At a meeting on Thursday 4 September 2025, Councillor Linda Evans, Cabinet Member for Homes & Deputy Leader, approved the establishment of a fund to support 'safe, secure and warm spaces' in the county over the winter months, and also approved local lettings policies for three new housing developments in Llanelli, Llansteffan and Llangain.

Safe, Secure and Warm Spaces Fund

Carmarthenshire County Council will establish a third-party grant to enable communities across Carmarthenshire to provide welcoming, accessible, safe and warm environments during the winter months. The council has a total budget of £101,346 for 2025/26 to support the initiative, which comes from the Welsh Government's Safe, Secure and Warm Spaces initiative, and includes £16,409 from the previous year's scheme.

Grants of up to £3,000 will be available to eligible organisations, including third sector organisations, town councils and community councils. The funding will support spaces that provide:

• Basic refreshments and snacks
• Advice and support services on financial matters, health and well-being or digital accessibility
• Enrichment activities such as exercise, arts or cultural activity

The council's Bureau will administer the call for applications, and the Head of Economic Development & Property will award funding to successful applicants. Successful applicants will be required to sign an agreement setting out the terms and conditions of the grant.

Local Lettings Policies

Councillor Linda Evans approved Local Lettings Policies (LLPs) for three new Carmarthenshire County Council developments:

• Market Street, Llanelli (10 social rented homes)
• Maesgriffith, Llansteffan (12 social rented homes)
• Pobl Development, Llangain (13 social rented homes)

The LLPs will be used as a supplementary document to the council's main lettings policy, with specific additional criteria to take account of current housing need and local issues. The aim of the LLPs is to provide accommodation solutions for local people in the greatest need, move people on quickly from temporary accommodation, help to alleviate homelessness, enable them to return to their communities, and provide opportunities for key workers¹, helping to create sustainable communities.

Market Street, Llanelli

The Market Street development in Llanelli will deliver 10 two-bedroom flats. Priority will be given to households where a member is in full-time work or on a retirement income, households with a disability working part-time but able to afford the rent, people working in the town centre, people setting up a business in Llanelli, households where at least one member is a key worker, and current social housing tenants who are under-occupying their home and wish to downsize.

In the first instance, applicants who can demonstrate a community connection to the Llanelli North area, which includes Swiss Valley, Dafen, Felinfoel, Lliedi and Hengoed wards, will be considered. If there are no applicants with a community connection, other applicants who have expressed a preference to live in that community may be considered.

The Independent Review and Monitoring Lead Officer, Rachel Parkinson, reported that enquiries would be made to confirm the appropriate electoral ward for the Market Street Development in Llanelli, following which the LLP would be updated if required.

Maesgriffith, Llansteffan and Pobl Development, Llangain

The Maesgriffith development in Llansteffan will deliver 6 two-bedroom houses and 6 three-bedroom houses. The Pobl development in Llangain will deliver 5 two-bedroom houses, 6 three-bedroom houses and 2 two-bedroom bungalows.

Direct matching will follow the priority categories in the table below.

If any homes are unable to be directly matched, these will then be advertised via Canfod Cartref in accordance with the council's main lettings policy.