The Autumn Term at County Hall appears to be lumbering into action with the agenda for next Wednesday's full council meeting now published. The meeting will be webcast of course, and with a fair few committee reports coming up for rubber stamping it will be interesting to see whether those in charge of proceedings manage to prevent any wayward discussions under the spotlight of the camera.
There are numerous issues within the reports such as the unspent £1.5m S106 money languishing in vaults and the minutes of the last audit committee meeting where, with regards to grant management, the "Committee as a whole expressed grave concern regarding the content of the report and was extremely disappointed that the issue of non compliance with procedures had continued for a number of years without being rectified." (see earlier post here) . And will anyone dare bring up the taboo subject of the Council, the Towy Community Church and the Mercy Ministries?
Anyway, be sure to watch at 10am next Wednesday, or have a look at the archive later.
The leader of the Plaid group (the largest group on the council), Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths has made another offer to Kev and Pam to join them in forming a rainbow coalition to grapple with the 'difficult decisions' ahead. Previous overtures have been rejected and Kev and Pam have yet to comment on Cllr Griffiths letter. Can't see it happening myself, and to be honest, for the failing democratic health of Carmarthenshire council, there needs to be an opposition.
For anyone who has endured the experience of trying to view the Register of Members' Interests Gifts and Hospitality (see The Sacred Parchments) the next meeting of the Standards Committee hints that access may be improved. The Local Democracy Bill which is going through the Senedd will require this register to be published online. Carmarthenshire's neighbours, Swansea and Pembrokeshire already do. The agenda item doesn't exactly say they will, but might have to in the near future...shock, horror.
The Council press office have got all exited over the Queen's Baton, heralding the Commonwealth Games, which will be visiting the county for the day next May, and council officers have formed a Steering Committee to 'maximise the baton visit'. As you do.
Lastly, some depressing news from Neath Port Talbot Council as they chose to remain in the dark ages and decided not to webcast meetings nor allow the public to film/photograph from the public gallery. The reason given to not webcast is the ongoing cost that would be incurred. There is a Welsh Government grant available to assist with the set up of course. Unfortunately there's no similar grant available to fund senior officers' pay at NPT council with the Chief Executive on around £150k and at least four other officers joining the over £100k club.
To allow the public to film or record doesn't cost anything. Wonder what Mr Pickles would make of it.
There are numerous issues within the reports such as the unspent £1.5m S106 money languishing in vaults and the minutes of the last audit committee meeting where, with regards to grant management, the "Committee as a whole expressed grave concern regarding the content of the report and was extremely disappointed that the issue of non compliance with procedures had continued for a number of years without being rectified." (see earlier post here) . And will anyone dare bring up the taboo subject of the Council, the Towy Community Church and the Mercy Ministries?
Anyway, be sure to watch at 10am next Wednesday, or have a look at the archive later.
The leader of the Plaid group (the largest group on the council), Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths has made another offer to Kev and Pam to join them in forming a rainbow coalition to grapple with the 'difficult decisions' ahead. Previous overtures have been rejected and Kev and Pam have yet to comment on Cllr Griffiths letter. Can't see it happening myself, and to be honest, for the failing democratic health of Carmarthenshire council, there needs to be an opposition.
For anyone who has endured the experience of trying to view the Register of Members' Interests Gifts and Hospitality (see The Sacred Parchments) the next meeting of the Standards Committee hints that access may be improved. The Local Democracy Bill which is going through the Senedd will require this register to be published online. Carmarthenshire's neighbours, Swansea and Pembrokeshire already do. The agenda item doesn't exactly say they will, but might have to in the near future...shock, horror.
The Council press office have got all exited over the Queen's Baton, heralding the Commonwealth Games, which will be visiting the county for the day next May, and council officers have formed a Steering Committee to 'maximise the baton visit'. As you do.
Lastly, some depressing news from Neath Port Talbot Council as they chose to remain in the dark ages and decided not to webcast meetings nor allow the public to film/photograph from the public gallery. The reason given to not webcast is the ongoing cost that would be incurred. There is a Welsh Government grant available to assist with the set up of course. Unfortunately there's no similar grant available to fund senior officers' pay at NPT council with the Chief Executive on around £150k and at least four other officers joining the over £100k club.
To allow the public to film or record doesn't cost anything. Wonder what Mr Pickles would make of it.
