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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED : 6.1 that the report be noted and endorsed as the provisional capital programme for consultation purposes; 6.2 that the report be considered by the Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee on 30th January, 2026.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:- 7.1 to increase the average housing rent by 4.3% (£4.67) per dwelling per week within the parameters of the WG Social Housing Rents Policy (inclusive of progression for tenants below target rents). This produces a sustainable Business Plan, maintains WHQS 2023 and resources the Housing Regeneration Steering Group delivery plan; 7.2 to continue with a maximum progression of £2.55 for rents below the proposed rent for each stock type; 7.3 to increase garage rents by 4.3% from £9.86 to £10.28 and garage bases from £2.28 to £2.38; 7.4 to apply the amended Service Charge Policy to ensure tenants who receive the benefit from specific services pay for those services; 7.5 to increase charges for using our sewerage treatment works in line with rent increase; 7.6 to approve the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2026/29 (2027/28 & 2028/29 being soft budgets) as set out in Appendix A; 7.7 to approve the proposed Capital Programme and applicable funding for 2026/27 and the indicative spends for 2027/28 to 2028/29 as set out in Appendix B.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:- 8.1 to confirm the vision, priorities and areas for improvement for our housing investment programmes over the next three years; 8.2 to agree that the 2026/27 Business Plan can be submitted to Welsh Government; 8.3 to note our commitment to continuing to improve the responsive repair service and setting up a new minor works team; 8.4 to note our plans to bring the responsive repair team and the estate and tenancy management team together; 8.5 to note our approach to estate and tenancy management, ensuring that our housing officers are more visible and accessible on our estates, balancing the support required by tenants and the need to take enforcement action when required; 8.6 to note our commitment to working with tenants to help shape our future services and improve tenant satisfaction levels; 8.7 to note our commitment to ensure the highest standard of compliance with legislative, regulatory and local policy requirements; 8.8 to note our commitment to keeping the number of void properties as low as possible; 8.9 to note our priority to increase the supply of affordable homes in all areas of the County, including building large sites exclusively for Council housing, increasing the supply of single person/temporary supported/specialist accommodation and supporting wider regeneration initiatives including Town Centres and Tyisha; 8.10 to note the importance of the investment included in this plan and its role in stimulating the local economy and creating local jobs and training opportunities;
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL 9.1 to formally adopt the standard all-Wales Council Tax Reduction scheme provided for in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013; 9.2 to implement the annual up-rating figures (used in entitlement calculations) and other technical amendments, included in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2026 due to come into effect 23rd January 2026 and these Regulations apply in relation to a council tax reduction scheme made for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2026; 9.3 to continue to exercise its discretion with regard to the limited discretionary elements of the prescribed scheme as outlined in the Executive Summary.
RESOLVED that: 10.1 the budget monitoring report be received and the budgetary position and appropriate corrective action taken be noted; 10.2 Chief Officers and Heads of Service critically review options available to them to address the ongoing impact of the significant overspends in their specific budget areas.
RESOLVED: 11.1 that the Capital Programme update report 2025/26 be received; 11.2 that the new projects, as detailed within the report, be noted and agreed, to be funded from current year capital charges underspends.
RESOLVED to approve the draft Generative AI Policy.
RESOLVED that the Ombudsman’s Annual Letter 2024/25 Carmarthenshire County Council be received.
There were no apologies for absence.
There were no declarations of personal interest.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 15th December, 2025 be signed as a correct record.
The Chair advised that no questions on notice had been submitted by members.
The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED : 6.1 that the report be noted and endorsed as the provisional capital programme for consultation purposes; 6.2 that the report be considered by the Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee on 30th January, 2026.
Cabinet considered a report detailing the latest proposals for the five-year capital programme 2026/27 to 2030/31 which formed the basis of the budget consultation process with members and other relevant parties. Feedback from this consultation process, along with any updates, would inform the final Capital Programme budget report to be presented to Cabinet and County Council in February 2026. It was noted that the five-year capital investment totalled £147 million, allocated as follows: • £25m for school buildings and children’s homes, • £13m for Disability Facilities Grants, • £15m for Social Services (including a new residential care home and children’s homes), • £30m for Economic Development, • £53m for highways and recycling infrastructure, • £4m for digital IT infrastructure, • £1m for Burry Port Harbour and • £6m for a corporate investment fund for future projects. Cabinet was advised that the proposed programme was funded by an estimated £106m from council sources (including borrowing, reserves, revenue funding, and capital receipts) and £38m from external grants. It was noted that there was currently a funding shortfall of £5.6m in the first year and £2.8m across the programme, which would require further funding or adjustments to the investment scope. The Cabinet was advised that the programme would be considered by the Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee on 30th January, 2026. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED : 6.1 that the report be noted and endorsed as the provisional capital programme for consultation purposes; 6.2 that the report be considered by the Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee on 30th January, 2026.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:- 7.1 to increase the average housing rent by 4.3% (£4.67) per dwelling per week within the parameters of the WG Social Housing Rents Policy (inclusive of progression for tenants below target rents). This produces a sustainable Business Plan, maintains WHQS 2023 and resources the Housing Regeneration Steering Group delivery plan; 7.2 to continue with a maximum progression of £2.55 for rents below the proposed rent for each stock type; 7.3 to increase garage rents by 4.3% from £9.86 to £10.28 and garage bases from £2.28 to £2.38; 7.4 to apply the amended Service Charge Policy to ensure tenants who receive the benefit from specific services pay for those services; 7.5 to increase charges for using our sewerage treatment works in line with rent increase; 7.6 to approve the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2026/29 (2027/28 & 2028/29 being soft budgets) as set out in Appendix A; 7.7 to approve the proposed Capital Programme and applicable funding for 2026/27 and the indicative spends for 2027/28 to 2028/29 as set out in Appendix B.
Cabinet considered a report detailing the proposed 2026/27 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for both revenue and capital. The HRA budget for 2026/27 was being set to reflect Welsh Government’s New Policy for Social Housing Rents (Rent Policy) issued 29/09/2025 which instructed that the maximum increase in the rent envelope for any local authority did not exceed 4.3%. It was noted that the report reflected the latest proposals contained in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan, which is the primary financial planning tool for delivering Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) 2023 for the future. The proposed investment within the current business plan provides investment to maintain/deliver WHQS 2023 and continues investment in delivering more affordable homes. Appendix A, appended to report, provided the proposed Revenue Account Budget for 2026/29. Appendix B, appended to the report, provided the proposed Capital Programme for 2026/29. Appendix C provided details of the Affordability Assessment. Appendix D of this report provided details of the minutes from Homes, Regeneration and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee meeting held on the 12th December 2025. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:- 7.1 to increase the average housing rent by 4.3% (£4.67) per dwelling per week within the parameters of the WG Social Housing Rents Policy (inclusive of progression for tenants below target rents). This produces a sustainable Business Plan, maintains WHQS 2023 and resources the Housing Regeneration Steering Group delivery plan; 7.2 to continue with a maximum progression of £2.55 for rents below the proposed rent for each stock type; 7.3 to increase garage rents by 4.3% from £9.86 to £10.28 and garage bases from £2.28 to £2.38; 7.4 to apply the amended Service Charge Policy to ensure tenants who receive the benefit from specific services pay for those services; 7.5 to increase charges for using our sewerage treatment works in line with rent increase; 7.6 to approve the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2026/29 (2027/28 & 2028/29 being soft budgets) as set out in Appendix A; 7.7 to approve the proposed Capital Programme and applicable funding for 2026/27 and the indicative spends for 2027/28 to 2028/29 as set out in Appendix B.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:- 8.1 to confirm the vision, priorities and areas for improvement for our housing investment programmes over the next three years; 8.2 to agree that the 2026/27 Business Plan can be submitted to Welsh Government; 8.3 to note our commitment to continuing to improve the responsive repair service and setting up a new minor works team; 8.4 to note our plans to bring the responsive repair team and the estate and tenancy management team together; 8.5 to note our approach to estate and tenancy management, ensuring that our housing officers are more visible and accessible on our estates, balancing the support required by tenants and the need to take enforcement action when required; 8.6 to note our commitment to working with tenants to help shape our future services and improve tenant satisfaction levels; 8.7 to note our commitment to ensure the highest standard of compliance with legislative, regulatory and local policy requirements; 8.8 to note our commitment to keeping the number of void properties as low as possible; 8.9 to note our priority to increase the supply of affordable homes in all areas of the County, including building large sites exclusively for Council housing, increasing the supply of single person/temporary supported/specialist accommodation and supporting wider regeneration initiatives including Town Centres and Tyisha; 8.10 to note the importance of the investment included in this plan and its role in stimulating the local economy and creating local jobs and training opportunities;
Cabinet considered a report detailing the latest proposals for the revenue and capital budgets for the Housing Revenue Account 2026/2029. The report also detailed how housing rents will increase for 2026/27. The plan outlined the income received from tenants’ rents and other funding sources that enables the Authority to build an investment programme exceeding £302m (Capital - £126m and Revenue - £176m) to deliver services over the next three years. The plan reflected on previous years achievements, areas for improvement and confirmed the priorities and the financial investment plans (based on current assumptions). This would enable the Authority to improve and maintain existing stock, as well as delivering more affordable homes to help meet the unprecedented demand for social housing in the County. It was noted that the plan was based on a projected rent increase of 4.3% for 2026/27, in line with the current WG Rent Policy set by the September inflation rate of 3.8% plus 0.5%. This rent increase would result in an average weekly rent of £113.21. The plan would also allow the Authority to apply for Welsh Government’s Major Repair Allowance (MRA) grant. The MRA application for 2026/27 would equate to £6.2m based on the housing stock numbers. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:- 8.1 to confirm the vision, priorities and areas for improvement for our housing investment programmes over the next three years; 8.2 to agree that the 2026/27 Business Plan can be submitted to Welsh Government; 8.3 to note our commitment to continuing to improve the responsive repair service and setting up a new minor works team; 8.4 to note our plans to bring the responsive repair team and the estate and tenancy management team together; 8.5 to note our approach to estate and tenancy management, ensuring that our housing officers are more visible and accessible on our estates, balancing the support required by tenants and the need to take enforcement action when required; 8.6 to note our commitment to working with tenants to help shape our future services and improve tenant satisfaction levels; 8.7 to note our commitment to ensure the highest standard of compliance with legislative, regulatory and local policy requirements; 8.8 to note our commitment to keeping the number of void properties as low as possible; 8.9 to note our priority to increase the supply of affordable homes in all areas of the County, including building large sites exclusively for Council housing, increasing the supply of single person/temporary supported/specialist accommodation and supporting wider regeneration initiatives including Town Centres and Tyisha; 8.10 to note the importance of the investment included in this plan and its role in stimulating the local economy and creating local jobs and training opportunities;
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL 9.1 to formally adopt the standard all-Wales Council Tax Reduction scheme provided for in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013; 9.2 to implement the annual up-rating figures (used in entitlement calculations) and other technical amendments, included in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2026 due to come into effect 23rd January 2026 and these Regulations apply in relation to a council tax reduction scheme made for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2026; 9.3 to continue to exercise its discretion with regard to the limited discretionary elements of the prescribed scheme as outlined in the Executive Summary.
Cabinet considered a report detailing the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (which replaced Council Tax Benefit in April 2013) for 2026/27. The standard scheme was introduced by Welsh Government for 2013/14 and (with limited amendments) for 2014/15 and subsequent years. Despite being an all Wales scheme, individual Councils are required by the Prescribed Requirements Regulations to formally adopt a Council Tax Reduction Scheme by 31st January each year. The limited areas of local discretion and the policy adopted by Council in respect of those discretions were detailed in the report. Subject to the regulations being approved and coming into force on 23rd January, 2026 it was: UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL 9.1 to formally adopt the standard all-Wales Council Tax Reduction scheme provided for in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013; 9.2 to implement the annual up-rating figures (used in entitlement calculations) and other technical amendments, included in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2026 due to come into effect 23rd January 2026 and these Regulations apply in relation to a council tax reduction scheme made for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2026; 9.3 to continue to exercise its discretion with regard to the limited discretionary elements of the prescribed scheme as outlined in the Executive Summary.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 10.1 the budget monitoring report be received and the budgetary position and appropriate corrective action taken be noted; 10.2 Chief Officers and Heads of Service critically review options available to them to address the ongoing impact of the significant overspends in their specific budget areas.
The Cabinet considered the revenue budget monitoring report which provided the latest budgetary position as at 31st October, 2025 in respect of 2025/26. Overall, the monitoring report forecasted an overspend for the year at departmental level of £13.2m including school budgets, with a forecast overspend on the Authority’s net revenue budget of £10.7m. The forecasted overspend remained significant and had increased at departmental level. It was noted that the key factors contributing to the overspend included: • Persistent high demand and complexity in Adult Social Care, • Ongoing pressures in Children’s Services, notably a more than 50% increase in high-cost residential placements since April last year, • Rising costs in school transport and meal provision. It was critical for Chief Officers and Head of Service to review options available to them to take urgent action to address the ongoing impact of the overspends in their specific budget areas. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 10.1 the budget monitoring report be received and the budgetary position and appropriate corrective action taken be noted; 10.2 Chief Officers and Heads of Service critically review options available to them to address the ongoing impact of the significant overspends in their specific budget areas.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 11.1 that the Capital Programme update report 2025/26 be received; 11.2 that the new projects, as detailed within the report, be noted and agreed, to be funded from current year capital charges underspends.
Cabinet received a report providing an update on the latest budgetary position for the 2025/26 capital programme, as at the 31st October, 2025 and detailed new projects and virements. Appendix A to the report indicated a forecast net spend of £98,218k compared with a working net budget of £133,812k, giving a -£35,594k variance. The net budget included the original H.R.A. and General Fund capital programmes approved by Full Council and slippage from 2024/25. Some of the budgets had also been amended to account for differences in actual grant allocations compared with the anticipated allocations at the time the programme was approved, and new grant awards received during the year to date and virements approved. Appendix B to the report detailed the main variances within each department. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: 11.1 that the Capital Programme update report 2025/26 be received; 11.2 that the new projects, as detailed within the report, be noted and agreed, to be funded from current year capital charges underspends.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to approve the draft Generative AI Policy.
The Cabinet considered the draft Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy which had been designed to guide staff in the use of generative AI tools. It was noted that AI considerations would be integrated into existing organisational policies, from data protection to HR and behavioural standards, to ensure a comprehensive and cohesive approach to AI across the Authority. It was noted that Carmarthenshire County Council’s Generative AI Policy establishes a strategic framework for the responsible and secure use of generative AI (GenAI) technologies across the organisation. The policy would enable the Council to harness GenAI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, to improve productivity, streamline services, and support decision-making, while ensuring ethical standards, data protection, and public accountability are upheld. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the draft Generative AI Policy.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Ombudsman’s Annual Letter 2024/25 Carmarthenshire County Council be received.
The Cabinet considered the Ombudsman’s Annual letter 2024/25 Carmarthenshire County Council along with the fact sheet and accompanying data. It was noted that each year the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales provided every Welsh Local Authority with a letter in the form of a fact sheet and accompanying data to assist them in reviewing performance. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Ombudsman’s Annual Letter 2024/25 Carmarthenshire County Council be received.
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.
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