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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 4.1 the Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2025/26 be received; 4.2 That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee write to the Leader of the Independent Group and Members of the Unaffiliated Group to encourage nominations to be submitted to fill the Committee’s current vacant seats.
RESOLVED that the Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Forward Work Plan for 2026/27 with the addition of the Section 19 Investigation Report – Flooding incidents be endorsed.
RESOLVED that the Revenue & Capital Budget Monitoring Report 2025/26 be received.
RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items for the Committee meeting to be held on the 23rd July 2026 be agreed.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor C. Evans. The Chair welcomed Councillor Crish Davies to the Committee.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor C. Evans. The Chair welcomed Councillor Crish Davies to the Committee.
The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that 4.1 the Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2025/26 be received; 4.2 That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee write to the Leader of the Independent Group and Members of the Unaffiliated Group to encourage nominations to be submitted to fill the Committee’s current vacant seats.
The Committee received its Annual Report on the work undertaken during the 2025/26 municipal year. The report had been prepared in accordance with Article 6.2 of the Council’s Constitution and was presented by the former Chair of Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee. The Annual Report provided an overview of the work programme and key issues addressed, whilst also incorporating any issues referred to, or from, the Cabinet, Task and Finish reviews and development sessions. An expression of gratitude was provided to Committee members for their work and commitment throughout the year and to officers for their invaluable assistance and support. The issues/observations raised by the Committee were addressed as follows:- • Members praised the Task and Finish group for completing the ‘Review of the dog breeding licensing function of the Consumer and Business Affairs Animal Health Team’. However, they stressed the importance of carrying out the recommendations as set out within the Task and Finish Report, emphasising that the Welsh Government needs to heed the report and implement changes. It was noted that an implementation report of the Task and Finish Review was due to be considered by the Committee at its meeting in September 2026. • Reference was made to page 9 of the report – Petition. It was reported that the safety measures carried out in response to the petition have been finished and the had achieved positive results. • The Committee noted that there were three vacancies during the period of 2025/26. Committee Members felt that this was unsatisfactory risking the Committee to be inquorate. It was therefore proposed and duly seconded that the Chair write a letter, on behalf of the Committee to the Leader of the Independent Group and Members of the Unaffiliated Group, encouraging nominations to be submitted in order to fill the current vacant positions. • Members expressed their sincere thanks to Councillor Madge for his Chairmanship and enthusiasm throughout the past year. RESOLVED that 4.1 the Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2025/26 be received; 4.2 That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee write to the Leader of the Independent Group and Members of the Unaffiliated Group to encourage nominations to be submitted to fill the Committee’s current vacant seats.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Forward Work Plan for 2026/27 with the addition of the Section 19 Investigation Report – Flooding incidents be endorsed.
The Committee, in accordance with Article 6.2 of the Council’s constitution, considered its draft Forward Work Plan for 2026/27. The Committee, at its informal Forward Work Plan development session on 24th April 2026 began the process of formulating the forward work plan for 2026/27. The outcome of the development session was now presented to the Committee in the Forward Work Plan for confirmation. Members developed the Committee’s Forward Work Plan considering the issues and any subjects of concern within the remit of the Place, Sustainability & Climate Change Scrutiny Committee. In addition, throughout the year the Committee would refer to the Cabinet’s Forward Work Plan to identify pre-decision reports they wish to place on the Scrutiny Forward Work Plan. It was proposed that the Section 19 Investigation Report on the Flooding Incidents incident that occurred in November 2025 be included onto the Forward Work Plan. RESOLVED that the Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Forward Work Plan for 2026/27 with the addition of the Section 19 Investigation Report – Flooding incidents be endorsed.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the Revenue & Capital Budget Monitoring Report 2025/26 be received.
The Committee considered the 2025/26 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring reports for the Place & Infrastructure and Public Protection Services falling within its remit. The Cabinet Member for Resources presented the report which provided the latest budgetary position as at 28th February 2026. The Cabinet Member summarised the report by stating that there was an overall net revenue overspend of £917,000 representing an increase of £71,000 since the last report. The Service Improvement and Transformation Division was forecasting a net underspend of £54,000, mainly due to vacant posts in the Business Support Unit. The Environmental Infrastructure Division projected an overspend of £647,000, largely attributable to storm damage costs back in November 2025. While the Welsh Government’s Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme had reimbursed expenditure above the threshold, the Authority was required to absorb £658,000 in storm-related costs. Furthermore, the Public Protection Division was forecasting an overspend of £325,000, reflecting a net income shortfall across several units, which included the Financial Investigator Service, Animal Welfare Unit, and Licensing. Reduced activity and unchanged statutory fees since 2005 had contributed to this shortfall. Finally, it was highlighted that additional pressures included £81,000 for animal welfare seizure cases and a grant reduction of £23,000, partially offset by a £160,000 underspend in the Food Safety and Communicable Diseases section. The issues/observations raised by the Committee were addressed as follows:- • Reference was made to the overspend in relation to the Tywi Valley Path cited in Appendix D to the report. Questions were raised about the anticipated final overspend, and further clarification was sought regarding how the maintenance of the path, and how its related costs would be managed. The Strategic Integrated Transport Services Manager responded, stating that ongoing discussions were being held with previous landowners from whom land had been acquired through compulsory purchase orders. A definitive final figure could not yet be determined until all outstanding legal claims had been settled. However, subject to the construction costs which were currently being reviewed, the current overspend was likely be circa £1.6m to £1.8m depending on land negotiations. Regarding the ongoing maintenance of the path, it was reported that both cyclical and reactive maintenance resources and processes had been established with the Public Rights of Way team. Furthermore, corporate discussions were ongoing to address the allocation and securing of a dedicated maintenance budget. It was confirmed that a revenue budget would be applied to ensure that the Towy Valley Path would be maintained to a satisfactory standard. • In concerns raised regarding other budgets potentially being adversely affected to cover the overspend, the Cabinet Member clarified that the expenses related to the Towy Valley Path project were drawn from the Capital budget. • In relation to the funding for the storm recovery last November, it was reported that the news from the World Meteorological Organization [2nd June 2026] indicated an 80% likelihood of an El Niño event during June–August 2026 with probabilities for this to continue until at least November being near or above 90%. In light of this news, it was asked if there had been any considerations made to set aside funding in readiness of any potential storm impact. The Group Accountant confirmed that a £500k budget had been added to the 2026/27 budget to cover severe weather events during the next financial year. • Reference was made to the off target - parking services within Appendix G (iv) and the Introduction of charging at 9 car parks that were currently free. In regard to the comment ‘To be introduced once revised Parking strategy has been approved’, it was asked when the strategy would be approved by Cabinet? The Strategic Integrated Transport Services Manager stated that was anticipated to go through the democratic process in June. RESOLVED that the Revenue & Capital Budget Monitoring Report 2025/26 be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items for the Committee meeting to be held on the 23rd July 2026 be agreed.
The Committee considered the list of forthcoming items to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting scheduled to take place on 23rd July, 2026 and was afforded the opportunity to request for any specific information that Members may wish to include within the reports. RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items for the Committee meeting to be held on the 23rd July 2026 be agreed.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 10th March, 2026 be signed as a correct record.
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