The Corporate Performance & Resources Scrutiny Committee reviewed the council's end-of-year performance for 2024/25, noting that 86% of actions and measures were on target. The committee also discussed the Sickness Absence Monitoring Report for 2024/25, which showed an increase in absence days compared to the previous year, and reviewed the progress of the Transformation Programme, noting positive developments in several workstreams.

Corporate Performance & Resources Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2024/25

The committee endorsed the Corporate Performance & Resources Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2024/25, with a minor amendment to include a sentence explaining a delay in a Task and Finish report due to the departure of the Marketing and Media Manager. The Cabinet Member for Organisation and Workforce noted that the scrutiny function had been praised at a recent Performance Panel Assessment.

2024/25 End of Year Performance Report

The committee received the 2024/25 End of Year Performance Report, which detailed progress against the Authority's Corporate Strategy and Well-being Objectives. While overall performance was positive, with 86% of actions and measures on target, several areas were noted as off target. These included ICT initiatives related to a staff desk booking solution, council tax collection, internal audit response times, and the completion of e-learning modules on Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence (VAWDASV). Specific concerns were raised about the low completion rate of VAWDASV e-learning, particularly among school staff, with a new platform, 'Thinqi', expected to improve this. The report also highlighted challenges in timely management responses to internal audit reports and a decline in the percentage of complaints completed within statutory deadlines. The committee resolved to receive the report.

Sickness Absence Monitoring Report - End of Year 2024/25

The committee considered the Sickness Absence Monitoring Report for the end of the 2024/25 year. The report indicated that the Authority's sickness absence rate was 11.48 FTE days lost per employee, which is above the target of 10.68 FTE days. This represents a year-on-year increase. Several service areas, including Waste and Environmental Services, Housing, Economic Development and Property, and Adult Social Care, showed higher absence rates than the Authority average. The total cost of occupational sick pay for 2024/25 was £9,594,035, an increase of 13.17% from the previous year. Stress and mental health were identified as the most common causes of absence, accounting for 17% and 15.4% respectively. The committee resolved to receive the report and agreed to add a development session on sickness trends to the Committee's Forward Work Programme.

Apprenticeships and Work Experience within CCC

The committee received an update on apprenticeships and work experience within Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC). Between 2022 and 2025, 21 apprentices completed their qualifications, with 13 remaining employed by CCC. The council supported 95 work experience placements through the Cyfle scheme, which partners with construction businesses. A case study highlighted the success of Keenan Jenkins, who transitioned from a shared apprenticeship with Cyfle to a Trainee Responsive Inspector role at Carmarthenshire County Council. The report also noted that 83 staff members are currently undertaking apprenticeship qualifications to upskill in areas such as Digital Skills for Business, Health and Social Care, and Project Management. The council is actively recruiting for a wide range of apprenticeship posts, with a closing date of July 6th. For work experience, 67 applications were received between April 2024 and March 2025, with 44 placements offered. The council is reviewing its application process to improve accessibility and expand opportunities. The committee resolved to receive the report and requested an update within six months.

Transformation Programme - Progress Report

The committee reviewed the progress of the council's Transformation Programme, which is guided by an eight-priority strategy including efficiencies, income generation, service design, workforce, workplace, customers and digital, decarbonisation, and schools. The report highlighted progress in areas such as fleet rationalisation, debt recovery, and the implementation of DocuSign for electronic signatures. A pilot of Microsoft Copilot, an AI assistant, is underway with 240 staff members, and a further pilot of Magic Notes for social workers is planned. The council is also migrating key systems to the cloud, including Revenues & Benefits and Social Care systems, with Agresso planned for cloud migration by Summer 2026. The committee resolved to receive the report and agreed to a development session on AI and a separate session to view the Dashboard for schools.

Carmarthenshire Public Services Board (PSB) Minutes - March 2025

The committee reviewed the minutes of the Carmarthenshire Public Services Board (PSB) meeting held on March 25, 2025. Key discussions included the Carmarthenshire Food Strategy, which aims to ensure access to healthy and sustainable food for all residents by 2035 and eliminate non-emergency food bank need by 2040. The committee agreed to support the action points recommended for the strategy, including a public event and the establishment of a task and finish group. A presentation on the regional strategy for violence against women, domestic abuse, and sexual violence (VAWDASV) was also discussed, highlighting six priority areas. The committee resolved to receive the minutes of the PSB meeting.

Explanation for Non-Submission of Scrutiny Report

The committee noted the explanations for the non-submission of three scrutiny reports: the Annual Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report 2024-25, the Public Generative AI Policy, and the Better Broadband update. Revised submission dates for all three reports were set for November 5, 2025.

Scrutiny Actions Update

The committee received an update on the progress of actions, requests, and referrals arising from previous meetings. All outstanding actions were noted as completed, with some requiring further follow-up or future reporting.

Forthcoming Items

The committee received the list of forthcoming items for its next meeting on November 5, 2025, which includes the PSB minutes, Q4 Performance Management Report, Sickness Absence Monitoring Report, the council's Annual Report, and updates on the Transformation Programme and Treasury Management. The committee also noted that the Public Generative AI Policy and Better Broadband update have been deferred to the November meeting.

To Sign as a Correct Record the Minutes of the Meeting Held on 31 January 2025

The minutes of the meeting held on January 31, 2025, were unanimously resolved to be signed as a correct record.