The Carmarthenshire Council Cabinet met on Monday 19 October 2026, approving a Welsh Government-funded business rates relief scheme for electric vehicle charging points and adopting the Annual Monitoring Report for the Carmarthenshire Local Development Plan (2006-2021). The Cabinet also agreed to investigate the cost of a second annual grass cut, following a notice of motion from County Council.

Business Rates Relief for Electric Vehicle Charging Points

The Cabinet formally adopted a Welsh Government-funded scheme offering 100% business rates relief for eligible electric vehicle charging point sites. This initiative, running from the financial years 2024-25 to 2026-27, aims to encourage the expansion of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Wales. The scheme is fully reimbursed by the Welsh Government, meaning there is no direct cost to the Council. Councillor Alun Lenny, Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report, highlighting that the relief is intended to remove financial barriers to investment in charging infrastructure. Councillor Emlyn Schiavone, Cabinet Member for Homes, seconded the recommendation, emphasising its alignment with the Council's ambition to address the climate emergency and achieve decarbonisation goals. The decision was unanimous.

Annual Monitoring Report for the Local Development Plan

The Cabinet considered and approved the Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) for the adopted Carmarthenshire Local Development Plan (LDP) 2006-2021. Councillor Carys Jones, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Planning Policy, presented the report, which concluded that the LDP continues to provide an effective framework for managing development. The report noted that evidence gathered during the monitoring period is informing the emerging Revised Local Development Plan 2018-2033. Key findings indicated that most LDP policies are performing satisfactorily, supporting sustainable development. However, the report also highlighted ongoing challenges related to environmental regulation, flood risk requirements, and nutrient neutrality considerations, particularly concerning Natural Resources Wales's marine condition assessments for Carmarthen Bay. The AMR will be submitted to the Welsh Government and published on the Council's website. The decision to approve the report was unanimous.

Notice of Motion: Grass Cutting Policy

The Cabinet discussed a notice of motion from County Council regarding concerns over the overgrown state of the county's verges, roundabouts, and public rights of way. The motion highlighted issues with pedestrian and vehicle safety, the negative impact on the visitor experience and tourism, and the difficulty of using rights of way. It proposed amending the current policy of one annual cut to a minimum of two cuts per year from the 2027 financial year, and requested that Cabinet examine ways to fund the additional cost, potentially from reserves. Councillor Alun Lenny, Cabinet Member for Resources, explained the financial pressures facing the Council, including a projected £12 million in further cuts and an £11 million overspend in the current year. Despite these challenges, he recommended that officers be asked to prepare a cost estimate for a second grass cut. This would allow members to assess the spending against budget pressures when discussing priorities for the medium-term financial plan. Councillor Carys Jones, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Communities, and Welsh Language, seconded the recommendation, agreeing that it was a good idea to ascertain the costs involved. The Cabinet unanimously approved the recommendation to ask officers to prepare a cost estimate for a second grass cut.