Loading
The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED that the revised Income and Charging Policy be approved.
RESOLVED THAT: 7.1 the proposed Transformation Fund and the Council’s current Invest to Save/Development Funds (corporate and schools) are consolidated into one fund and will be named the Transformation and Innovation Fund be approved; 7.2 the Council will initially set aside funding of £2m to establish the fund, which will be reviewed on an annual basis; 7.3 the Council will use its annual budget process to replenish the fund and will aim to ensure that £2m is available within the fund at the start of the financial year; 7.4 the Council services including schools will be able to submit applications to the fund; 7.5 consideration be given to how the fund could be used to support partnership working with other public sector partners through the use of match-funding; 7.6 services will be able to bid for funding, which will be made available either as an interest free loan (Invest to Save) where funding will need to be repaid, or via an investment grant; 7.7 projects be assessed on their ability to meet specific criteria, including their alignment with key corporate objectives and priorities, their ability to demonstrate clear improved outcomes for customers and enhanced service quality, how they can help mitigate key corporate risks and help respond to the Council’s ongoing financial/budgetary challenges; 7.8 there will be no lower and upper limit applied to the value of funding applications, but it is unlikely that projects requiring investment below £100k will be supported by the fund; 7.9 business case applications for funding, either in the form of an ‘Invest to save’ loan or as an investment grant, be considered by the Council’s Commercialisation Board for scrutiny and challenge; 7.10 successful bids under £250k will require formal delegated approval by the Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Services, with bids over £250k requiring formal Cabinet Member for Resources approval; 7.11 updates on progress and project outcomes be reported to the Transformation Board on a quarterly basis; 7.12 all projects in receipt of Transformation funding, either in the form of an investment grant or invest to save loan, be required to submit an annual report to the Transformation Board which will need to evidence the progress being made in implementing the project and whether projected outcomes are being met; 7.13 the Terms of Reference as set out in Appendix A of the attached report be approved.
RESOLVED THAT: 8.1 an introduction of a simplified tariff structure (with reduction for areas outside of Carmarthen and Llanelli) be approved; 8.2 1-hour free parking be introduced; 8.3 free parking be discontinued; and 8.4 Town Council free parking days be removed.
RESOLVED THAT: 9.1 the revised School Transport Policy, with effect from 1st October, 2026, for implementation in the 2027/2028 academic year, be adopted; 9.2 the eligibility for free home to school transport shall be based on attendance at the designated catchment school, subject to statutory distance and other qualifying criteria and that entitlement to transport to the “nearest school” is removed; 9.3 the policy continues to meet the Council’s statutory obligations under the Leaner Travel (Wales) measure 2008, while reviewing and clarifying the Council’s discretionary transport provision; 9.4 officers be authorised to published the revised policy by 1st October, 2026, in accordance with statutory requirements.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL: 10.1 that the Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance, as set out in the report, be approved for publication for formal public consultation; 10.2 that delegated authority be granted to officers to update or amend any non-substantive factual, typographical or grammatical changes.
RESOLVED that the report be approved.
AGREED THAT the Cabinet Member for Resources represent the Council on the Joint Council for Wales be approved.
There were no apologies for absence received.
There were no declarations of personal interests.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 27th July, 2026 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 that the revised Income and Charging Policy be approved.
The Cabinet received for consideration the Council’s revised Income and Charging Policy. The report noted that the Commercialisation Board had overseen a review of the Council’s Income and Charging Policy which had been first approved in 2017. The Policy had been updated to ensure that it aligned with the key principles and objectives encompassing the Council’s commercialisation Strategy and to reflect the ongoing work to modernise income collection methods. It was noted that the key objectives were to: • Maximise income generation opportunities; • Ensure that fees and charges support and are aligned with the aims and objectives of the Council’s Corporate and Commercialisation Strategies; • Calculate fees on a cost recovery basis; • Consider the cost of collection to ensure that fees and charges are economic to collect; • Minimise debt and late payment; • Ensure quality and consistency and minimise exclusion; • Ensure compliance with legal and statutory requirements; and to • Implement appropriate debt management arrangements. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the revised Income and Charging Policy be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED THAT: 7.1 the proposed Transformation Fund and the Council’s current Invest to Save/Development Funds (corporate and schools) are consolidated into one fund and will be named the Transformation and Innovation Fund be approved; 7.2 the Council will initially set aside funding of £2m to establish the fund, which will be reviewed on an annual basis; 7.3 the Council will use its annual budget process to replenish the fund and will aim to ensure that £2m is available within the fund at the start of the financial year; 7.4 the Council services including schools will be able to submit applications to the fund; 7.5 consideration be given to how the fund could be used to support partnership working with other public sector partners through the use of match-funding; 7.6 services will be able to bid for funding, which will be made available either as an interest free loan (Invest to Save) where funding will need to be repaid, or via an investment grant; 7.7 projects be assessed on their ability to meet specific criteria, including their alignment with key corporate objectives and priorities, their ability to demonstrate clear improved outcomes for customers and enhanced service quality, how they can help mitigate key corporate risks and help respond to the Council’s ongoing financial/budgetary challenges; 7.8 there will be no lower and upper limit applied to the value of funding applications, but it is unlikely that projects requiring investment below £100k will be supported by the fund; 7.9 business case applications for funding, either in the form of an ‘Invest to save’ loan or as an investment grant, be considered by the Council’s Commercialisation Board for scrutiny and challenge; 7.10 successful bids under £250k will require formal delegated approval by the Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Services, with bids over £250k requiring formal Cabinet Member for Resources approval; 7.11 updates on progress and project outcomes be reported to the Transformation Board on a quarterly basis; 7.12 all projects in receipt of Transformation funding, either in the form of an investment grant or invest to save loan, be required to submit an annual report to the Transformation Board which will need to evidence the progress being made in implementing the project and whether projected outcomes are being met; 7.13 the Terms of Reference as set out in Appendix A of the attached report be approved.
The Cabinet considered a report on proposals to establish a Council Transformation Fund. The Fund was intended to support investment in the development and implementation of projects linked to the delivery of the priorities contained within a revised Transformation strategy. The Cabinet board Member for Resources advised that the establishment of the Fund had been proposed in response to the findings and recommendations arising from the PPA exercise undertaken in 2025 and the Audit Wales “Financial Sustainability” review undertaken in 2024. The report noted that the Corporate Management Team (CMT) had recently recommended that the proposed Transformation Fund and the Council’s Invest to Save/Development Fund (corporate and schools) should be consolidated into one Fund. The Cabinet was advised that funding would be made available in two ways; a) investment Grant or b) an interest free loan. An initial allocation of £2m would be allocated to establish the Fund, and the Fund would thereafter be reviewed annually, with the aim of ensuring that £2m was available at the commencement of each financial year. It was noted that both revenue and capital funding would be available through the fund. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT: 7.1 the proposed Transformation Fund and the Council’s current Invest to Save/Development Funds (corporate and schools) are consolidated into one fund and will be named the Transformation and Innovation Fund be approved; 7.2 the Council will initially set aside funding of £2m to establish the fund, which will be reviewed on an annual basis; 7.3 the Council will use its annual budget process to replenish the fund and will aim to ensure that £2m is available within the fund at the start of the financial year; 7.4 the Council services including schools will be able to submit applications to the fund; 7.5 consideration be given to how the fund could be used to support partnership working with other public sector partners through the use of match-funding; 7.6 services will be able to bid for funding, which will be made available either as an interest free loan (Invest to Save) where funding will need to be repaid, or via an investment grant; 7.7 projects be assessed on their ability to meet specific criteria, including their alignment with key corporate objectives and priorities, their ability to demonstrate clear improved outcomes for customers and enhanced service quality, how they can help mitigate key corporate risks and help respond to the Council’s ongoing financial/budgetary challenges; 7.8 there will be no lower and upper limit applied to the value of funding applications, but it is unlikely that projects requiring investment below £100k will be supported by the fund; 7.9 business case applications for funding, either in the form of an ‘Invest to save’ loan or as an investment grant, be considered by the Council’s Commercialisation Board for scrutiny and challenge; 7.10 successful bids under £250k will require formal delegated approval by the Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Services, with bids over £250k requiring formal Cabinet Member for Resources approval; 7.11 updates on progress and project outcomes be reported to the Transformation Board on a quarterly basis; 7.12 all projects in receipt of Transformation funding, either in the form of an investment grant or invest to save loan, be required to submit an annual report to the Transformation Board which will need to evidence the progress being made in implementing the project and whether projected outcomes are being met; 7.13 the Terms of Reference as set out in Appendix A of the attached report be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED THAT: 8.1 an introduction of a simplified tariff structure (with reduction for areas outside of Carmarthen and Llanelli) be approved; 8.2 1-hour free parking be introduced; 8.3 free parking be discontinued; and 8.4 Town Council free parking days be removed.
The Cabinet received for consideration the Carmarthenshire Off Street Parking Strategy report, which provided and evidence-based review of the Council’s off-street parking estate and set out recommendations for the future strategic direction, policy approach, operational management and investment priorities of the service. The report noted that the Council managed 67 off-street car parks, comprising over 5,000 parking spaces and that the strategy had been developed following extensive analysis of parking usage, financial performance, occupancy levels, enforcement activity and public engagement. The Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services advised that the strategy sought to deliver a simple, fair and sustainable parking system that supported accessibility, town centre vitality, financial resilience and carbon reduction objectives. Evidence indicated that short stay parking was the most common usage pattern and that existing free parking periods had limited impact on town centre footfall. The report recommended the introduction of a simplified tariff structure, including one hour of free parking, reduced charges in rural areas, the discontinuation of free parking periods and the removal of Town Council free parking days. It was noted that the preferred option would generate an estimated net financial benefit of £199,632.31 per annum and would support future investment in parking infrastructure, technology, ANPR systems and electric vehicle charging provision. The report noted that the proposals had been considered by Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee on 23rd July 2026, and their observations were included in the report. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT: 8.1 an introduction of a simplified tariff structure (with reduction for areas outside of Carmarthen and Llanelli) be approved; 8.2 1-hour free parking be introduced; 8.3 free parking be discontinued; and 8.4 Town Council free parking days be removed.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED THAT: 9.1 the revised School Transport Policy, with effect from 1st October, 2026, for implementation in the 2027/2028 academic year, be adopted; 9.2 the eligibility for free home to school transport shall be based on attendance at the designated catchment school, subject to statutory distance and other qualifying criteria and that entitlement to transport to the “nearest school” is removed; 9.3 the policy continues to meet the Council’s statutory obligations under the Leaner Travel (Wales) measure 2008, while reviewing and clarifying the Council’s discretionary transport provision; 9.4 officers be authorised to published the revised policy by 1st October, 2026, in accordance with statutory requirements.
The Cabinet received a report seeking approval to adopt a revised School Transport Policy to take effect from 1st October, 2026 for implementation in the 2027/28 academic year. The report noted that the policy had been reviewed following the approval of education catchment areas and home to school transport entitlement. The Cabinet board Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services advised that the policy remained compliant with the requirements of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 and that transitional arrangements had been incorporated to protect affected learners currently receiving transport provision, spare seat allocations, medical eligibility criteria and transport support for sixth form learners. The report noted that the proposals had been considered by the Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee on 23rd July, 2026, which had recommended approval of the revised policy. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT: 9.1 the revised School Transport Policy, with effect from 1st October, 2026, for implementation in the 2027/2028 academic year, be adopted; 9.2 the eligibility for free home to school transport shall be based on attendance at the designated catchment school, subject to statutory distance and other qualifying criteria and that entitlement to transport to the “nearest school” is removed; 9.3 the policy continues to meet the Council’s statutory obligations under the Leaner Travel (Wales) measure 2008, while reviewing and clarifying the Council’s discretionary transport provision; 9.4 officers be authorised to published the revised policy by 1st October, 2026, in accordance with statutory requirements.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL: 10.1 that the Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance, as set out in the report, be approved for publication for formal public consultation; 10.2 that delegated authority be granted to officers to update or amend any non-substantive factual, typographical or grammatical changes.
The Cabinet considered a report on the preparation of Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) to support the implementation of the Revised Local Development Plan (LDP). The Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Communities and Welsh Language advised that the guidance would provide additional detail to assist in the interpretation and application of policies within both the Adopted and Revised LDP. The Four draft SPGs for public consultation included: • Biodiversity and Nature Recovery; • Burry Inlet: Compensatory Surface Water Removal in the Llanelli Wastewater Treatment Works Catchment; • Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows; and • Health Impact Assessments It was noted that the draft SPGs related to the emerging Revised LDP and would support its implementation following its anticipated adoption in Autumn/Winter 2026. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL: 10.1 that the Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance, as set out in the report, be approved for publication for formal public consultation; 10.2 that delegated authority be granted to officers to update or amend any non-substantive factual, typographical or grammatical changes.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be approved.
The Cabinet considered the Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report which provided an update on the treasury management activities from 1st April, 2026 to 30th June, 2026. It was noted that the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy for 2026-2027 was approved by Council on 26th February, 2025. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be approved.
Decision as recorded
AGREED THAT the Cabinet Member for Resources represent the Council on the Joint Council for Wales be approved.
The Cabinet considered the Council’s membership for the Joint Council for Wales (JCW). The report noted that the JCW had recently been reviewed to clarify its strategic purpose and to ensure that its membership and governance arrangements were fit for current and future workforce partnership working. The Leader advised that the amended constitution had a new structure whereby each Council was represented by one representative on the Employer’s side. Under the previous constitution the Authority had appointed two representatives. It was proposed that the Cabinet Member for Resources represented the Council on JCW. UNANIMOUSLY AGREED THAT the Cabinet Member for Resources represent the Council on the Joint Council for Wales be approved.
The Chair advised that there were no items of urgent business.
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.
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.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.