Council prayers
In my opinion, council meetings are not the place for prayers, of any persuasion. We are supposed to be in a democratic, inclusive 21st century state and prayers are divisive and unnecessary....
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Pulling the strings
This week's Herald features interviews with Labour group leader Jeff Edmunds and former leader, Kevin Madge. For the full details you'll have to buy a copy.The most significant comment, as the headline...
View ArticleMeals on Wheels - the end of the road?
One of the most unpopular proposals in February's council budget was to scrap the Meals on Wheels service. The Executive Board, at the time, decided out of the kindness of their hearts, or perhaps the...
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Cross Hands and a £1.1m 'oops'
Members of the Council's Community Scrutiny Committee were surprised to learn on Monday that the Cross Hands East strategic employment site was going to cost the taxpayer an extra £1.1m as the council...
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The 'Libel indemnity clause' - The council's dilemma
Regular readers will be aware that I have a particular interest in the unlawful 'Libel indemnity clause' currently languishing in suspended animation in the council's constitution.The unlawfulness of...
View ArticleEthical Investments
One news story which pops up every now and again questions whether the investments made by public sector pension funds are entirely appropriate. ITV Wales reports today on the pension fund which covers...
View ArticleSeptember meeting...a footnote
The minutes, or what there are of them, have just been published for the last council meeting held on the 9th September. The meeting was memorable for the fact that, for the first time in ten years,...
View ArticleExecutive Board webcast...and a prelude to the budget.
Finally, nearly a year after the WLGA recommendation, and as from next week, Executive Board meetings will be webcast. Monday's meeting will start here at 10am. (As it is now webcast, the public will...
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Absent reports...and news on the Archives
Notable for its absence at next week's Audit Committee is the Wales Audit Office 'one off' report into two EU property grants which was supposed to be presented at this meeting. Questions arose last...
View ArticleCouncil overvalued assets by £38m...and other news
Further to my previous post, the Auditor's report on the Statement of Accounts has now appeared on the agenda for Wednesday's Audit Committee. The report states that the council has overrated some of...
View ArticleCouncil by-election - Kidwelly
A council by-election will be held for the Kidwelly seat on Carmarthenshire County Council on the 19th November. The election follows the death of Labour Councillor Keith Davies last month. In 2012 the...
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A '£1m Motion' for Carmarthenshire?
A belated 'well done' to Plaid Cymru councillor Neil McEvoy for attempting to slash the pay packet of Cardiff's chief executive from £170,000 to £100,000. In a '£1m motion' to Cardiff council last week...
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Emlyn's Barn - Take 2...
Further to earlier reports back in August ( see Emlyn's Barn), it looks like the Leader of Carmarthenshire Council, Emlyn Dole (Plaid) is having further problems over his demolished historic barn, or...
View ArticleThe evangelical boiler - Jane's prayers are answered...
As regular readers will be aware, the council's relationship with the Towy Community Church has often featured on this, and Cneifiwr's blog. The council played a significant part, around £1.5m, in...
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Post-16 transport charges update - the consultation - and parking news
Earlier this month I flagged up the council's proposal to charge pupils over the age of sixteen around £250 per year for transport to school or college, see here.Aside from having a negative impact on...
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96 parks and playgrounds up for grabs...the latest asset transfer list
The county council seems to be going full steam ahead with the next stage of it's Asset Transfer plans. Presented as 'putting local people in control of their amenities' the whole programme is merely...
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Sainsbury's pulls the plug
The news this week that Sainsbury's has pulled out of the Cross Hands West development will be a major embarrassment to the council as well as a blow to local people. Sainsbury's have sold the site to...
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Council leader's barn...yet another site visit!
Previous post; Emlyn's Barn Take 2Incredibly, the Planning Committee have decided to go on another site visit to view Council leader Emlyn Dole's barn conversion before making a decision.One of the...
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Cllr Dole should 'consider his position' says Labour opposition leader....and...
The Labour opposition group on the council awoke briefly from its slumber yesterday with Cllr Jeff Edmunds calling for Plaid leader Emlyn Dole to consider his position over the barn planning fiasco.As...
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Apple pie and the new corporate video
Carmarthenshire Council has excelled itself this morning with the appearance of a new corporate video of our wonderful local authority. Caebrwyn stumbled upon the creation whilst trying to locate the...
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