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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 the updates in respect of actions arising from the 4 December 2025 meeting be noted.
RESOLVED That the Internal Audit and Counter Fraud Update report to the 31 December 2025 be noted.
RESOLVED (a) That the Internal Audit and External Regulator recommendations and progress made to date be noted. (b) That the approach to tracking, monitoring, and escalating overdue recommendations be endorsed.
RESOLVED That the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 update be noted.
RESOLVED (a) That the Business Risk Management update be noted. (b) That the contents of the Corporate Risk Register be noted.
RESOLVED That the progress made, and continued challenges in respect of asset valuations and IFRS16 implementation in the audit of the County Council Statement of Accounts for 2024-25, be noted.
RESOLVED That the County Council Budget Monitoring report for Quarter 3, 2025-26, be noted. [Councillor Aled Thomas left the meeting at this juncture.]
RESOLVED That the following amendments to the Council’s Panel Performance Assessment, response and action plan, be submitted to Council for consideration: (a) Recommendation 2 - That consideration be given to addressing the issue of capability. (b) Recommendation 3 – That a closer look be adopted to ensure that the actions also address working with partners and stakeholders. (c) Recommendation 4 – (iii) The actions were felt to be unclear and not easily measurable and it was not clear what outcomes and impacts were to be achieved in order to strengthen the economic development capacity. (iv) To consider whether a place?based approach to Council services would develop the Council's economic development capacity. (d) Recommendation 6 - Whilst the actions appeared acceptable, the question was raised as to whether the point regarding Officer/Member protocols had been sufficiently covered.
RESOLVED That the findings of the Audit Wales Regional report ‘Urgent and Emergency Care: Flow out of Hospital – West Wales Region’, be noted.
RESOLVED (a) That the 2026 forward work programme items be approved. (b) That the programme remained a live document, subject to amendment to reflect emerging risks, regulatory changes and Committee requirements.
There were no apologies for absence received.
No requests were received.
There were no declarations of interest received.
Moved by Dr Norma Barry; Seconded by Councillor Maureen Bowen The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2025 be approved as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the updates in respect of actions arising from the 4 December 2025 meeting be noted.
The Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer introduced the item, highlighted the two outstanding actions and provided the following updates: Action 1: Internal Audit Review on the Corporate Governance Improvement Plan Update: The review has been concluded, with the report currently in draft form. Once the report has been cleared it will be shared with the Committee. Action 2: Review of the Tudor Place and the Old School Lane schemes Update: Due to competing priorities, the work was still ongoing but was on track to be delivered by the end of the financial year and will be included as part of the Head of Audit Opinion. Mr John Evans made reference to Action 3: Vehicle Maintenance Unit Audit and queried if the audit had highlighted any anecdotal evidence to provide some correlation between the missed refuse collections and the Vehicle Maintenance Unit. It was recognised that such question was more aligned for the Head of Transport and Environment and it was agreed that an update would be sought (AP). The Chair made reference to Action 13: For the Chair to collate all Committee responses regarding the budget report and return to the Director of Resources for inclusion within the Cabinet report – and stated that in doing so there had been uncertainty regarding the Committee’s role in relation to the budget. It was stated that following advice sought on the matter, it had become clear that the current terms of reference of the Committee did not explicitly set out the responsibilities in this area. After discussion with the Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team, it was agreed that there was value in presenting the budget to the Committee and it was confirmed that the terms of reference would be reviewed to clarify the Committee’s role, including any distinctions between the responsibilities of Lay and Elected Members. It was noted that this work would be taken forward by the relevant Officer in due course (AP). Moved by Mr John Evans; Seconded by Councillor Mike James The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the updates in respect of actions arising from the 4 December 2025 meeting be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the Internal Audit and Counter Fraud Update report to the 31 December 2025 be noted.
The Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer outlined the report and stated that the Audit work continued, broadly in line with the strategic plan, with no limited assurance or high?risk findings identified since the previous report had been received. It was stated that some audits were now expected to roll into early 2026-27 due to additional unplanned reviews and the development needs of new trainees, with an estimated 92% plan completion by year?end predicted. It was noted that in terms of counter?fraud activity, 38 new referrals had been received since April, including joint cases with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and one case was still under police investigation. Members were advised that a draft Audit Wales report on the Council’s counter?fraud arrangements was expected in March. It was added that work was also continuing on National Fraud Initiative datasets, including newly issued 2025-26 Council Tax data. The Chair observed that 50% of fraud and irregularity referrals resulted in no evidence being found. It was stated that when this was queried with the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer, it was advised that many of these were anonymous reports, often linked to DWP related payments. The Chair noted there was no cause for concern but felt it important to highlight the point and reminded the Committee to consider whether any cases required referral. Mr John Evans made reference to staff purchase cards and suggested that it would be beneficial for a complete review of the use of purchase cards to be undertaken, with increased level of discipline communicated to card users. In response, the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer clarified that the purchase card audit was a follow?up review linked to a specific fraud incident and focused on control issues rather than the number of cards or transactional activity. It was noted that as the matter remained part of an active police investigation, limited detail could be shared, but Members were reassured that the concerns did not relate to transactional processes. The Director of Resources provided additional assurance that non-compliance to purchase card rules resulted in removal. Councillor Alan Dennison made reference to a specific area of potential fraud to which the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer advised that an increase in referrals relating to suspected cohabiting had been seen, which were followed up alongside housing colleagues. Assurance was given that referrals could be categorised by type in future reports to give Members a clearer understanding of the issues being raised if requested. Councillor Maureen Bowen sought further information on two moderate assurance audits. In response, the Internal Audit and Counter Fraud Manager stated that in relation to the Fire Safety Audit, there was nothing of concern that required raising with the Committee and the moderate opinion was more procedural in nature to do with keeping the overarching system up to date. In terms of the Contract Management Audit there were a number of concerns identified relating to the use of the contract register, however, since procurement had moved under the new Head of Resources and Procurement steps had already been taken to make improvements to strengthen those. Moved by Mr John Evans; Seconded by Councillor Maureen Bowen The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Internal Audit and Counter Fraud Update report to the 31 December 2025 be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED (a) That the Internal Audit and External Regulator recommendations and progress made to date be noted. (b) That the approach to tracking, monitoring, and escalating overdue recommendations be endorsed.
The Committee considered a report by the Internal Audit and Counter Fraud Manager in relation to recommendation tracking for January 2026. The Internal Audit and Counter Fraud Manager presented the report which provided an update on progress in implementing internal audit and external regulator recommendations as of 31 January 2026. It was stated that the report highlighted areas requiring continued focus to strengthen governance, risk management and internal controls, and outlined the volume and status of recommendations, including newly issued, completed, extended, and overdue actions. Emerging themes from open recommendations were noted, such as governance clarity, performance measurement, data quality and operational controls. The Committee was advised that recommendations overdue by more than 90 days included five from external regulators and eight from internal audit (four high?priority and four medium?priority), with none graded as very high priority. It was noted that since publication of the report, further updates had reduced the number of overdue recommendations, with several either closed or given revised timescales in recognition of progress made. Both the Chair and Mr John Evans made reference to the overdue recommendations which had no updated responses and felt this requirement should be strengthened, with clear updates expected from the relevant Heads of Service. It was highlighted that almost three?quarters of the recommendations within the Place Directorate had extended timescales and they urged that every effort be made to bring these actions back on track. A suggestion was made by Mr John Evans and Councillor Alan Dennison for the management and implementation of recommendations be linked, by way of key performance indicators (KPI), to staff performance reviews. Following the points made, the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer acknowledged the Committee’s concerns regarding overdue and extended recommendations, noting that the position was not satisfactory given the aim of strengthening internal controls. It was stated that future reports would provide clearer explanations for significant delays, particularly those exceeding 90 days. A commitment was given, by the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer, to review the effectiveness of the tracking and escalation process, recognising that current arrangements were not consistently driving timely updates from responsible officers (AP). Key recurring causes of delay were outlined, including governance changes, the need to update policies and clarify roles, work required to refresh KPIs and performance measures, and staffing changes affecting operational controls. The Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer emphasised the importance of improving escalation protocols and confirmed that this would be raised with the Director of Resources and the Senior Leadership Team to ensure more timely and accountable progress reporting to the Committee (AP). The Chair, supported by Mr John Evans, emphasised the importance of reaching a jointly agreed timescale for implementing audit recommendations between Internal Audit and the relevant Head of Service at the conclusion of each audit. Moved by Mr John Evans; Seconded by Councillor Mike James The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED (a) That the Internal Audit and External Regulator recommendations and progress made to date be noted. (b) That the approach to tracking, monitoring, and escalating overdue recommendations be endorsed.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 update be noted.
The Committee considered a report by the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer in relation to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. The Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer presented the report which highlighted the new “failure to prevent fraud” offence introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, effective from 1 September 2025. It was stated that the Act applied to Local Authorities and created liability where fraud was committed by an employee, Member, contractor or associated person for the Council’s benefit and reasonable preventative measures cannot be evidenced. It was noted that examples included procurement and housing?related fraud. The Committee was assured that the Council already had appropriate controls in place, including its Counter Fraud Strategy, due diligence procedures, codes of conduct, training, whistleblowing arrangements and a maintained fraud risk register, and the importance of up?to?date declarations of interest was emphasised. In response to a question raised by Councillor Alan Dennison, the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer advised that the offence was not able to be backdated and took effect from 1 September 2025. Councillor Alan Dennison queried whether the rise in certain high?street businesses which had been linked elsewhere to fraud or tax avoidance created any risk of future liability for the Council when granting planning permission or licensing approvals, should such premises later be implicated in unlawful activity. In response, the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer explained that the Council screened relevant contractors and suppliers through CIFAS as part of its due?diligence procedures, and this would apply where the Council was transacting with a business. However, it was noted that such checks only identify issues where there was an existing record of fraud, meaning some risks may not be detectable. Members were advised that CIFAS screening was already used across areas such as housing and procurement, and while current arrangements were robust, there was always scope to expand such controls further. In response to a question raised by Mr John Evans, the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer confirmed that the Council’s counter fraud training courses were up to date, having been refreshed around 18 months ago, with a further update planned to reflect new legislation. It was stated that training attendance was generally strong, though some gaps remained, particularly within schools. It was added that a full in?person session was delivered to the entire finance team last year, which was well received and helped improve understanding of fraud processes, police referral requirements and the wider investigative and court procedures. An update was provided on the public fraud reporting form which was stated to generate mixed?quality referrals, including many anonymous submissions, but remained a valuable tool for engaging the public and had led to some cases being pursued, including referrals to the Department for Work and Pensions. It was stated that while additional in?person training for services would be beneficial, capacity constraints limit delivery; however, it remained a priority as face?to?face engagement had proven particularly effective. Following a request from Councillor Mike James, it was agreed that further information regarding recent whistleblowing figures would be circulated to all Committee Members (AP). Moved by Mr John Evans; Seconded by Councillor Mike James The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 update be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED (a) That the Business Risk Management update be noted. (b) That the contents of the Corporate Risk Register be noted.
The Committee considered a report by the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer in relation to the Business Risk Management update for January 2026. The Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer presented the report and stated that the Corporate Risk Register continued to be reviewed monthly with risk owners, and no changes to residual risk ratings had been identified since December. It was stated that aggregated control scores had been introduced to provide greater visibility of control effectiveness, with strong scores noted in areas such as emergency planning and cybersecurity, while others required further improvement. Members were advised that work remained ongoing to address Audit Wales’ recommended improvements, with progress updates to continue until all actions are complete. Members were reminded of the forthcoming training session on the Vanguard methodology and it was stated that the register would continue to be reviewed regularly and reported quarterly to Cabinet and the Committee. Mr John Evans queried whether a cost?benefit business case had been undertaken before adopting the Vanguard methodology, given its focus on cultural change rather than process redesign, and sought clarification on the outcomes achieved to date, progress against the original business case, and whether the financial investment in external consultancy was being realised through measurable returns. In response, the Director of Resources confirmed that a business case had been developed prior to adopting the Vanguard methodology, which had since been implemented across the Authority, with the greatest impact seen in social care, and stated that while a precise cashable saving could not be quantified, the strengthened financial performance was highlighted as clear evidence of its effectiveness. It was noted that as part of the current transformation programme, Vanguard was one of the four themes so was constantly reviewed and updated. The specific milestone of the Vanguard methodology business case would be outlined as part of the action log (AP). Following points raised by Councillor Mike James regarding the high number of schools falling into budget deficits, it was noted that such matters were already being considered by the Schools Overview and Scrutiny Committee and also formed part of the Budget Monitoring Report which would be considered later on the agenda. In response to points raised in relation to the ongoing Nutrients Neutrality matter, an update was scheduled to be received by the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the matter. The Chair queried the lack of consistency in how the risk register was presented, noting confusion at times between controls and actions and uncertainty over whether controls were actually in operation. A request was made that future reports make clear which actions relate to which specific controls, as this linkage was not always evident. In response, the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer welcomed the observations and acknowledged the need for greater clarity and consistency in the presentation of the risk register. It was explained that the system can cause completed actions to appear as current controls, and confirmed that risk owners would ensure implemented controls were clearly marked and written in the correct tense. It was agreed that clearer distinctions could be made between controls that were fully operational and those still in development, and to ensure actions were more explicitly linked to the controls they strengthen or create (AP). The Chair questioned why there was no movement in residual risk ratings, suggesting this may indicate issues with either the effectiveness of controls and actions or the accuracy of the risk judgements. In response, the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer stated that the Authority can be risk?averse, resulting in ratings remaining static even where controls were assessed as highly effective. It was confirmed that the issue would be reviewed, with a shift towards assessing risk trends more regularly rather than over extended periods, enabling clearer explanations when risks decrease or increase over time (AP). The Director of Resources added that limited movement in the risk register may partly reflect the design of the Council’s 4×4 risk matrix. It was explained that the smaller scale offered fewer rating categories than the larger matrices used by some Authorities, making minor shifts in risk less visible. It was noted that while the current matrix would remain in place, this constraint may contribute to the appearance of static residual ratings. In response to points raised by the Chair, the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer agreed that all actions should be time?bound and confirmed that target dates would be applied consistently across the risk register (AP). A system limitation was identified that prevented completed actions from being clearly flagged in reports and agreed to explore options with the system developer to improve this. The need for greater scrutiny of residual risk ratings was acknowledged, particularly where strong controls were in place but ratings remained unchanged, of which work would be undertaken with the Director of Resources to strengthen oversight and refine reporting to give Members clearer assurance on risk mitigation (AP). Mr John Evans agreed that changing the matrix was not necessary at this stage, but suggested that the reporting could be improved by updating the target dates and progress status within the ‘actions to be implemented’ section. It was felt that indicating completion or percentage progress against each action would provide helpful visibility of movement without altering the matrix itself. In response, the Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer agreed to take the points on board, where possible. Moved by Mr John Evans; Seconded by Councillor Jacob Wiliams The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED (a) That the Business Risk Management update be noted. (b) That the contents of the Corporate Risk Register be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the progress made, and continued challenges in respect of asset valuations and IFRS16 implementation in the audit of the County Council Statement of Accounts for 2024-25, be noted.
The Committee considered a report by the Director of Resources, the Head of Finance and Revenue Services and the Head of Resources and Procurement in relation to the County Council Statement of Accounts 2024-25 Progress Update. The Director of Resources presented the report and stated that Audit Wales began its work on 17 November 2025 and the audit was now largely complete, with outstanding work relating to property, plant and equipment and IFRS 16, where the volume of transactions and associated risks had required additional testing. It was stated that completion was expected by the end of March 2026. It was noted that due to the April Committee meeting being cancelled due to the pre?election period, an extraordinary meeting would be arranged to allow the Committee to consider the final audited accounts and audit opinion ahead of making a recommendation to Council on 14 May 2026. The Chair queried if the audit of property assets remained on track for completion by the end of March. In response, the Director of Resources confirmed that it did, noting that the process had been challenging and would be revised again for the 2025–26 accounts. It was stated that closer joint working with Audit Wales was now in place, and an additional Finance Manager with strong project management skills had been assigned to lead the work as a formal project, which, combined with the experience gained by the existing Finance Managers over the past two years, this approach was expected to support a return to statutory timescales. Moved by Councillor Maureen Bowen; Seconded by Mr John Evans The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the progress made, and continued challenges in respect of asset valuations and IFRS16 implementation in the audit of the County Council Statement of Accounts for 2024-25, be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the County Council Budget Monitoring report for Quarter 3, 2025-26, be noted. [Councillor Aled Thomas left the meeting at this juncture.]
The Committee considered a report by the Head of Finance and Revenue Services in relation to the County Council Budget Monitoring report Quarter 3 2025-26. The Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance and Efficiencies presented the report and stated that it projected a £4m underspend against a £322.6m outturn. It was stated that the improved position reflected reduced capital financing costs from better capital profiling, and stabilised expenditure within Children’s Services. It was outlined that Social Care and Housing was forecasting a £0.287m underspend, with Children’s Services projecting a £0.688m underspend, driven by reduced residential care costs as placement numbers continue to fall, partly offset by increased fostering. An update was given in relation to Adult Services with a £2.125m overspend in supported accommodation as individuals move to more independent provision. Members were advised that Education was forecasting a £0.275m underspend, with the Chief Executive’s department showing a £0.5m overspend linked to staff reorganisation, which generated £1.4m savings overall. The Director of Place/Assistant Chief Executive’s area forecasted a £0.649m underspend, including savings in public transport, with Waste Services projecting a £0.478m overspend due to vehicle delays and delayed regulatory income. Capital financing costs were stated to be significantly lower than budgeted, with an additional £50k investment income. It was highlighted that Council tax collection continued to progress, with most properties reclassified from business rates now incorporated. Members were advised that any final underspend was proposed for transfer to the Initiative Fund Reserve to support schools and future Accelerated Change Programme bids. The Chair highlighted the positive progress within Social Services in managing their budget and noted that recent investments were beginning to show clear benefits. The Committee agreed that this should be formally recognised. The Chair queried the overspend in Culture, Leisure and Tourism, noting the relatively small budget and questioned whether sufficient savings efforts had been made. In response, the Director of Resources advised that the Head of Service had a strong track record in achieving savings, and it was unlikely that effort was lacking. It was added that some savings in this area were demand?led, particularly relating to leisure centre usage, and it was possible that anticipated demand had not materialised. Library usage was noted as unlikely to have had a significant budget impact. Following concern raised regarding the high proportion of red?rated savings within the Director of Place/Assistant Chief Executive’s area, it was agreed that an answer would be more suitably sourced from the Director of Place. In response to a question raised by Councillor Alan Dennison, the Director of Resources advised that a total payment of £152,000 was paid to Visit Pembrokeshire for 2025-26. The first payment was £87,000 followed by a payment of £65,000 which took into account the £22,000 saving referenced in the July Cabinet report. It was agreed that clarification would be sought as to whether any payment had been made since November 2025 (AP). Councillor Alan Dennison made reference to a number of funding allocations following Accelerated Change Programme bids, including the allocation for Eclipse person matching and the allocation for Planning Nutrient Ecologists, and sought further information. In response, the Director of Resources advised that the Planning Nutrient Ecologists was an arrangement put in place, with time limited funding, to assist with the ongoing nitrates issue. Regarding the Eclipse person matching it was stated that further information from the bid would need be to be sought. In response to a question raised by Councillor Alan Dennison, the Director of Resources stated that the £60,000 funding allocated for schools in special measures related to specific support requested by the Director for Education. Councillor Alan Dennison made reference to the unidentified efficiency measures noting that the Organisational and Operating Model Review had aimed to deliver £0.7m in savings but was instead projecting a £0.4m overspend, and further information was sought as to why. In response, the Director of Resources explained that £0.7m of the £1.4m savings target related to the Organisational and Operating Model Review, and that the full amount had been achieved. However, due to the timing of implementation, some staff remained in post for part of 2025–26, meaning £0.4m of the saving would not be realised in-year. Assurance was given that the full £0.7m saving would be delivered from 2026–27 onwards, as it had already been removed from the base budget. Following clarification sought by Councillor Alan Dennison regarding a number of trade waste matters, the Director of Resources stated that trade waste was a discretionary service and should at least break even, so the projected year?end overspend was a concern. It was added that the additional costs related to increased staffing requirements within the service and the delayed delivery of vehicles. Moved by Mr John Evans; Seconded by Councillor Maureen Bowen The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the County Council Budget Monitoring report for Quarter 3, 2025-26, be noted. [Councillor Aled Thomas left the meeting at this juncture.]
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the following amendments to the Council’s Panel Performance Assessment, response and action plan, be submitted to Council for consideration: (a) Recommendation 2 - That consideration be given to addressing the issue of capability. (b) Recommendation 3 – That a closer look be adopted to ensure that the actions also address working with partners and stakeholders. (c) Recommendation 4 – (iii) The actions were felt to be unclear and not easily measurable and it was not clear what outcomes and impacts were to be achieved in order to strengthen the economic development capacity. (iv) To consider whether a place?based approach to Council services would develop the Council's economic development capacity. (d) Recommendation 6 - Whilst the actions appeared acceptable, the question was raised as to whether the point regarding Officer/Member protocols had been sufficiently covered.
The Committee considered a report by the Director of Resources in relation to the Panel Performance Assessment (PPA) response and action plan to the Panel’s report and recommendations. Ahead of welcoming the Director of Resources to present the report the Chair reiterated that the ‘Response and Action Plan’ document had been circulated by Democratic Services, following publication of the agenda. The Director of Resources outlined the report and advised that he was being supported by Nick Evans, the Corporate Business and Policy Manager. It was stated that the Council had received the PPA, undertaken by an external panel in October 2025. It was stated that the assessment, required under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, examined the Council’s overall performance and three thematic areas relating to priorities and governance, financial sustainability, and the transformation and innovation programme. It was noted that the Panel’s report concluded that the Council was meeting its statutory performance duties and was operating effectively, highlighting strong leadership, effective governance and partnership working, robust performance management, and positive organisational values recognised across the workforce. The Council’s response to ongoing financial pressures was also commended. Members were advised that seven recommendations had been made relating to: strengthening scrutiny; enhancing corporate capacity; building on collaborative leadership; reviewing economic development capacity; considering alternative approaches to resource prioritisation; improving communication and engagement; and developing cohesive transformation programmes. A draft response and action plan was stated to have been prepared, which the Committee was being asked to review before final consideration by Council on 5 March 2026. It was highlighted that the Council accepted all recommendations in full, with progress to be reported through the Annual Self?Assessment Report and Annual Governance Statement. Cabinet was noted to have endorsed the response and action plan on 9 February 2026. Mr John Evans commented that the report was constructive, and highlighted the right areas for improvement, but cautioned against over?emphasising its positive tone given that the panel consisted solely of public?sector peers, it was suggested that private?sector representation could have offered a wider perspective. The recommendations were generally supported, but concerns were raised regarding the loss of communal spaces, which had reduced informal communication, and it was questioned whether increased homeworking had contributed to this. Concern was also expressed regarding the Council’s economic development capacity, referencing the former Welsh Development Agency as a good example of using broad commercial expertise to drive significant investment. In response, the Director of Resources, confirmed that the comments regarding including private?sector representatives on future PPA panels would be fed back to the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). In relation to staff communication, he explained that the Council encouraged staff to attend the workplace three days a week, ensuring regular face?to?face contact and minimising reliance on virtual interaction. On the issue of communal space, it was advised that the former canteen had closed after Covid due to cost pressures, but the space remained available and work was underway to make it more usable and social. In summing up, the Director provided assurance that the comments on economic development would be passed on to the Director of Place. Following further information being sought by Councillor Alan Dennison in relation to the report stating that ‘whilst the Cabinet operated cohesively despite being a rainbow coalition, the overall political balance remained fragile and posed a risk to the authority’s stability’, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Corporate Finance and Efficiencies highlighted that the Council’s diverse political make?up reflected local democratic choice, resulting in a rainbow coalition, and while that naturally created challenges it was simply a feature of the democratic system and the outcome of how residents vote. Following ongoing discussions regarding the re-purpose of the County Hall Canteen Councillor Jacob Williams wished to express that he did feel it would be appropriate for any space within the County Hall building to be used to host public facing services, such as youth centres, which had been rumoured. Following clarification sought by the Chair regarding the organisational structure, the Director of Resources clarified that he was responsible for Communications, also with a link to the Chief Executive. The Chair raised a number of concerns with some of the actions outlined in the action plan and following discussion with Committee Members and advice from the Head of Law and Governance and the Corporate Business and Policy Manager, the following suggestions of change were made: · Recommendation 2 - That consideration be given to addressing the issue of capability as it was not felt that the current actions covered this off. · Recommendation 3 – That a closer look be adopted to ensure that the actions also address working with partners and stakeholders as the current action did not sufficiently address the point. · Recommendation 4 – (i) The actions were felt to be unclear and not easily measurable and it was not clear what outcomes and impacts were to be achieved in order to strengthen the economic development capacity. (ii) To consider whether a place?based approach to Council services would develop the Council's economic development capacity. · Recommendation 6 - Whilst the actions appeared acceptable, the question was raised as to whether the point regarding Officer/Member protocols had been sufficiently covered. Following points made by the Chair, the Director of Resources advised that there was no moratorium or recruitment freeze in place at present. Moved by Mr John Evans; Seconded by Councillor Maureen Bowen The votes, undertaken by way of a roll call, were carried. The votes were recorded as follows: For the Motion: Councillors Maureen Bowen, Alan Dennison, Mike James and Jacob Williams; and Dr Norma Barry, John Evans and Chris Halford [7] There were no votes against the motion or abstentions. RESOLVED That the following amendments to the Council’s Panel Performance Assessment, response and action plan, be submitted to Council for consideration: (a) Recommendation 2 - That consideration be given to addressing the issue of capability. (b) Recommendation 3 – That a closer look be adopted to ensure that the actions also address working with partners and stakeholders. (c) Recommendation 4 – (iii) The actions were felt to be unclear and not easily measurable and it was not clear what outcomes and impacts were to be achieved in order to strengthen the economic development capacity. (iv) To consider whether a place?based approach to Council services would develop the Council's economic development capacity. (d) Recommendation 6 - Whilst the actions appeared acceptable, the question was raised as to whether the point regarding Officer/Member protocols had been sufficiently covered.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED That the findings of the Audit Wales Regional report ‘Urgent and Emergency Care: Flow out of Hospital – West Wales Region’, be noted.
The Committee considered an Audit Wales Regional Report in relation to Urgent and Emergency Care: Flow Out Of Hospital – West Wales Region. Alison Lewis from Audit Wales stated that that the report presented was the West Wales Region Emergency Care Flow Out of Hospital Report. She introduced Bethan Hopkins, Audit Lead, working across both Health and Local Government teams, who had been directly involved in the review. It was stated that Bethan would present the key findings. Bethan Hopkins, Audit Wales, outlined the report, which examined joint working between the Health Board and Local Authorities to understand the causes and impact of discharge delays and stated that the report was cleared through the Regional Partnership Board due to its cross?sector nature. It was stated that the audit found that delayed discharges continued to significantly affect urgent and emergency care, including ambulance handovers and emergency department waits. The contributing factors were outlined and it was recognised that while the challenges were common across Wales, regional causes and impacts differ. It was highlighted that fifteen recommendations had been made, four for the Health Board, nine joint, and two for Local Authorities (one specific to Ceredigion). It was noted that management responses were included in the papers, and the Committee was asked to consider whether the responses provided sufficient assurance. The Head of Adult Care added that the report reflected an earlier point in time and did not capture the current position in Adult Social Care. Assurance was given that the service was now fully staffed with no agency social workers, supported by £1.9m Welsh Government funding, which has strengthened hospital?based teams and the joint discharge team, with recruitment completed successfully. Members were advised that significant investment had also been made in in?house domiciliary care and in expanding the reablement service, which had moved from one of the lowest to one of the highest levels in Wales which had improved independence?focused support and streamlined hospital discharge processes. It was confirmed that delayed transfers of care had reduced in the last quarter, supported by improved communication training and a more collaborative approach across adult services. In summing up, the Committee was advised that the position had improved notably since the period covered in the report. Councillor Alan Denniosn made reference to the “golden hello" payments which were sometimes offered to attract staff for specific senior and specialist roles in the Authority and queried if this was being utilised for Adult Care to ensure staffing capacity requirements are met. In response, the Head of Adult Care advised that all vacancies were currently filled and it was not felt that such initiatives were required at this time. In response to points raised by Mr John Evans, the Head of Adult Care emphasised that the report represented a snapshot in time and noted that significant work had taken place since the period it covered. It was stated that while Local Authorities do collaborate and share good practice, each retained its own statutory responsibilities, which limits how much can be done jointly beyond existing partnerships such as the Regional Partnership Board. Assurance was given that substantial progress had already been made in Pembrokeshire, including strong working relationships with the Health Board and the development of joint training to address barriers highlighted in the report. Bethan Hopkins agreed with the comments made, noting that the report reflected a moment in time and stated that significant progress was expected since its publication. It was added that while challenges evolve, the report focused on underlying areas of concern, including planning for an ageing population, which was essential for future workforce and service strategies. Attention was drawn to Recommendation 15, which required the Local Authority to ensure regular updates on Regional Partnership Board activity relating to patient flow was reported to an appropriate Committee and the importance of such oversight was expressed, given the substantial work undertaken at regional level. In response, the Head of Adult Care confirmed that updates would be provided, in line with the recommendation, to the Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Mike James highlighted the challenges created by Pembrokeshire’s ageing population and rurality, noting that older residents often live far from family support and that distance from hospitals can make discharge and visiting difficult. In response, the Head of Adult Care acknowledged that rurality was a significant issue, particularly for domiciliary care, but confirmed that investment in the Council’s in?house service was helping to provide care in remote areas so people can remain at home wherever possible. It was added that the ageing population was already being factored into future workforce planning, In summing up the Chair highlighted that the Committee required assurance that Pembrokeshire County Council was playing an effective part in implementing the recommendations and stated that she was content, that the information provided by the Head of Adult Care had satisfied that assurance. Moved by Mr John Evans; Seconded by Councillor Mike James The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED That the findings of the Audit Wales Regional report ‘Urgent and Emergency Care: Flow out of Hospital – West Wales Region’, be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED (a) That the 2026 forward work programme items be approved. (b) That the programme remained a live document, subject to amendment to reflect emerging risks, regulatory changes and Committee requirements.
The Chief Audit, Risk and Information Officer outlined the forward work programme, which sets out the assurance reports, governance items and statutory updates required to meet its terms of reference. It was stated that the programme was structured to provide timely information throughout the year and would remain flexible to reflect changing risks, statutory deadlines, audit cycles and regulatory requirements. Members were advised that quarterly items would continue to include Audit Wales updates, internal audit progress reports, the corporate risk register and any strategic risk deep dives. It was noted that the Committee would also consider the draft Annual Governance Statement before its submission to Council, alongside key financial governance reports such as the statement of accounts, budget monitoring and procurement updates. There were no any additional items requested by Committee Members. Moved by Councillor Alan Dennison; Seconded by Mr John Evans The vote, undertaken by way of a show of hands, was carried. RESOLVED (a) That the 2026 forward work programme items be approved. (b) That the programme remained a live document, subject to amendment to reflect emerging risks, regulatory changes and Committee requirements.
Before concluding the meeting, the Chair reminded Members that the date of the May Committee meeting had been moved from the 21 May and would now take place on the 19 May.
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