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RESOLVED That the Pembrokeshire Empty Properties Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and Appendix containing the Enforced Sales procedure be endorsed which will enable a focused corporate approach to dealing with problematic empty properties within the County.
RESOLVED That the update on the work of the Transformation and Innovation Board be noted.
RESOLVED a) That a six-week public consultation on the proposal to revoke the Haverfordwest and Pembroke Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) be undertaken in accordance with the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) framework. b) That following consideration of the consultation responses, the decision on whether to revoke the Air Quality Management Areas for Haverfordwest and Pembroke be delegated to the Head of Housing and Public Protection following discussion with the Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services.
RESOLVED That Cabinet agrees to enter into the Deed of Variation to reduce the quorum of the Joint Committee for National Adoption Services for Wales and Foster Wales to 40%, with at least three regional areas represented.
There were no declarations of interest made.
The Leader Moved the Minutes; Seconded by Councillor Paul Miller. The vote was taken by way of a show of hands and carried. RESOLVED That the Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 1 December 2025 be approved as a correct record.
The Leader announced that item 5 Agreement of the Empty Properties Strategic Plan 2025-2030 for Pembrokeshire would be taken first and the rest of the Agenda to follow as normal.
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RESOLVED That the Pembrokeshire Empty Properties Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and Appendix containing the Enforced Sales procedure be endorsed which will enable a focused corporate approach to dealing with problematic empty properties within the County.
Cabinet considered a report by the Director Social Care, Housing and Public Protection which outlined the Draft Empty Properties Strategic Plan 2025–2030 for Pembrokeshire. Councillor Michelle Bateman, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing, introduced the report and stated that the Empty Property Strategic Plan 2025–2030 had been developed as a key action within the Housing Strategy and reflected recommendations from the Welsh Government Affordable Housing Task and Finish Group. She explained that the Plan promotes a strategic, coordinated approach to identifying, prioritising and managing empty properties across the County, supported by a clear scoring matrix. The inclusion of an enforced sales procedure provides a mechanism to recover costs incurred by the Authority in making properties safe and represents an additional tool to bring long-term empty homes back into use. Councillor Michelle Bateman Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by Councillor Jacob Williams. Councillor Jacob Williams, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Planning and Regulatory Services, stated that the matter had previously been considered by the Policy and Pre-Decision Overview and Scrutiny Committee. In relation to the enforced sales procedure, he noted that this policy simply enables the Council to implement one of its existing powers and reassured Members that it would only apply to properties that present a hazard to public health. He emphasised that there was no risk of the Council arbitrarily commandeering properties and confirmed that the Scrutiny Committee had found the approach to be proportionate and appropriate. Councillor Williams expressed his support for the adoption of the policy. Councillor Paul Miller welcomed the policy as a last-resort measure and an important additional tool where previous efforts had failed. He queried whether sufficient staffing resources were in place to implement the procedure, noting that £0.7 million had been allocated from reserves funded through the empty property premium. In response, the Head of Housing and Public Protection confirmed that current capacity was limited, with one full-time equivalent officer managing empty properties alongside other duties. She advised that additional resource would be required to deliver meaningful progress and highlighted the need for a coordinated corporate approach involving multiple services. She noted opportunities for proactive engagement with private developers and emphasised that the establishment of a corporate working group would support this strategic approach. Councillor Jacob Williams added that cases would be considered individually and that the enforced sales procedure simply codified an existing legal power. He noted that only a very small number of properties were likely to meet the criteria, possibly one or two, and emphasised that while the power could be used, its application would be rare. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors Jon Harvey, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alistair Cameron, Rhys Sinnett, Marc Tierney and Jacob Williams [7] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That the Pembrokeshire Empty Properties Strategic Plan 2025-2030 and Appendix containing the Enforced Sales procedure be endorsed which will enable a focused corporate approach to dealing with problematic empty properties within the County.
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RESOLVED That the update on the work of the Transformation and Innovation Board be noted.
Cabinet considered a joint report by the Chief Executive and the Director of Resources which provided an update on the work of the Transformation and Innovation Board. Councillor Rhys Sinnett, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Residents’ Services, introduced the report and stated that it provided a regular update on the work of the Transformation and Innovation Board, which reports to Cabinet and Scrutiny on a six-monthly basis. He explained that Member oversight had been strengthened by the inclusion of the Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Board. The report outlined four themed work areas: Prevention, AI and Digital, Vanguard Target Operating Model, and Decarbonisation and Adaptation, each with designated leads and programmes. He noted that some areas were more advanced than others, with significant progress on Prevention and Vanguard, and highlighted AI and Digital as the next major focus for the Authority. Councillor Rhys Sinnett Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by the Leader. The Assistant Chief Executive added that, due to imminent maternity leave of the Head of Transport and Environment, responsibility for the net zero workstream would transfer to the Head of Property within the Transformation and Innovation Board. Councillor Alistair Cameron queried how investment in the Transformation and Innovation programme would contribute to closing the gap in the Medium-Term Financial Plan and asked for clarification. In response, Councillor Rhys Sinnett confirmed savings would be driven through the programme, highlighting AI and Digital, Preventions, and Vanguard as key areas, while noting some workstreams are at an early stage. The Assistant Chief Executive reported that consultants are identifying AI opportunities, with contact centre automation a priority to improve efficiency and customer experience. Costs are yet to be quantified. The Head of ICT advised that a draft report from ICS is under review and will inform an outline business case for AI investment. Opportunities include social care and contact centre operations, as well as generic applications such as meeting support. The Corporate Policy and Partnerships Manager confirmed that the final Panel Performance Assessment report had been received, and that the report and associated action plan was scheduled for Cabinet in February and Council in March. The Director of Social Care and Housing highlighted positive indicators from prevention work, including reduced residential placement pressures and validated savings, and stressed that prevention is a long-term programme focused on cultural change. Councillor Alistair Cameron acknowledged the importance of achieving better outcomes for children and asked how the reported savings from prevention initiatives would feed into budget calculations for the coming year and beyond. In response, the Director of Social Care and Housing explained that budget projections for 2026–27 had been adjusted to reflect reduced demand for residential placements, which is a key cost driver. He stated that investment in prevention, including the expanded edge-of-care resource, aims to reduce the need for such placements and associated costs. He emphasised that this approach supports long-term financial sustainability and better outcomes for children through early intervention and partnership working. Councillor Paul Miller noted the challenges of measuring outcomes and stressed the importance of ensuring the right metrics are used. He asked for feedback from schools on the impact of preventative services. The Director of Education responded and outlined initiatives supporting welfare, emotional well-being, neurodiversity, and homelessness prevention, noting that impact monitoring is ongoing and future case studies will help evidence results. The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the update on the work of the Transformation and Innovation Board be noted.
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RESOLVED a) That a six-week public consultation on the proposal to revoke the Haverfordwest and Pembroke Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) be undertaken in accordance with the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) framework. b) That following consideration of the consultation responses, the decision on whether to revoke the Air Quality Management Areas for Haverfordwest and Pembroke be delegated to the Head of Housing and Public Protection following discussion with the Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services.
Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Housing & Public Protection which sought approval to consult on the proposed revocation of the Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) in Haverfordwest and Pembroke. Councillor Jacob Williams, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Planning and Regulatory Services, introduced the report and stated that Cabinet was being asked to undertake a six?week consultation on the proposed revocation of the Air Quality Management Areas in Haverfordwest and Pembroke, which were declared in 2012 due to exceedances of nitrogen dioxide levels. He explained that sustained compliance with national air quality standards had been demonstrated over the past three years and that, subject to revocation, monitoring would continue at key locations with a reduced number of diffusion tubes. He added that the outcome of the consultation would inform a final decision by the Head of Service in conjunction with himself. Councillor Jacob Williams referred to the recommendations and explained that they were presented in two parts. He proposed moving both recommendations, subject to an amendment to the wording of the first Recommendation and confirmed that the second Recommendation would remain as printed. Councillor Jacob Williams Moved the Recommendations, with the amendment that a six-week public consultation on the proposal to revoke the Haverfordwest and Pembroke Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) be undertaken in accordance with the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) framework; Seconded by Councillor Paul Miller. Councillor Paul Miller expressed support for the recommendations, noting that the report focused appropriately on nitrogen dioxide levels and that the sustained reduction was likely attributable to improvements in vehicle technology. He stated that, as levels were now below the required threshold, there was no justification for retaining a bureaucratic process solely for its own sake and welcomed the positive progress made. Councillor Alistair Cameron welcomed the report, describing it as positive news in the context of the wider challenges facing the Council. He emphasised the importance of good air quality for residents in Pembroke and Haverfordwest and commended the progress that had been made. The Leader supported the report, noting that improvements in vehicle technology had contributed to reduced pollution levels. He referred to Pembroke as a Local Member and highlighted the longer?term aspiration to reduce through?traffic on Pembroke Main Street, stating that this could further improve air quality as well as the town centre environment and pedestrian experience. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors Jon Harvey, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alistair Cameron, Rhys Sinnett, Marc Tierney, Jacob Williams [7] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED a) That a six-week public consultation on the proposal to revoke the Haverfordwest and Pembroke Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) be undertaken in accordance with the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) framework. b) That following consideration of the consultation responses, the decision on whether to revoke the Air Quality Management Areas for Haverfordwest and Pembroke be delegated to the Head of Housing and Public Protection following discussion with the Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services.
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RESOLVED That Cabinet agrees to enter into the Deed of Variation to reduce the quorum of the Joint Committee for National Adoption Services for Wales and Foster Wales to 40%, with at least three regional areas represented.
Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Children’s Services which sought agreement to a ‘Deed of Variation’ to amend the quoracy required for the National Joint Committee meetings. Councillor Marc Tierney, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Young People, Community, Well-being and Future Generations, introduced the report and stated that it provided an update on quorum issues affecting meetings of the National Adoption Service Wales and Foster Wales Joint Committee, which involved all 22 Welsh local authorities. He explained that difficulties in achieving quorate meetings had prompted a proposal to amend the governance arrangements and supported the recommendation to reduce the quorum to 40%, with representation from at least three regional areas, through a deed of variation, which he considered a proportionate solution to enable effective and timely decision?making. Councillor Marc Tierney Moved the Recommendation; Seconded by the Leader. The Leader stated that the proposal appeared straightforward and sensible, noting that meetings should not be prevented from proceeding due to attendance issues and that the suggested amendment would avoid meetings being abandoned for want of a quorum. The vote, undertaken by way of a roll call, was carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors Jon Harvey, Paul Miller, Michelle Bateman, Alistair Cameron, Rhys Sinnett, Marc Tierney and Jacob Williams [7] There were no votes against or abstentions. RESOLVED That Cabinet agrees to enter into the Deed of Variation to reduce the quorum of the Joint Committee for National Adoption Services for Wales and Foster Wales to 40%, with at least three regional areas represented.
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.
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