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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: 5.1 the workforce challenges facing public protection services in Wales be noted. 5.2 the impact on food hygiene and food standards delivery in Carmarthenshire be noted. 5.3 the risk-based approach and mitigation measures in place be acknowledged. 5.4 continued engagement with Welsh Government and national partners on workforce sustainability be supported.
RESOLVED to approve the proposal to relocate Ysgol Heol Goffa to a new site and increase its capacity to 150 pupil places.
RESOLVED to endorse the updated Model Teachers’ Pay Policy 2025/26 prior to circulation to schools for formal adoption by their Governing Bodies.
RESOLVED that the report be deferred to a future meeting to allow the Cabinet to receive more detail on the proposals.
RESOLVED having considered the responses received as outlined in the Objection Report, to recommend to Council the implementation of the proposal as laid out in the Statutory Notice, to discontinue Ammanford Nursery School and extend the age range of Ysgol Bro Banw and Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman to 3-11.
RESOLVED having considered the responses received as outlined in the Objection Report, to recommend to Council the implementation of the proposal as laid out in the Statutory Notice, to change the age range from 4-11 to 3-11 at the following primary schools: Cwrt Henri, Llanybydder, Tumble, and Y Ddwylan.
RESOLVED having considered the responses received as outlined in the Consultation Report, to proceed with the publication of Statutory Notices to implement the proposals to discontinue Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol y Fro.
RESOLVED that 12.1 the capital programme update report is received. 12.2 the new projects as set out in the report are noted and agreed.
RESOLVED that the Budget Monitoring report be received.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor P.M. Hughes.
Councillor Minute Number Nature of Interest L.D. Evans 6. PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE YSGOL HEOL GOFFA TO A NEW SITE AND INCREASE ITS CAPACITY TO 150 A relation works in Ysgol Heol Goffa. L.D. Evans 7. MODEL TEACHERS' PAY POLICY 2025/26 (UPDATED MARCH 2026) Her daughter is a teacher with the Authority. A. Vaughan Owen 7. MODEL TEACHERS' PAY POLICY 2025/26 (UPDATED MARCH 2026) His wife is a member of teaching staff at a school in the County.
The Chair advised that no questions on notice had been submitted by members. However, she had received notification from Councillor M.J.A. Lewis that she would like to make representations in relation to agenda item 11, and this would be addressed under the appropriate item later in the meeting.
The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that: 5.1 the workforce challenges facing public protection services in Wales be noted. 5.2 the impact on food hygiene and food standards delivery in Carmarthenshire be noted. 5.3 the risk-based approach and mitigation measures in place be acknowledged. 5.4 continued engagement with Welsh Government and national partners on workforce sustainability be supported.
The Cabinet was asked to consider and respond to a referral from the Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee made in connection to the off-target measures regarding the Delivery of Food Hygiene and Food Standards Services. The Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting held on 10th March 2026, considered the 2025/2026 End of Quarter 3 Performance Report and raised concerns in relation to the target measures - PP/FOOD/001, PP/FOOD/002 and PPN/001i as stated within page 2 of the report. Following a lengthy discussion the Committee resolved to refer the matter to the Cabinet with a detailed report to be considered. The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability presented the report and thanked the Scrutiny Committee and its Chair at the time for the referral and officers for their response. He noted the challenges of sustained national shortages of suitably qualified environmental health and food competent officers, and that this impacted the delivery of statutory inspections. These workforce challenges are structural and long-term and while they have affected the pace of lower risk inspections the Authority has prioritised protecting public health through a strong focus on high-risk premises, new businesses, complaints and food incidents. This ensures that no premises are excluded from regulation where risk is identified. It was noted that this was not a sustainable position and without timely and effective solutions to the underlying workforce challenges there would be a growing risk of increased blockages, reduced resilience in responding to incidents, and increased staff burnout - which could impact staff retention. The Cabinet Member noted the commitment, professionalism and resilience of the staff to continue to deliver these services. A question was asked on the current staffing levels, and the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability advised that there were currently six full time staff and two employed on a casual basis. He noted that recruitment was ongoing for another full-time member of staff, and the department was exploring other options including graduate schemes and apprenticeships to attract new staff. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 5.1 the workforce challenges facing public protection services in Wales be noted. 5.2 the impact on food hygiene and food standards delivery in Carmarthenshire be noted. 5.3 the risk-based approach and mitigation measures in place be acknowledged. 5.4 continued engagement with Welsh Government and national partners on workforce sustainability be supported.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to approve the proposal to relocate Ysgol Heol Goffa to a new site and increase its capacity to 150 pupil places.
[NOTES: The Chair varied the order of agenda items and took this item and item 7 after item 13. Councillor L.D Evans (Chair) having earlier declared an interest in this item, re-declared her interest and left the meeting for its consideration. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair presided for this item] The Cabinet received the Consultation Document and Impact Assessment Pack relating to the proposal to relocate Ysgol Heol Goffa to a new site and increase its capacity to 150. The Cabinet Member for Education presented the report and advised that the proposal would enhance ALN education provision in Llanelli. He noted that the existing school needed more space; the new building would provide this, and 30 more places than the previous scheme. He thanked the Director of Education for his work on this report and for the collaboration with the Headteacher and Chair of Governors and advised the County and the school have been working closely on the schedule of accommodation. It was also noted that 75% of the funding would come from Welsh Government and that the Cabinet Member was confident that they would approve the business plan when submitted. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the proposal to relocate Ysgol Heol Goffa to a new site and increase its capacity to 150 pupil places.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to endorse the updated Model Teachers’ Pay Policy 2025/26 prior to circulation to schools for formal adoption by their Governing Bodies.
[NOTES: The Chair varied the order of agenda items and took this item after item 6, at the end of the meeting. Councillors L.D. Evans (Chair) and A. Vaughan-Owen, having earlier declared interests in this item, re-declared their interests and left the meeting for its consideration. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair presided for this item] The Cabinet received a report updating the Model Teachers’ Pay Policy 2025/26. The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism presented the report and noted that the policy had been updated to reflect amendments to the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions (Wales) Document 2025, as revised in March 2026. She noted that the changes enabled the Authority to implement Recommendations 4 and 5 of the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body’s Fifth Report (2024), which provide for Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinators (ALNCos) to move to the Leadership Group Pay and Conditions. She noted that the most significant change arising from the move of the ALNCo role from the Main Teachers’ Pay Scale to the Leadership Pay Range relates to working days and specified working hours. The Cabinet Member noted that in summary, the move of the ALNCo role to the Leadership Pay Range formally recognised the strategic, whole-school leadership responsibilities associated with the role. The change in pay and conditions reflected increased professional autonomy and flexibility rather than any increase in directed or specified working hours and was a key step in supporting the effective embedding of the ALN system across schools in Wales. The Cabinet noted the importance of ALNCos to schools and the importance of these changes to further support them, but that it was important that Governing Bodies look at these proposals in detail before adopting them. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to endorse the updated Model Teachers’ Pay Policy 2025/26 prior to circulation to schools for formal adoption by their Governing Bodies.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be deferred to a future meeting to allow the Cabinet to receive more detail on the proposals.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be deferred to a future meeting to allow the Cabinet to receive more detail on the proposals.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED having considered the responses received as outlined in the Objection Report, to recommend to Council the implementation of the proposal as laid out in the Statutory Notice, to discontinue Ammanford Nursery School and extend the age range of Ysgol Bro Banw and Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman to 3-11.
The Cabinet received a report on the proposal to reconfigure nursery provision in Ammanford. The Cabinet Member for Education presented the report and noted that it was part of the Authority’s efforts to give every child the best start in education at three years old. There are currently 42 schools offering education from three years old, and the Authority is committed to increasing that number. The Cabinet Member noted the uniqueness of Ammanford Nursery being the County’s only maintained nursery school, providing nursery education on a full-time basis from the age of 3, and that this did not provide equality of provision with the rest of Carmarthenshire. To provide this equality of provision, the proposal was to close Ammanford Nursery and extend the age range of Ysgol Bro Banw and Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman to 3-11. He noted that the report summarised the objections and that he and officers had considered all of these in detail. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED having considered the responses received as outlined in the Objection Report, to recommend to Council the implementation of the proposal as laid out in the Statutory Notice, to discontinue Ammanford Nursery School and extend the age range of Ysgol Bro Banw and Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman to 3-11.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED having considered the responses received as outlined in the Objection Report, to recommend to Council the implementation of the proposal as laid out in the Statutory Notice, to change the age range from 4-11 to 3-11 at the following primary schools: Cwrt Henri, Llanybydder, Tumble, and Y Ddwylan.
The Cabinet received a report setting out the proposal to change the age range from 4-11 to 3-11 at the following primary schools: Cwrt Henri, Llanybydder, Tumble, and Y Ddwylan. The Cabinet Member for Education presented the report and noted the benefits of receiving education from three years old, and that the proposal was to add to the number of schools who provided this. He advised that the responses in the Objection Report had been considered and noted the full schemes as set out in the Statutory Notices. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED having considered the responses received as outlined in the Objection Report, to recommend to Council the implementation of the proposal as laid out in the Statutory Notice, to change the age range from 4-11 to 3-11 at the following primary schools: Cwrt Henri, Llanybydder, Tumble, and Y Ddwylan.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED having considered the responses received as outlined in the Consultation Report, to proceed with the publication of Statutory Notices to implement the proposals to discontinue Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol y Fro.
The Cabinet received the Consultation Reports for Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol y Fro, relating to the proposals to discontinue both schools. The Cabinet Member for Education presented the report and noted the background to the proposals, along with the results of the Consultation Reports. The Cabinet had received proposal papers regarding Ysgol Gynradd Meidrim and Ysgol Gynradd y Fro at its meeting on 17th November 2025 that noted the recommendation of discontinuation based on the key challenges faced by the schools. The Cabinet Member noted the public consultation had taken place, and that a number of responses were received to the consultations: 260 for Ysgol Gynradd Meidrim (247 noting concerns and 13 supportive comments) and 71 for Ysgol Gynradd Y Fro (65 noting concerns, 5 supportive and 1 neutral comments). He thanked everyone who took the time to respond and noted that expansive and considerate responses had been provided to each of these individual themes, inclusive of mitigating measures, where required. The Cabinet Member advised that having carefully considered the responses received during the consultation period, he recommended that the proposals to close Ysgol Gynradd Meidrim and Ysgol Gynradd y Fro proceed to the statutory notice stage. The Chair advised that she had agreed for Councillor M.J.A. Lewis to make a statement to the Cabinet. The Chair invited Councillor Lewis to make her representation in respect of Ysgol Meidrim. Councillor Lewis, the local Member for Meidrim, provided a representation opposing the preferred option stated within the report. The salient points were as follows: - Closing the school would cause fewer young families to live in the village if there is no school there and have a detrimental effect on the long-term sustainability of the community, leading to the weakening of other services. - The amount of money saved by closing the school would be a relatively small one and additional money would be spent on pupil transport to alternative schools. - That the closure would be detrimental to the Council’s obligations under the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act. - That the closure would be detrimental to the Welsh Language. - Other realistic options including federation, shared leadership, expanding early years provision and use as a community hub had been offered by the community. These proposals had received support from organisations and external experts and were based on successful examples in other parts of Wales. - Keeping the school open would be an investment in the community’s future. The Cabinet Member for Resources noted that one reason for the school’s closure was long-term demographic changes including lowering birth rates. He also noted that while this was understandable due to parental choice, over 20 children in the catchment area for Meidrim attended other schools. There were also 66 pupils in catchment of Y Fro who went to other schools. He also observed that the closure of Meidrim could strengthen Hafodwenog, a nearby Welsh Medium School. A question was asked regarding the ongoing judicial review and the Cabinet Member for Education advised that a hearing had been held on the 19th May and a judgement was expected by 9th June. He advised that whilst waiting for that judgement the Authority would continue to move ahead with the statutory process and would consider the substance of the determination when received. The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability recognised the strength of feeling within communities when school closures were proposed, and acknowledged the efforts made to propose alternative options to try to preserve schools that are so important to communities. He noted that closing a school was always difficult and that it was never taken lightly, but that the authority had a responsibility to consider the education and wellbeing of every pupil across the county. The evidence presented highlighted the long-term trends of declining pupil numbers and increasing challenges. He noted the importance of Governing Bodies in responding to these challenges to ensure a school’s long-term viability. The Leader of the Council also noted how tough a decision it had been and how much thought and consideration had been given. She noted the possibility of the school’s future usage as a community facility, as had happened with previously closed schools. In response to a question from the Leader regarding alternative plans, the Cabinet Member for Education advised that the governors at Ysgol Meidrim had brought an alternative to the Authority. Officers had sought permission to publish the revised proposal as an addendum during consultation, which would have allowed further responses, but this was not agreed by the governing body. However, two officers who do not work on the Modernising Education Programme had visited the school to discuss the proposed plans. An in-depth analysis of the alternative options was provided within the consultation report, along with any other alternative options presented by stakeholders as part of the consultation period. The Leader of the Council noted that this was not the end of the process, that the Statutory Notices would be published for 28 days, then a report on any objections to the notice would come back to Cabinet and then County Council for a final determination. RESOLVED having considered the responses received as outlined in the Consultation Report, to proceed with the publication of Statutory Notices to implement the proposals to discontinue Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol y Fro.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that 12.1 the capital programme update report is received. 12.2 the new projects as set out in the report are noted and agreed.
The Cabinet received an update on the 2025/26 Capital Programme. The Cabinet Member for Resources presented the report and noted that it outlined the approved budgets for both the HRA and General Fund, incorporating funding carried forward from the previous year. The total capital budget for 2025/26 stands at £235.5m gross and £129m net. The Cabinet Member also noted that as at the end of December, the forecast net spend was £93.7m, resulting in a variance of £35.3m below budget. These forecasts remained consistent with the December monitoring update. He noted key updates including continued progress on improving housing stock, full spend on the Disabled Facilities Grants programme, ongoing health fit‑out works at Canolfan Pentre Awel, near‑completion of the Market Street North development, steady progress on the Ysgol Bryngwyn extension and continued collaboration with Welsh Government on forthcoming school developments. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that 12.1 the capital programme update report is received. 12.2 the new projects as set out in the report are noted and agreed.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Budget Monitoring report be received.
The Cabinet received an update on the latest budgetary position as at 28th February 2026, in respect of 2025/26. The Cabinet Member for Resources presented the report and noted the report set out a forecast overspend of £10.6m for the financial year. He noted that although this was an improvement of £1m on the previous position, it still represented a significant and concerning gap between budget and expected spend. The overspend was mainly driven by ongoing demand pressures in core frontline services, particularly: Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Education. It was noted that the position was partly mitigated by short-term financial offsets, including £2.9m of capital financing underspends and additional funding that helped counteract cost pressures such as National Insurance increases. However, these measures did not address the underlying causes of the overspend. The Cabinet Member advised that the report highlighted continuing structural financial pressures and reinforced the need for ongoing management action and longer-term financial sustainability measures. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Budget Monitoring report be received.
The Chair advised that there were no items of urgent business.
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