The Homes, Regeneration and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, to discuss the council's revenue budget strategy for 2026/27 to 2028/29 and draft business plans for several service areas. The committee unanimously resolved to receive the Revenue Budget Strategy Consultation and endorse the Charging Digests for Regeneration, Leisure, Place and Sustainability, and Non-HRA Housing Services. They also unanimously recommended the adoption of the Business Plans for Healthy Communities and Public Protection, Economic Development and Property, and Housing to the Cabinet/Council.

Revenue Budget Strategy Consultation 2026/27 to 2028/29

The committee considered a report on the Revenue Budget Strategy Consultation for 2026/27 to 2028/29, aiming to review the corporate budget strategy and its impact on service delivery. Councillor Alun Lenny, Cabinet Member for Resources, explained that the provisional settlement from the Welsh Government indicated a 2.3% increase, or £17.9m in cash terms. An additional £300m released by the Welsh Government meant the budgeted council tax increase could be lowered, with extra funding directed to various departments. The budget was based on projected pay increases of 3.5% for council employees and 3% for expenditure items, with a higher pay award identified as a major risk. Most Welsh Government Service Specific Grants were expected to remain at the same cash value, representing a real-terms cut due to inflation. The indicative Housing Support Grant had a 2% increase. The committee heard that a key risk was unmet savings from previous years, attributed to the number and complexity of savings proposals. Overspends on Syrian and Ukrainian resettlement schemes were largely due to grant conditions preventing the use of allocated grant income. An overspend on staffing costs at Carmarthen HWB was due to additional resources for a new officer covering both HWB and Pentre Awel, offset by an underspend at Pentre Awel. The potential outsourcing of the Caban and Pendine Adventure Golf was discussed as a way to save money if private companies could operate them more efficiently. Additional housing support at the Vista Lounge was described as more proactive daytime support to help residents move into permanent tenancies, with continued security needed at night. The 2% increase in the Housing Support Grant was noted as being below general inflation, with core challenges including the long-term pressures of increasingly complex homelessness issues requiring tailored support. The committee unanimously resolved to receive the 2025/26 – 2027/28 Revenue Budget Strategy Consultation and endorse the Charging Digests for Regeneration, Leisure, Place and Sustainability and Non-HRA Housing Services.

2026/27 Business Plans (Draft)

The committee reviewed draft Business Plans for Healthy Communities and Public Protection, Economic Development and Property, and Housing. Councillor Emlyn Schiavone, Cabinet Member for Homes, was welcomed to his first meeting and thanked members for their support. He provided an overview of the Housing Business Plan, focusing on the vision for safe, high-quality, and affordable homes, based on an average rent increase of 4.3%. Improvements in tenant engagement and communication, and the merging of responsive repairs and estate management for a more efficient approach were highlighted.

Discussions included an update on the hydrotherapy pool at Pentre Awel, which was close to opening with an event planned for 16th February. The committee commended the Good Boost scheme for mobility issues. The Head of Healthy Communities & Public Protection confirmed that Actif Places should be working with town and community councils and would follow up to ensure this. An SLA had been agreed for discounted access to some spaces at Pentre Awel for Hywel Dda health board. The committee noted a concerning downward trend in the percentage of 11-year-olds able to swim 25m, a drop from 6,000 to 3,000 school swimmers a year in the last decade, emphasizing swimming as a lifesaving skill. Officers were asked to make efforts to improve these figures, including exploring walking to swimming classes where buses are not affordable. Officers would also provide a breakdown of figures on who was using Pentre Awel facilities. It was advised that a large percentage of leisure activities in the county were delivered through community partnerships, with the Actif Communities team facilitating this. Estate walkabouts with housing officers and local members were highlighted as crucial for tenant engagement, supported by a new Tenant Challenge Panel. The department was considering restarting the Housing Services Advisory panel. The committee congratulated officers on the improvement in referrals to the National Exercise Referral scheme. Concerns were noted regarding the lack of engagement from some partners, including Dyfed Powys Police, in the Ten Towns taskforce, with a request for ward members in and adjoining Llanelli town centre to be part of it. The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture & Tourism advised that the placemaking plans consultation was widely publicised but had few responses, and the council was looking at different ways to manage taskforces. Pride in Place funding from the UK Government would be managed through a new group, with all ward members in and adjoining Llanelli town centre being consulted. Regarding the lack of a Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) policy, the Cabinet Member for Housing noted the tension between ensuring HMO standards and using them to reduce homelessness. He advised he would be looking to set up a Task & Finish group to formulate a full HMO strategy, dependent on staffing levels in Democratic Services. The committee unanimously recommended that the Business Plans for Healthy Communities and Public Protection, Economic Development and Property, and Housing be adopted.

Town Centre Placemaking Plans

The committee received an update on the Town Centre Placemaking Plans, presented by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism. The report detailed the consultation process, which was available online and in person, and the timeline for the remaining process. The committee stressed the need for independent shops to offer unique products compared to large retail parks and online shopping, noting the impact of planning decisions. Discussions included the potential use of compulsory purchase orders for empty buildings, citing Lloyds Bank in Ammanford and empty buildings in Llanelli as examples. The need to consult with residents in areas surrounding the three major towns was highlighted, and the marketing and media team would ensure wide advertising of consultations. The consultation for Llanelli Market would begin with tenants and then expand. The committee was advised that Hywel Dda health board had been offered the Ty Nant facility at Trostre for the Dyfed Drug & Alcohol Service in Llanelli's relocation, but were still considering it. Officers were asked to push for a decision, and the Chair offered support by signing a letter to the health board. An engagement event at Queen Elizabeth High School in Carmarthen was clarified as part of a county-wide event for all secondary pupils. The committee unanimously resolved to note the report.

Forthcoming Items

The committee received a list of forthcoming items for its next meeting on 3rd March 2026. Discussions included future reports on the Welsh Language, which had recently been added to the committee's remit. An informal session with the Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Communities and Welsh Language was suggested to understand the committee's remit in this area. A question was asked regarding a future report to Cabinet on the closure of Ysgol Pontiets, with a request for this committee to also scrutinise it due to potential impact on the Welsh Language. It was suggested that the Welsh Language might warrant its own scrutiny committee due to the volume of work. The committee unanimously approved the list of forthcoming items.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee unanimously resolved to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 12th December 2025 as a correct record.