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RESOLVED that the 2026/27 End of Quarter 1 Performance Report be noted.
RESOLVED that the request to defer the report to the meeting to be held in January 2027 be accepted.
RESOLVED that the report on the ALN Learner Travel Provision be received.
RESOLVED that the Implementation Report on the Task & Finish - A Review of the Dog Breeding Licensing Function of the Consumer and Business Affairs Animal Health Team be received.
RESOLVED that the reasons as stated within the Non-Submission of Scrutiny Report be accepted.
RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items for the Committee meeting to be held on the 20th October 2026 be agreed;
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S. Allen and G.B. Thomas.
Councillor Minute Item(s) Nature of Interest N. Lewis 2. Agenda Item 4 – 3. 2026/27 End of Quarter 1 Performance Report (01/04/2026-30/06/2026) Cllr Lewis works in the renewable energy industry. 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. B.D.J. Phillips 4. Agenda Item 7 – 5. Implementation Report on the Task & Finish - A Review of the Dog Breeding Licensing Function of the Consumer and Business Affairs Animal Health Team 6. Councillor Phillips’ brother owns a licenced dog kennels. 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 2026/27 End of Quarter 1 Performance Report be noted.
[NOTE: Having earlier declared a personal interest in this item, Councillor Neil Lewis, in accordance with his dispensation, remained in the meeting, took part in the discussions but did not vote]. The Committee received the Performance Report for quarter 1 of the 2026/27 year for consideration. This report was presented to the Committee to review and assess the information contained within and provide any recommendations, comments, or advice to the Cabinet Member and/or Director. The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • Reference was made to Action 18539: “We will ensure that the Council fulfils its duties relating to the current Counter-Terrorism Contest Strategy and progresses identified actions, including those arising from the Prevent Corporate Risk Assessment.” Members asked whether they could view the recommendation from the Ysgol Dyffryn Aman learning review referred to in the action. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure stated that he would liaise with the officers responsible for the action to establish the report’s status, as it may contain sensitive data that could affect its circulation. • Reference was made to Action 18706 concerning fly-tipping. It was asked how long the data had been unavailable and whether fly-tipping measures were still being recorded. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure explained that information and job management had been transferred to a new digital system since May 2026. Until the transition is complete, recording remains a manual process. The transition is expected to finish by the end of October 2026, after which regular reports will resume. • Reference was made to Measure PAM/030. Clarification was requested regarding the target and whether the Council had received any fines. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure explained that discussions with the Welsh Government were ongoing. It was reported that one of the mitigating factors relating to waste wood was a national issue. As the Council transitions to the Welsh Government’s blueprint methodology, concessions are being taken into account where fines may be imposed. • Reference was made to Action 19880: “Following the withdrawal of Welsh Government funding, explore all possible funding options to support a programme to improve the condition of rural roads.” In relation to the remedial action—undertaking a study of road investment requirements and whole-life costs to support the case for adequate and sustained funding—members asked when the report would be available for Scrutiny’s consideration. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure advised that the relevant information would be included in the Annual Highway Asset Management Plan (HAMP), which is currently listed on the Committee’s Forward Work Programme. • Reference was made to Action 18694: “Develop Community Transport Strategy to enable access to essential services from rural communities.” It was noted that Welsh Government were in support of new initiatives involving electric car clubs. It was commented that a future vision would involve local authorities utilising electric vehicles during the working week, while community members could access them in the evenings through an app. The Modernising Transport Co-ordinator expressed that this would be considered with the grants available. • Reference was made to Action 18760. An update was requested on the remedial action, which was reported as being at risk due to the lack of a firm update from the Welsh Government regarding the Code of Practice for Litter and Refuse. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure advised that officers continue to engage with the Welsh Government and are pressing for the updated guidance. However, the impending change in Government is expected to prompt a review of the proposed arrangements. • Regarding Action 17457: “supporting active travel for visitors, members, and officers”, it was asked when facilities such as bike racks, changing rooms, and showers would be available for visitors at County Hall. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure stated that the best possible solution was being explored, with challenges relating to location, cost, and heritage protection. As part of the remedial works at County Hall, priority areas are being addressed, and these facilities would be considered within the improvement works. • In response to a comment about the ongoing issue of full and overflowing bins, the Head of Environmental Infrastructure explained that the matter was part of the digital transition. Once complete, all bins would be mapped and accessible to waste crews through handheld devices. Crews could then report issues with specific bins and areas, allowing resources to be prioritised and attention focused where it was most needed. • Reference was made to Action 18709: “Develop and deliver strategic action plan for ‘Bulky Waste’ service.” Members asked when the suspension on disposing of fridges and freezers would be lifted, noting the resulting increase in fly-tipping. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure explained that this was also a national issue, as bulky-waste disposal depends on several contractors responsible for collecting, storing and recycling these appliances. Limited capacity in the national disposal market remains a challenge, although work is under way to increase storage capacity. Members were advised that the issue was unlikely to be resolved in the near future, but were assured that bookings for bulky items would reopen as soon as practicable. • It was noted that responsibility for the litter bins, whether it lay with the Town/Community Council or the Local Authority was unclear. To address this, it was suggested that a more prominent logo be introduced. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure explained that replacing all the bins across the County would involve significant capital expenditure and was not a priority in the current financial climate. However, the existing approach was to replace bins when they fell below the required standard. • It was noted that text was missing from the update for Action 18773. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure acknowledged the omission and stated that it would be circulated after the meeting. • Regarding Measure PAM/030 and the recycling rate, Members asked how much of the shortfall resulted from the national change in waste-wood reporting methodology confirmed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in April 2026. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure did not have the information available but agreed to circulate it to Members after the meeting. • Reference was made to Action 19978: “_Continue reviewing and assessing the need for safer routes and traffic calming across Carmarthenshire’s towns and villages as part of road safety work…_” Although it was acknowledged that Local Authorities are under-resourced and that police enforcement is limited, members stressed that road safety remains a serious concern for communities. It was suggested that the Local Authority should lobby the Welsh Government more actively, given its statutory duty to protect community safety. The Cabinet Member agreed with the points raised and noted that the road safety intervention strategy is included in the Committee’s Forward Work Plan, providing an opportunity for further discussion. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the 2026/27 End of Quarter 1 Performance Report be noted.
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RESOLVED that the request to defer the report to the meeting to be held in January 2027 be accepted.
The Chair informed Members that she had received and accepted a request from the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability to defer consideration of the item until January 2027. The deferral was requested to allow further refinement of the report and the inclusion of more detailed information relating to the Environment Act Forward Plan (January 2026 to December 2028). UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the request to defer the report to the meeting to be held in January 2027 be accepted.
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RESOLVED that the report on the ALN Learner Travel Provision be received.
Members received a report providing an update on the Council’s Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Learner Travel Provision. The report outlined that the service currently supports 646 learners attending 40 educational settings through a range of specialist transport arrangements, including contracted taxi services and passenger assistant support. The report also detailed the Council’s statutory responsibilities under the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 and the individual assessment process used to determine appropriate transport arrangements for learners with ALN. The report highlighted that increasing demand, more complex learner needs, workforce recruitment and retention challenges, limited transport market capacity and rising costs were placing significant pressure on the service. Members were advised through the report that expenditure on ALN transport and passenger assistant provision was £7.5 million against a budget of £6.6 million for 2025/26, with costs expected to exceed £8 million during 2026/27. The report further explained that, as the service is largely demand-led and supports statutory duties, opportunities to reduce expenditure were limited. The report set out a range of service improvement measures being progressed through the ongoing transformation programme, including the use of Personal Travel Budgets, route optimisation, enhanced recruitment and training for passenger assistants, a revised application process, improved joint working between services and the proposed development of a dedicated school transport management system. Members were informed that Personal Travel Budgets had delivered reported savings of £1.159 million during the 2025/26 school year. The report concluded that the transformation programme aims to improve consistency, transparency, data quality and long-term financial sustainability whilst ensuring that transport arrangements continue to be determined by individual learner need, safeguarding considerations and statutory responsibilities. Members were advised that the Council remained committed to maintaining safe, appropriate and equitable transport provision for learners with ALN. The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • In response to a query about the accessibility of learner travel provision for families of learners with ALN, the Head of Environmental Infrastructure explained that the Council is governed by the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2014. Specialised transport for learners with ALN follows the same distance and eligibility rules as standard school transport: two miles for primary-age pupils and three miles for secondary-age pupils, unless a child has a specific need that prevents them from walking. • It was asked whether data were available on the personal transport budget. The Modernising Transport Co-ordinator reported savings of approximately £1 million to date, with previously declined offers being reissued; data on uptake and reasons are being collated, while the Transformation team is exploring ways to increase utilisation. In response to an additional query about the budgetary position, the Head of Environmental Infrastructure reported that ongoing work was exploring ways to minimise overall spending while meeting service demands. This year’s expenditure was expected to continue at a similar level next year. In collaboration with the Education department, work was also under way to engage families when decisions about education settings are made. This would help assess transport costs and develop a holistic understanding of the provision required for each individual. • It was asked whether providers’ fuel costs were considered when bids for funding were assessed. The Head of Environmental Infrastructure explained that budgets were reviewed monthly and quarterly. As the budget-setting process progresses, growth bids are submitted to identify pressures arising from service provision and demand. In response to a further query, it was reported that the increased costs were attributable both to rising demand for the service and to higher charges from providers. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report on the ALN Learner Travel Provision be received.
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RESOLVED that the Implementation Report on the Task & Finish - A Review of the Dog Breeding Licensing Function of the Consumer and Business Affairs Animal Health Team be received.
[Note: Councillor Dorian Phillips, having earlier declared a personal interest, left the meeting prior to the consideration of this item.] The Committee received the implementation report on the Task and Finish Group’s review of the Dog Breeding Licensing Function of the Consumer and Business Affairs Animal Health Team. In presenting the report to the Committee, the Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability stated that the Task and Finish Group review had highlighted a number of recommendations aimed at strengthening the regulation of animal breeding establishments and improving animal welfare standards. The report showed that good progress had been made in implementing the recommendations, with work underway to review licensing fees, improve communications and website content, explore digital solutions to enhance efficiency, and consider future resource requirements. The Cabinet Member reported that engagement had also taken place with both the previous and current Welsh Government administrations in relation to the wider national recommendations arising from the review. In addition, officers had continued to make significant improvements in animal welfare, supporting responsible breeders and strengthening regulatory compliance. It was reported that the Council's Animal Health and Welfare Team were named finalists in the RSPCA PawPrints Awards 2026 Special Recognition Award category, recognising their work in tackling illegal dog breeding and protecting animal welfare. Members noted that, since 2022, the team had secured 15 successful prosecutions and obtained in excess of £1 million through confiscation orders, fines, costs and surcharges. The following observations and queries were raised in regard to the report:- • Members congratulated all those involved on being named finalists in the RSPCA PawPrints Awards 2026 Special Recognition Award category and wished the team every success at the awards ceremony in Cardiff in November. • Members commended the work of the Task and Finish and the final report. • The letter to the Welsh Government appended to the report was noted. Thanks were expressed, and a request was made for the response to be circulated upon receipt. The Cabinet Member noted the request. • It was emphasised that the report’s recommendations remain a priority and that the team should create an additional full-time position in accordance with one of those recommendations. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Implementation Report on the Task & Finish - A Review of the Dog Breeding Licensing Function of the Consumer and Business Affairs Animal Health Team be received.
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RESOLVED that the reasons as stated within the Non-Submission of Scrutiny Report be accepted.
Committee members received a non-submission report explaining why the School Transport Extra-Curricular Transport report was unavailable for consideration. It was agreed that the revised submission date be January 2027. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the reasons as stated within the Non-Submission of Scrutiny Report be accepted.
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RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items for the Committee meeting to be held on the 20th October 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 20th October, 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 20th October 2026 be agreed;
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 23rd July, 2026 be signed as a correct record.
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