Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
RESOLVED to receive the report and request a final report on the progress of the Social Housing Allocations Policy
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
RESOLVED that the report be received
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 7th January 2025 be signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 20th January 2025 be signed as a correct record.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors H. Shepardson and S. Rees.
Councillor Minute No (s) Nature of Interest H. Evans 4. EMERGENCY SOCIAL HOUSING ALLOCATION UPDATE REPORT ON THE OPERATION OF THE NEW ALLOCATION POLICY (MONITORING) Her sister is the Chief Executive of a housing association. R. Sparks 5. REVENUE & CAPITAL BUDGET MONITORING REPORT 2024/25 6. 2024/25 QUARTER 3 - PERFORMANCE REPORT (01/04/24 - 31/12/24) RELEVANT TO THIS SCRUTINY He owns a swimming pool business in Carmarthen. Dispensation from Standards Committee to speak but not vote on related issues. S. Allen 4. EMERGENCY SOCIAL HOUSING ALLOCATION UPDATE REPORT ON THE OPERATION OF THE NEW ALLOCATION POLICY (MONITORING) She is a voluntary member of a Housing Association. There were no declarations of prohibited party whips.
The Chair advised that there were no public questions received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to receive the report and request a final report on the progress of the Social Housing Allocations Policy
(Councillors H. Evans and S. Allen having earlier declared an interest, left the Chamber prior to the consideration of this item) The Committee received a monitoring report on the impact of the implementation of the Emergency Social Housing Allocations policy. It was also noted in the report that this would serve as the final assessment of the Emergency Policy, in light of the new Allocations Policy which commenced on 2nd March 2025. The Committee had the following questions and observations regarding the report: - The Committee congratulated the Housing Department on the decrease in unsuitable matches and asked if there was now more certainty when making offers that they were suitable. The Housing Service Manager advised that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic there was an increase in unsuitable matches due to increased homelessness numbers, but that now more work was being put in at the homelessness prevention stage, enabling the department to get the allocation correct first time. - In response to a question regarding unsuitable matches due to Anti-Social Behaviour issues in an area making tenants unwilling to move there, the Director of Community Services advised that he would follow-up to make sure matches are not inhibited by Anti-Social Behaviour. - The Committee requested that they receive a final report on the New Social Housing Allocation Policy at the next meeting. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to receive the report and request a final report on the progress of the Social Housing Allocations Policy
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the report be received.
(Councillor R. Sparks redeclared his interest and remained in the meeting) The Committee was presented with an update on the latest budgetary positions of the Housing, Economic Development & Property, Place and Sustainability and Leisure & Recreation services. The Cabinet Member for Resources presented the report and advised that it was an update on the position as at the end of December 2024 in respect of services under the Communities, Homes & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee. The projection for the Revenue budget was an overspend of £119k. Forecasted overspend in Leisure & Recreation was the main contributor The Committee had the following questions and observations regarding the report: - The Committee requested that future budget monitoring reports come before the committee earlier so that they can scrutinise the most up to date figures. The Director of Community Services described the volatility of budgets at the end of the financial year and the difficulties of producing reports before the accounts are closed. - The Committee also requested an update regarding the new Pendine Outdoor Education Centre and were advised that work is on track. - In response to a question regarding Responsive Repairs, the Committee was advised that there was an ongoing review of what is considered ‘responsive’ and ‘planned’ repairs. Currently large jobs such as a replacement kitchen can be in the same workstream as a broken window latch, and this review seeks to better categorise repairs. The Director of Community Services added that the department were seeking to manage expectations and communicate with tenants better. The Committee also asked if the authority had the experienced and skilled workers internally for these repairs and was advised that they were trying to bring more capacity in-house for minor repairs, particularly where external contractors have little desire to take on this work. - The Director of Community Services advised in response to a question that the new Disabled Facilities Grants means-testing had been introduced, and this had already decreased the number of applications. - In response to a question regarding the Welsh Government top-up grant, the Committee was advised that a total of £3.2m had been received and had been distributed amongst departments to alleviate in-year pressures. - In response to a question regarding legal costs, the Director of Community Services advised that there was a balance to be struck between internal and external legal services. Where there are consistent volumes of litigation, the authority is looking to have internal lawyers deal with this, but there will always be specific legal issues that need external help. - The Director of Community Services advised, in response to a question from the Committee, that the shortfall on pay validation referred to in the report relates to when staff pay is higher than projected, for example when a member of staff leaves and is replaced by one at a higher spinal point in the grade. This can also be affected by a difference between predicted pay awards and the reality. - In response to a question regarding empty industrial units, the Economic Development Manager advised that as the cost of building is a lot more than the end value, the private sector will not build these units, so it is left to the public sector. The authority also has rising costs in this area but is not putting rents up due to the cost pressures also falling on businesses. They advised that most units are let however, but that maintaining these units was the largest challenge. - The Head of Leisure advised in response to a question regarding the overachievement of income at Carmarthen and Amman Valley leisure centres, that this was mostly due to the Learn to Swim sessions, but that all areas of income contributed. - The failure to meet the target savings on the reduction of agency use within in-house care homes was also queried, and the Director of Community Services advised that a successful pilot project was being run to pool casual staff and overtime for full time staff across adult social care. The Committee was advised that this saved roughly £250k from the agency staff budget but that the budget was still overspending. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the report be received.
(Councillor R. Sparks redeclared his interest and remained in the meeting) The Committee received a performance management report for the period up to 2024/25 Quarter 3 (01/04/24-31/12/24) to monitor progress on the authority’s Corporate Strategy and Well-being Objectives in respect of the areas falling within its remit. The Committee had the following questions and observations regarding the report: - In response to a question regarding the time taken to complete enforcement cases, the Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Community Cohesion and Planning Policy advised that the statistics shown do not include cases that are yet to be completed. The Committee was also advised that the major delays were when enforcement decisions are appealed to Welsh Government - which can take up to six months to hear the appeal – and when cases have to be prepared to go to court, along with the delays in the courts. The Committee was advised however that the department was above target with 82% of planning enforcement cases being investigated within 84 days. - A question was asked regarding the Hwb advisor referral targets being missed. The officers present were unable to provide a response, so this will be provided to the Committee after the meeting. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
The Committee received an explanation for the non-submission of the following scrutiny report: · Pentre Awel Update Report UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the report be received
The Committee received an update on the progress made in relation to actions, requests or referrals recorded during previous meetings of the Committee. The outstanding action regarding discussions with the Health Board on the resourcing of the Adaptations Unit was queried, and the Committee was advised that this will be followed up with the responsible officer. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 7th January 2025 be signed as a correct record.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 7th January 2025 be signed as a correct record.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 20th January 2025 be signed as a correct record.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 20th January 2025 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.