The Carmarthenshire Council Cabinet met on Monday 18 November 2024, approving a new Social Housing Allocation Policy and the draft Modernising Education Programme Strategy. The meeting also addressed concerns regarding proposed parking charges at Llansteffan beach, reviewed the council's revenue budget monitoring report which highlighted significant overspends, and received an update on the capital programme.

Petition to Scrap Plans to Charge for Parking at Llansteffan Beach Front

The Cabinet considered a petition from residents and visitors opposing the introduction of parking charges at Llansteffan beach front. Ms R. Worrell presented the petition, outlining community concerns that the charges would lead to increased illegal parking, damage to the green space, and negatively impact local businesses. Councillor Edward Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services, explained that the introduction of charges at Llansteffan South Car Park, along with eight other council car parks from April 2025, was part of a broader strategy to manage parking resources effectively and generate revenue for local services. He assured the Cabinet that measures would be implemented to mitigate negative impacts, including regular surveys, traffic monitoring, and displacement analysis. Councillor Aled Vaughan Owen declared an interest in this item due to family members living in Llansteffan, and Councillor Carys Jones declared an interest as she lives opposite the Green, but both remained to speak due to a dispensation. Councillor Alun Lenny also declared an interest and left the meeting during its consideration. The Cabinet resolved to agree the progress of the petition.

New Social Housing Allocation Policy

Councillor Linda Evans, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes, presented the new Social Housing Allocation Policy for Carmarthenshire. This policy replaces the emergency allocation policy implemented in April 2023 and incorporates feedback from a 12-week public consultation. Key changes include requiring applicants to re-register every six months, allowing direct matching to all priority bands, and updating the names of priority bands to align with housing legislation. The policy also clarifies matching criteria, amends community connection areas, and recommends delegated powers for the Head of Housing to approve new Registered Social Landlord partners. Legal counsel had reviewed the proposed changes and praised the policy's intent. Councillor Hazel Evans declared a personal interest as her sister is the Chief Executive of Bro Myrddin Housing Association and left the meeting before this item was discussed. The Cabinet unanimously approved the new policy.

Draft Local Authority Social Services Annual Report 2023/24

Councillor Jane Tremlett, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Services, presented the draft Local Authority Social Services Annual Report for 2023/24. This report, a statutory requirement, details the delivery and performance of social care services and outlines plans for improvement. It covers adult social care, integrated services, children and family services, and early help and assessment. The report highlights significant challenges faced during the year, including increased demand, workforce pressures, and the cost-of-living crisis, but also details the substantial financial and strategic interventions made to address these issues. The Cabinet expressed gratitude to the staff for their contributions and unanimously resolved to recommend the draft report to the full Council for approval.

Council's Revenue Budget Monitoring Report

Councillor Alun Lenny, Cabinet Member for Resources, presented the revenue budget monitoring report as at 31 August 2024. The report indicated a forecast overspend for the year of £19.5 million at a departmental level, including school budgets, with a projected overspend on the Authority's net revenue budget of £10.2 million. The primary drivers for this overspend were identified as school budget deficits, increased pressures within children's services, and high demand and complexity within adult social care. The Housing Revenue Account also forecast an overspend of £1.975 million for 2024/25. The Cabinet acknowledged the ongoing work to manage the financial position and noted that the situation would be reviewed as financial issues become clearer. They unanimously resolved to receive the report, note the budgetary position and appropriate corrective actions, and urged Chief Officers and Heads of Service to critically review options to address the ongoing impact across departments and schools.

Capital Programme 2024/25 Update

Councillor Alun Lenny also presented an update on the 2024/25 capital programme as at 31 August 2024. The report indicated a forecasted net spend of £110,557,000 against a working net budget of £138,329,000, resulting in a variance of -£27,772,000. This variance was attributed to slippage from the previous financial year, adjustments for grant allocations, and new grant awards. The report detailed new projects and virements for approval, including additional Welsh Housing Quality Standard grant funding for public housing, Home Care Fund grant for social care projects, and reprofiling of a loan for recycling facilities. The Cabinet unanimously resolved to receive the capital programme update report and noted and agreed the new projects detailed within it.

Draft Modernising Education Programme (MEP) Strategy

Councillor Glynog Davies, Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, presented the draft Modernising Education Programme (MEP) Strategy. This strategy outlines an investment and school organisation programme aligned with the Welsh Government's Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. Following a public consultation and consideration by the Education, Young People & the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee, amendments were made to the strategy. These included revising the wording of Carmarthenshire's Primary Educational Principles to be aspirational rather than mandatory, adding an appendix on the presumption against the closure of rural schools, and refining the illustrative flow charts for strategic review and statutory proposals. The Cabinet conveyed their gratitude to the officers involved and emphasised the need for sufficient financial structures from the Welsh Government to deliver high standards of education. The Cabinet unanimously approved the updated draft MEP Strategy.