update at the Committee’s meeting in December 2026. • Regarding the issue of school budget overspending, clarification was requested on the 'licence deficit' policy referenced in the recommendations on page 13 of the report. The Director of Corporate Services clarified that this policy formed part of the fair funding scheme. If school governors and the headteacher determine they were unable to balance their budget for a given year, they were required to submit a proposal to the Council outlining how the deficit would be addressed, subject to approval, over subsequent years. Currently, at least seven licence deficits were being managed through structured plans designed to recover the debt within the next three to four years. • The report was described as positive, with the expectation that the decisions and initiatives outlined would be implemented promptly. • With the challenges posed by future financial circumstances in mind, the Head of Financial Services updated the Committee on an upcoming review to be conducted by Audit Wales concerning council sustainability. It was reported that the Council would feed into to this All-Wales review, which was focussed on evaluating – ‘to what extent local government financial arrangements supporting Council’s to sustainably secure value for money? The results of this evaluation were eagerly awaited. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 8.1 the findings and recommendations of the Carmarthenshire Panel Performance Assessment be noted; 8.2. the Council’s draft response to the report and recommendations and provide be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Progress on Regulatory Report Recommendations be received.
The Committee received for consideration the progress on the Regulatory Report Recommendations. The purpose of the report was to monitor Management’s response to the external auditor’s findings and the implementation of the external auditor’s recommendations in accordance with item 6 of the terms of reference of the Governance and Audit Committee requirement to have oversight of the Authority’s external audit arrangements The report contained information on the on-going recommendations from past reports that were still active and recommendations that had been completed and closed during the last year. The following queries/comments were raised in relation to the report: • In highlighting that the training of safeguarding was mandatory, concern was raised that the e-mail reminders had been turn off. The Chief Digital Officer noted the comment and explained that discussions had taken place with Learning and Development and this would be re-instated shortly. A query was raised about whether new Lay-Members of the Governance and Audit Committee and Standards Committee must complete mandatory training. The Director of Corporate Services confirmed that mandatory training is required upon appointment and will be arranged through Democratic Services. The Chief Digital Officer will also coordinate with Learning and Development. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Progress on Regulatory Report Recommendations be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Governance and Audit Committee Action Log be received.
The Committee considered the Governance and Audit Committee Action Log detailing the actions to be monitored/progressed from previous meetings. The Head of Financial Services and the Director of Corporate Services gave a verbal update on the budget challenges schools are currently facing. They also mentioned that discussions are underway about forming an Intervention Board, which is expected to be established early next year. With reference to the ‘Risk Register In-Depth Review’, the Director of Corporate Services advised that the revised target date of March 2026 reflects the timeframe required to implement and assess the new initiatives. The updated date relates to the progression and evaluation of these actions along with the completed full review. While progress was noted, concerns arose about some schools not participating in the process. The Director of Corporate Services explained that School Governors had a responsibility to respond to feedback. It was commented that the issue of school overspending was brought up during a training session a year ago, where it was suggested that certain schools might need special measures. It was felt that efforts to address this issue had been slow to start. The Director of Corporate Services acknowledged delays but assured that substantial effort and resources had been allocated to support schools, despite ongoing challenges. While recognising the dedication of most school governing bodies, it was noted that those few not actively engaged in reducing deficits may require a more assertive approach, as their lack of involvement indicates a neglect of their responsibilities as a governing body. A question was raised regarding whether sufficient data had been collected to provide a forecast of potential savings. The Director of Corporate Services reported that while some changes affecting primary schools had been implemented and could be projected moving forward, other areas were still in progress. Discussions concerning secondary schools remain ongoing, therefore, it was currently not possible to provide a forecasting position at this time. Other challenges in respect of footprint changes and political changes make it difficult to predict what may occur over the next 5 years. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Governance and Audit Committee Action Log be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 11.1 the Corporate Governance Group – Actions/Progress Update appended to the report be received; 11.2 Members of the Committee provide their comments via email no later than 7th January 2026.
The Committee received the Corporate Governance Group – Actions/ Progress Update within the Annual Governance Statement for consideration. The key changes affecting the Annual Governance Statement were highlighted to the Committee. Reference was made to action AGS 2023/24 No.10 – Social Partnership Annual Report, which indicated that the report would be appended to the Council’s Annual Report 2024/25. It was raised that this Committee holds responsibility for making recommendations to the Council regarding the Annual Report, and therefore, it was suggested that the Committee should have an opportunity to review the Social Partnership Annual Report. It was agreed that the Corporate Policy and Partnership Manager would distribute the document, along with a summary of key changes, to Committee Members following the meeting for their comments. The Committee acknowledged the limited timeframe for submitting feedback to be incorporated into the final Council Annual Report 2024/25, which is scheduled for presentation to the full Council for approval on 28th January 2026. Accordingly, it was proposed and duly seconded that Committee Members submit their comments via e-mail by no later than 7 January 2026. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 11.1 the Corporate Governance Group – Actions/Progress Update appended to the report be received; 11.2 Members of the Committee provide their comments via email no later than 7th January 2026.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee held on the 24th September 2025 be signed as a correct record.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items as the reports contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.
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