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RESOLVED that the Revenue Budget Outturn Report for 2025/26 be received.
RESOLVED that the Revenue & Capital Monitoring Report for 2026/27 be received.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET/COUNCIL that the Council’s Annual Report for 2025/26 be approved.
RESOLVED that the Peatland Management and Restoration Report be received.
RESOLVED that 8.1 The Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC) Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2026 & Gullies Charging Report be received; 8.2 the potential for the wider roll-out and commercialisation of the EV charging gully scheme, including the level of resident contribution, be further explored; and 8.3 the Committee request that the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability make a representation to UK Government regarding the disparity in VAT applied to public and domestic electric vehicle charging.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET/COUNCIL that the Licensing Act 2003 - Review of Licensing Policy and Cumulative Impact Assessments be approved.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET/COUNCIL that the Review the Policies Relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Operators be approved.
RESOLVED that the report on Climate Action Sir Gar: Our 2025-26 Progress Report on Achieving our 2030 Net Zero Target be received.
RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items for the Committee meeting to be held on the 2nd December 2026 be agreed.
There were no apologies for absence received. The Chair took the opportunity to welcome Councillor Sharen Davies to the Committee as an Independent Member and Mr Daniel Burgess who has been appointed the Head of Place and Sustainability.
Councillor Minute Item(s) Nature of Interest N. Lewis 2. Agenda Item 5 – 3. Revenue & Capital Budget Monitoring Report 2026/27 Agenda Item 8 – Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC) Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2026 & Gullies Charging Report Cllr Lewis works for a Community Interest Company. Cllr Lewis has been granted a dispensation to speak but not vote on matters in relation to council business regarding renewable energy, electric vehicles, energy efficiency and decarbonisation. There were no declarations of prohibited party whips.
The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.
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RESOLVED that the Revenue Budget Outturn Report for 2025/26 be received.
The Committee received for consideration the Revenue Budget Outturn Report for 2025/26 in respect of services within the Place and Infrastructure and Public Protection remit. The report provided the final year-end financial position and details of the principal variances against the agreed budgets. In presenting the report, the Cabinet Member for Resources reported that services within the Place, Sustainability and Climate Change Scrutiny remit had recorded an overall underspend of £1.442 million at the end of the financial year. In relation to the Council’s savings programme, Members were advised that £1.626 million of operational savings had been delivered against a target of £1.709 million. In addition, £19,000 of policy savings had been achieved against a target of £32,000 for 2025/26. The report included a summary of the overall financial position, the main and detailed budget variances, and the year-end position relating to the delivery of savings. It was confirmed that the report had financial implications but that no additional implications had been identified in relation to legal matters, equalities, ICT, risk management, staffing, physical assets, or biodiversity and climate change. The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • Reference was made to the appointment Civil Contingency Manager post cited in Appendix B. Clarity was sought in regard to the post. Prior to the response, the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability advised Members that an event was being held at Pentre Awel to outline the Local Resilience Forum’s priorities in relation to civil contingencies. All town and community councils had been invited to attend. The Head of Environment and Infrastructure explained that the Civil Contingencies Manager was responsible for ensuring preparedness against the risks identified within the Community Risk Register. These included storm damage, flooding, severe weather and other potential emergencies affecting Carmarthenshire and the wider locality. The role involved engaging with communities, supporting internal departments through training and emergency preparedness, and ensuring that the Council was well placed to respond effectively to emergency situations. This work formed part of the wider Civil Contingencies Team’s role in strengthening the resilience and preparedness of the Council and its residents. • Reference was made to the comment cited Appendix C – Waste Treatment and Disposal. In response to a question regarding the delay in commissioning the new recycling facility, the Committee was advised that the new Resource Recovery Facility at Nant y Caws, operated by Cwm Environmental, had been developed following the fire at the previous recycling facility. It was explained that the new facility would process both co-mingled and source-separated recyclable materials. Although commissioning had been delayed from the end of the previous financial year into the current financial year, the facility was now operational. Members were advised that bringing the treatment of recyclable material back into Carmarthenshire, rather than exporting it for processing, was expected to realise savings during the current financial year. The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability wished to highlight to Members of the Committee that the report identified that the financial impact of severe weather events associated with climate change realised additional costs of approximately £244,000 arising from severe weather, together with £552,000 in clean-up costs following significant flooding. The Cabinet Member emphasised that these costs demonstrated the practical and financial challenges faced by the Authority as a consequence of climate change. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Revenue Budget Outturn Report for 2025/26 be received.
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RESOLVED that the Revenue & Capital Monitoring Report for 2026/27 be received.
The Committee received for considered the Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report for 2026/27, which provided an update on the financial position for the Place and Infrastructure and Public Protection Services as at 30 June 2026, together with information on decarbonisation and climate change measures being undertaken across the Authority. The Cabinet Member for Resources, in presenting the report advised that the services within the Committee's remit were forecasting a £298,000 revenue overspend against the approved budget. In relation to the capital programme, forecast net expenditure amounted to £19.268 million, compared with a working net budget of £17.153 million, resulting in a variance of £2.115 million. The Committee noted a number of new grants and virements, including £1.533 million for coastal protection, flood defence and mitigation schemes. Additional funding had also been secured for the Wales Coast Path and investigation works at Trebeddrod Reservoir. It was further reported that £6.320 million of new Regional Transport Fund grant funding had been awarded for projects across the county. These included road safety works, walking, wheeling and cycling schemes, the Llanelli Multimodal Transport Interchange, school initiatives, low-emission vehicle charging infrastructure, access improvements and bridge strengthening works. In relation to the savings programme, £1.505 million of operational savings were forecast to be delivered against a target of £1.555 million. No policy savings were currently forecast to be delivered against the £83,000 target for 2026/27. The savings monitoring information also included proposals from 2025/26 which remained undelivered at the end of that financial year. The Committee also noted the overview of decarbonisation and climate change mitigation projects being undertaken across the Authority. It was reported that schemes within the capital programme included measures aimed at reducing the Council's carbon footprint, with buildings designed to current energy-efficiency standards and ecology surveys undertaken as part of all major projects. The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • Reference was made to the £119,000 variance attributed to slippage in the Pontynyswen Bridge replacement scheme as cited within Appendix D. Clarification was sought on the current position of the scheme and the anticipated final outturn cost of the bridge replacement. The Head of Head of Environmental Infrastructure stated that the Pontynyswen Bridge replacement scheme was currently at the detailed design stage. Final costs had therefore not yet been established; however, the estimated cost of replacing the bridge was currently anticipated to be in the region of £1.5m to £2m. • Reference was made to the New Regional Transport Fund (RTF) grants allocated £500,000 to support low-emission vehicle charging infrastructure cited within the Executive Summary of the report. It was noted that future reporting should quantify the resulting reductions in fossil-fuel expenditure. Similar analysis could assess the decarbonisation benefits and savings achieved through reduced energy consumption in more efficient buildings. This information would be valuable for future planning and evaluation. In acknowledging the issue, the Cabinet Member for Resources explained that an additional £330,000 had been allocated to reimburse staff who had used their personal vehicles for council business. The mileage reimbursement rate had increased from 44p to 55p per mile in accordance with the new tax regulations, while the additional costs had been anticipated due to the conflict in the Middle East. • Clarification was sought on the cost of providing dedicated transport for school swimming activities and whether greater use could be made of existing school transport. In particular, it was asked whether buses transporting pupils from outlying areas to schools in central locations, such as Carmarthen, could be utilised between school drop-off and collection times to transport pupils to swimming sessions, rather than arranging separate dedicated buses. The Head of Leisure explained that school transport had been identified as a key barrier to participation in school swimming and other activities undertaken during the school day. Work had been undertaken with schools and the Council’s school transport and transportation teams to review existing arrangements and associated costs, which varied considerably between schools depending on factors such as school size and access to minibuses or local transport providers. In addition, Members were informed that the Council was one of nine pilot authorities in Wales to receive Welsh Government funding to support free swimming provision for pupils in Years 4 and 5, with no charge being passed on to schools for the swimming provision. The funding also allowed for a contribution towards transport costs, currently equating to approximately £1 per eligible pupil. Schools were being encouraged to explore opportunities to maximise transport arrangements, including sharing journeys with neighbouring schools and combining swimming sessions with other activities where practicable. Work was also continuing to identify further efficiencies, including whether Council and community transport assets, such as minibuses that were not in use during the school day, could be utilised. It was acknowledged, however, that arrangements varied between schools and that developing a coordinated approach remained complex, although good progress was being made. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Revenue & Capital Monitoring Report for 2026/27 be received.
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RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET/COUNCIL that the Council’s Annual Report for 2025/26 be approved.
The Committee received for consideration the draft Council Annual Report 2025/26, which incorporated the Council’s corporate self-assessment and reported progress against the four Well-being Objectives set out in the Corporate Strategy 2022–2027. The report had been structured to provide a focused and balanced account of the Council’s performance during 2025/26. For each Well-being Objective and associated thematic and service priority, it included an overview of progress, performance against key measures within the Corporate Data Suite, activity undertaken to support the intended outcomes, case studies demonstrating the difference made to residents and service users, and areas identified for further improvement. The Committee was advised that the Annual Report sought to satisfy the Council’s statutory reporting duties under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. It would also include information relating to the Council’s responsibilities under the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023. The Committee was invited to review the draft report and provide comments on its content. The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • Reference was made to the Council’s recycling rate of 66.10% for 2025/26, which was below the 70% target. Clarification was sought as to whether the Council would be subject to a financial penalty for failing to achieve the statutory recycling target and whether it was currently on course to achieve the 70% target for 2026/27. In response, the Head of Environment and Infrastructure advised that Welsh Government considered performance a year in arrears and was currently dealing with the 2024/25 reporting year, with the Council’s 2025/26 performance due to be considered later in the year. The Council continued to work closely with Welsh Government to implement its blueprint for separated recycling, aimed at improving both the quantity and quality of recyclable material collected. It was hoped that this ongoing work and the Council’s trajectory towards achieving the 70% recycling rate would be taken into consideration in determining whether any financial penalty would be imposed. It was further explained that recycling performance continued to be affected by challenges within global recycling markets, including those relating to waste wood and, more recently, the disposal and recycling of fridges, freezers and other white goods. Looking ahead, the planned service changes commencing in November were expected to increase the Council’s recycling rate, and it was anticipated that the Council would be in a position to achieve the 70% target towards the end of the year. The Cabinet Member for Resources emphasised that failing to meet the targets could result in a fine for the Council. The public can help avoid this by recycling correctly; otherwise, council tax may need to increase to cover the cost. • Reference was made to the Service Priority – Highways and Transport section of the Annual Report and the reported improvement in the condition of A, B and C class roads. Noting that approximately 45% of the County’s highway network comprised unclassified roads, clarification was sought on progress being made in addressing the recommendations arising from the Audit Wales review of the management of the road network, particularly in relation to unclassified roads which was recently presented to the Audit Committee. In response, the Head of Environmental Infrastructure advised that work was ongoing to address the recommendations. A key recommendation involved undertaking a detailed analysis of the longer-term impact of funding and investment levels on both the rural and urban highway network. This work was currently underway and was acknowledged to be detailed and complex. It was anticipated that the majority of the actions and recommendations would be completed by the end of the current financial year or during the early part of the following financial year. Members would continue to receive updates on the condition of the highway asset, including through the forthcoming Highways Asset Management Plan and Annual Statement, which would provide further information on how the position was reflected across the network. • In response to a comment raised regarding the importance of flood defence, the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability advised that the Council was actively working with partner organisations to raise awareness of flood risk and improve community preparedness. A joint community flooding event had recently been held with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and other partners at Trinity University, bringing together communities and flood defence providers and highlighting the importance of collaborative working. In addition, the Council had also held a community event in Kidwelly, attended by Members of the Committee, which provided an opportunity for communities to discuss their experiences of flooding, engage with flood defence providers and obtain information on signing up for flood warnings. Furthermore, Members were advised that a wider civil contingencies event was due to be held at Pentre Awel, providing communities with information and advice on preparing for flooding and other severe weather events, including drought. • Clarification was sought on the use and practicality of the new-style flood sacks as an alternative to traditional sandbags, particularly the requirement for them to be soaked in water prior to deployment. In response, it was explained that the flood sacks did require soaking before being positioned and, like traditional sandbags, were intended to be deployed in advance of a flooding event rather than once flooding had commenced. They were therefore considered a flood resilience and preparedness measure rather than an emergency response solution. Members were advised that further work was being undertaken to explore how the Council could trial more responsive arrangements and provide support to communities at risk of flooding, including the provision and deployment of sandbags ahead of the forthcoming season. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET/COUNCIL that the Council’s Annual Report for 2025/26 be approved.
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RESOLVED that the Peatland Management and Restoration Report be received.
The Committee received the Peatland Management and Restoration report for consideration which provided an overview of peatland resources within Carmarthenshire, their ecological and climate significance, how peat was considered through the planning process, and examples of peatland management and restoration undertaken by the Council. The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability in presenting the report advised the Committee that peatlands were recognised as a Section 7 Priority Habitat under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and played an important role in carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, water regulation and climate change mitigation. Restoration of degraded peatland had consequently become an important area of work, with measures including rewetting, ditch blocking and vegetation management aimed at restoring peat-forming processes and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Members were further advised that peat was an important consideration across a number of Council functions, including woodland creation and development management. Planning Policy Wales recognised peatlands as irreplaceable habitats and provided a strong presumption against development affecting deep peat. In recognition of this, the Council was developing a Peat Protocol to guide the consideration and management of development proposals affecting peat, together with the sustainable management of excavated peat. The approach would reflect the principles of climate resilience, resource efficiency and the circular economy. The protection and restoration of peatland contributed to the Council's net zero ambitions, nature recovery and biodiversity duties and supported delivery of the Council's Well-being Objectives and the Resilient Wales goal. The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • Reference was made to the potential role of upland land management in reducing flood risk, and clarification was sought on whether upland catchment areas serving flood-prone communities could be identified and managed to help slow the flow of water to communities downstream. In response, the Biodiversity Officer advised that, in relation to land outside the Council’s ownership or direct functions, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) led the National Peatland Action Programme, which considered peatlands across Wales, including Carmarthenshire. NRW was currently undertaking initial screening work in relation to the potential restoration of blanket bog within the County. It was explained that NRW was a member of the Carmarthenshire Nature Partnership and worked closely with the Council on peatland restoration initiatives. Building on work already undertaken at Llyn Llech Owain, further restoration work was being sought for 2027/28 on an additional site which, although not designated, was considered sufficiently important to warrant measures such as rewetting. Such interventions were intended to retain water within the upland landscape and slow its movement through the catchment. The Biodiversity Officer emphasised that the approach was therefore not limited to addressing flooding at river level, but also involved considering interventions at the upper reaches of catchments, where water entered the system • Clarification was sought on how improvements in habitat condition and reductions in carbon emissions arising from peatland restoration projects would be monitored over time. An update was also requested on the progress and anticipated publication of the Council’s Peat Protocol. In response, the Biodiversity Officer advised that long-term monitoring remained challenging and was largely dependent upon the availability of funding. Monitoring had previously been undertaken as part of the Carmarthenshire Bogs Project across six lowland raised bog sites; however, the associated costs had prevented this from being sustained over the longer term. Where Natural Resources Wales (NRW) was involved in restoration schemes, it was anticipated that monitoring would form part of the National Peatland Action Programme. It was acknowledged that a number of peatland sites for which the Council had some responsibility were not currently in good condition and that further monitoring and management should be pursued. In respect of areas of common land, the Council was also seeking to work with local graziers to reintroduce appropriate grazing as part of the management and improvement of those sites. With regard to the Peat Protocol, Members were advised that the document had been updated by the Council’s Minerals Team and that further discussions were required with Planning colleagues to determine how it should be used by the Authority and made available on the Council’s website. Whilst Planning Policy Wales already provided policy coverage in relation to peat resources, the Protocol would provide a useful, specific local document to support the Council’s approach going forward. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Peatland Management and Restoration Report be received.
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RESOLVED that 8.1 The Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC) Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2026 & Gullies Charging Report be received; 8.2 the potential for the wider roll-out and commercialisation of the EV charging gully scheme, including the level of resident contribution, be further explored; and 8.3 the Committee request that the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability make a representation to UK Government regarding the disparity in VAT applied to public and domestic electric vehicle charging.
The Committee received the Carmarthenshire County Council Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2026 and Gullies Charging Report for consideration. The report set out the Council’s updated approach to developing electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the County and proposals for addressing the particular challenges faced by residents without access to off-street parking. The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, in presenting the report, advised that the decarbonisation of transport was fundamental to the Council’s ambition of becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030. Since the adoption of the Council’s first Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy in 2022, considerable progress had been made, including the provision of 215 publicly accessible charge points across Carmarthenshire and the development of charging hubs at key locations, including Cross Hands, Castle Car Park in Llandovery and Pentre Awel. The updated Strategy reflected current Welsh and UK policy and provided a prioritised action plan to support future investment, partnership working, innovation and expansion of the charging network. The report provided information in relation to the proposed wider EV Charging Gully Scheme which would operate on a cost-recovery basis, with a proposed resident contribution of £1,300 per installation and the potential for Government grant funding to be accessed. Any wider roll-out would require an appropriate operating framework covering matters including highway permissions, eligibility criteria, maintenance responsibilities and legal agreements. The charging gullies would remain Council assets and would be incorporated into the appropriate asset management arrangements. The Committee was advised that adoption of the updated Strategy would support the Council in accessing external funding and private sector investment, while providing a coordinated framework for the continued expansion of EV infrastructure. The Strategy and proposed controlled roll-out of charging gullies were considered important in supporting equitable access to electric vehicle ownership and contributing towards the Council’s wider transport decarbonisation and net zero objectives. The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • Concern was raised regarding the disparity in VAT applied to public electric vehicle charging compared with domestic charging arrangements and the resulting impact on residents without access to off-street parking. Clarification was sought as to whether the Council could make representations to UK Government regarding the issue, particularly given the additional costs faced by residents reliant on public charging infrastructure. Support was also expressed for the continuation of the EV charging gully initiative as a practical means of addressing barriers to home charging. In response, it was advised that the Council participated in national transport decarbonisation groups facilitated through the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), within which electric vehicle charging infrastructure was a key area of consideration. Officers undertook to raise the Committee’s concerns regarding VAT through those national channels, in addition to any further representations the Committee considered appropriate. The Cabinet Member for Resources reported that Welsh Government had introduced 100% business rates relief for eligible electric vehicle charging point sites subject to non-domestic rates, with the aim of encouraging expansion of public EV charging infrastructure and supporting the transition to low-emission vehicles. The relief would apply to eligible charging points and associated infrastructure primarily available for public use, with Welsh Government reimbursing local authorities for the cost of the relief, thereby resulting in no financial cost to the Council where the scheme was administered in accordance with the relevant guidance • Clarification was sought on the potential impact of electricity grid capacity constraints on the future expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, particularly in light of increasing demand from rapid charging hubs. It was asked how early the Council engaged with the relevant electricity network organisations regarding future capacity requirements and whether alternative measures, such as battery storage and solar generation, were being considered as part of future provision. In response, the Climate Change and Energy Transformation Manager advised that the Council maintained ongoing dialogue with National Grid and the relevant national electricity system organisations regarding its wider decarbonisation plans, including the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Future proposals and anticipated demand were shared at an early stage to ensure that the network organisations were aware of the Council’s future infrastructure requirements. A similar approach was adopted in relation to the Council’s wider energy and decarbonisation projects. • It was asked how the Council intended to work with rural communities to improve access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including the potential involvement of community and town councils and the use of community facilities. In response, it was explained that there would not be a single solution suitable for every community and that a locally tailored approach would therefore be required. The Council would work with individual communities to identify suitable locations based on local circumstances and demand. Potential locations could include community hall car parks, other local parking facilities and sites associated with public rights of way or community walking routes. It was emphasised that discussions should take place at a local level, with the Council’s team working alongside County Councillors and, where appropriate, community and town councils to identify the most suitable provision for each area. In considering the evidence arising from the EV charging gully trial, Members considered that there was merit in exploring the potential for a wider roll-out of the scheme, including the scope for commercialisation and the level of financial contribution that would be required from participating residents. It was recognised that the initiative could provide a practical solution for households wishing to transition to electric vehicles but without access to off-street parking. This was proposed and duly seconded. The Committee also reiterated its concern regarding the disparity in VAT applied to public electric vehicle charging compared with domestic charging. It was proposed that the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability make representations to the UK Government on the matter. This was duly proposed and seconded. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that 8.1 The Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC) Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2026 & Gullies Charging Report be received; 8.2 the potential for the wider roll-out and commercialisation of the EV charging gully scheme, including the level of resident contribution, be further explored; and 8.3 the Committee request that the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability make a representation to UK Government regarding the disparity in VAT applied to public and domestic electric vehicle charging.
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RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET/COUNCIL that the Licensing Act 2003 - Review of Licensing Policy and Cumulative Impact Assessments be approved.
The Committee considered a report on the statutory review of the Council’s Licensing Policy and Cumulative Impact Assessments (CIAs). The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, in presenting the report, advised that the Licensing Policy was required to be reviewed every five years, with CIAs subject to review every three years, to ensure that they remained appropriate and continued to support the licensing objectives. As part of the review, a statutory consultation had been undertaken between 18 May and 11 August 2026. More than 1,000 individuals and organisations had been invited to participate, including licence holders and their representatives, town and community councils, County Councillors, Council departments and responsible authorities. The Licensing Section, in conjunction with Legal Services, had subsequently reviewed the Policy in light of the consultation responses, revised government guidance, legislative amendments, good practice and recent case law. The report highlighted that there was sufficient evidence to retain the identified “hot spot” areas for alcohol-related crime and disorder set out within section 6.12 of the Licensing Policy. These included streets previously covered by the CIAs as well as other areas experiencing alcohol-related issues. Applicants and operators of licensed premises within these areas would be encouraged to consider appropriate best-practice measures when preparing operating schedules and premises management arrangements. Accordingly, the revised Licensing Policy proposed the removal of the existing Cumulative Impact Assessments for the identified areas in Carmarthen and Llanelli, while retaining the alcohol-related crime and disorder “hot spot” provisions. The revised Policy had also been updated to reflect consultation responses, current government guidance, amendments to the Licensing Act 2003, good practice and relevant initiatives. Legal Services was satisfied that the proposed amendments complied with the legislation and statutory guidance, and an Equalities Impact Assessment was being prepared. The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • Clarification was sought on the practical implications of removing the Cumulative Impact Assessments and how this would affect the Council’s ability to manage new licensing applications and protect residents in the areas concerned. In response, the Public Protection Manager explained that the existence of a Cumulative Impact Assessment placed a greater burden on an applicant to demonstrate that a new licensed premises would not have an adverse impact on the area. It was further explained that the Cumulative Impact Assessment created a higher threshold for new licensed premises within designated areas and sought to balance economic development with the need to uphold the licensing objectives. Although the Cumulative Impact Assessments were proposed for removal, the areas concerned would continue to be identified as alcohol-related crime and disorder “hot spots”. Consequently, applicants for new licences, or variations to existing licences, would be required to demonstrate the measures they proposed to put in place to promote the licensing objectives and protect against crime and disorder. • Concern was expressed that licensing-related issues and alcohol-related crime and disorder were increasingly being experienced in villages and other rural communities, rather than being confined to the main towns. Clarification was sought on how emerging problem areas elsewhere in the County would be identified and addressed. In response, the Public Protection Manager confirmed that the review and consultation had covered the whole of Carmarthenshire and was not limited to the existing Cumulative Impact Assessment areas. It was explained that a number of other hot spot areas already existed across the County and that further areas could be identified as hot spots in the future supported by appropriate evidence. • Furthermore, Members were advised that the Council’s Licensing Team worked closely with Dyfed-Powys Police, with officers meeting on a weekly basis and receiving weekly intelligence reports relating to crime and disorder associated with licensed premises. This ongoing monitoring would enable emerging issues across the County, including those within rural communities, to be identified and responded to where the evidence justified further action UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET/COUNCIL that the Licensing Act 2003 - Review of Licensing Policy and Cumulative Impact Assessments be approved.
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RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET/COUNCIL that the Review the Policies Relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Operators be approved.
The Committee received a report on the review of the Council’s policies relating to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators for consideration. The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, in presenting the report, explained that the review proposed the adoption of a single unified Taxi Policy incorporating the existing supplementary policies and conditions relating to taxi and private hire licensing, thereby providing applicants and licence holders with a single source of information on the standards and requirements to be met. The Council, as Licensing Authority, was responsible for licensing hackney carriage and private hire vehicles and drivers, together with private hire operators. The review also reflected work undertaken across Wales to improve consistency in licensing standards and public safety, following Welsh Government recommendations on the harmonisation of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing. Those recommendations had informed the development of national standards and the approach adopted by the All-Wales Licensing Expert Panel. As part of the preparation of the Policy, consultation had been undertaken with the taxi trade, members of the public and 6,483 recipients of the Carmarthenshire Businesses Newsletter. Four responses had been received, three of which raised issues relating to the cost of twice-yearly DBS checks, the acceptance of certificates of good conduct for drivers who had lived abroad, and vehicle age requirements. Having considered the representations received, no amendments to the Taxi Licensing Policy were proposed as the existing provisions already addressed the issues raised and reflected the standards being implemented consistently across Wales. Members were also advised that Legal Services was satisfied that the proposed arrangements complied with relevant legislation The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • A Member commended officers for the considerable work undertaken in preparing the comprehensive report but expressed disappointment at the low level of engagement with the consultation, noting that only four responses had been received. Members were encouraged to assist in raising awareness of future consultations within their communities and to publicise opportunities for residents and stakeholders to participate. Discussion also took place on whether greater use could be made of social media to promote consultations and potentially increase participation. In response, the Public Protection Manager advised that consultations were published on the Council’s website and promoted in conjunction with the Council’s communications team. Notifications were also issued to individuals registered to receive consultation updates and to relevant stakeholders. • Clarification was sought on whether consideration would be given to reviewing hackney carriage fares, which had not been revised since 2023, particularly in light of the operating and fuel costs faced by drivers. In response, the Public Protection Manager confirmed that hackney carriage fares were regulated by the Council, whereas private hire operators were able to set their own fares. The current hackney carriage tariff had been increased following the review undertaken in 2023 and remained broadly in line with those of neighbouring authorities. Members were advised that fare levels continued to be monitored and were discussed regularly with licensed drivers. Should the trade request a further increase, the Council would undertake the appropriate consultation process before any revised tariff was introduced. It was noted that engagement from drivers during the previous consultation had been limited. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET/COUNCIL that the Review the Policies Relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Operators be approved.
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RESOLVED that the report on Climate Action Sir Gar: Our 2025-26 Progress Report on Achieving our 2030 Net Zero Target be received.
The Committee received the Climate Action Sir Gâr: Our 2025/26 Progress Report on Achieving our 2030 Net Zero Target for consideration. The report provided an update on the Council’s progress against its decarbonisation trajectory, together with achievements in enhancing the natural environment and embedding nature management within Council practices. The Council had committed to becoming a Net Zero Local Authority by 2030 following its declaration of a climate emergency in 2019. The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, in presenting the report, advised Members that the Council had achieved a 45% reduction in carbon emissions compared with the 2016/17 baseline, with total emissions for 2025/26 standing at 14,576 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e). This represented a 12% reduction compared with the previous year and was the most significant annual reduction achieved since the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant progress had been achieved in reducing emissions from non-domestic buildings, which had fallen by 51% since the baseline year, and street lighting, where emissions had reduced by 74%. Fleet emissions and business mileage, however, continued to present challenges in achieving the Council’s overall decarbonisation ambitions. The Cabinet Member wished to take the opportunity to pay tribute to Rhodri Griffiths for his significant contribution in leading the Council’s sustainability and decarbonisation agenda over the previous four years, particularly his leadership in developing innovative projects and supporting officers. Members joined in wishing him well as he transitioned towards retirement and welcomed Daniel Burgess as he took forward this work. It was noted that the Council had established a clear direction of travel which would provide a positive legacy for future generations. The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • Reference was made to the emerging Regional Transport Plan and clarification was sought on progress with bus franchising and the integration of bus and rail services, particularly in light of the revised timescales for implementation. In response, the Head of Environment and Infrastructure advised that the Council was working closely with Transport for Wales on the development of bus franchising. He proposed that an informal briefing session be arranged for Members to provide an update on progress, the next steps for bus franchising and the wider transport improvement works being programmed for Carmarthenshire in conjunction with Transport for Wales. Members welcomed the proposed development session. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report on Climate Action Sir Gar: Our 2025-26 Progress Report on Achieving our 2030 Net Zero Target be received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items for the Committee meeting to be held on the 2nd December 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 2nd December, 2026 and was afforded the opportunity to request for any specific information that Members may wish to include within the reports. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items for the Committee meeting to be held on the 2nd December 2026 be agreed.
It was raised that Councillor Dorian Phillips’ was in attendance virtually at the meeting on 11th September 2026 and that his name had been omitted from the attendance list. The minutes would be amended accordingly. RESOLVED that subject to the amendment raised the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 11th September, 2026 be signed as a correct record.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.