The Carmarthenshire County Council Cabinet met on Monday 17 November 2025 to discuss a range of important issues, including the council's revenue budget monitoring report, the capital programme update, and the Modernising Education Programme. Key decisions were made regarding the future of three primary schools: Ysgol Meidrim, Ysgol y Fro, and Ysgol Llansteffan. The Cabinet also approved the council's Environment Act Forward Plan for 2026-2028 and received an update on transport funding.

Council's Revenue Budget Monitoring Report

The Cabinet considered the revenue budget monitoring report for the period ending 31st August 21025. The report indicated a forecast overspend of £13.2 million at a departmental level, with a projected overspend of £11.8 million on the authority's net revenue budget. This overspend is attributed to several factors, including significant overspends in schools' budgets (£9.1 million forecast), increased residential placements for children in care (£2.6 million forecast), and demand exceeding budgets in adult social care services. The report also highlighted undelivered budget reductions totalling £1.6 million.

In response to these figures, the Cabinet unanimously resolved to receive the budget monitoring report and note the budgetary position and the appropriate corrective actions being taken. Chief Officers and Heads of Service were tasked with critically reviewing options to address the ongoing impact of significant overspends in specific budget areas.

Capital Programme 2025/26 Update

An update on the 2025/26 capital programme as at 31st August 2025 was presented to the Cabinet. The report indicated a forecast net spend of £102,071k against a working net budget of £132,323k, resulting in a variance of -£30,252k. The net budget includes slippage from the previous financial year and amendments due to differences in grant allocations. The projected gross outturn for the year is £176 million, an increase of £10 million from the previous year, primarily due to higher spending on the LGBI Highway Structures Programme, Levelling Up projects, and Fleet Replacement.

The Cabinet unanimously resolved to receive the capital programme update report and to note and agree the new projects detailed within the report.

Modernising Education Programme

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Modernising Education Programme (MEP), with proposals concerning three primary schools: Ysgol Meidrim, Ysgol y Fro, and Ysgol Llansteffan.

Ysgol Y Fro and Ysgol Meidrim: The Cabinet unanimously resolved to proceed with formal consultation on proposals for Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol y Fro. These schools have been identified for review due to extremely low pupil numbers, high surplus places, a significant number of catchment area pupils attending other schools, low pupil projections, deficit budgets, high cost per pupil, varied quality and standards of education, and challenges with curriculum delivery due to mixed-age classes. The preferred option for both schools is discontinuation, with pupils transferring to Ysgol Y Dderwen.

Ysgol Llansteffan: The Cabinet unanimously resolved to proceed with a Statutory Notice regarding Ysgol Llansteffan. This school has also been identified for review due to very low pupil numbers (under 10), high surplus places, low pupil projections, budget issues, high cost per pupil, and curriculum delivery challenges. The preferred option is closure, with pupils transferring to Ysgol Llangain.

The Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Glynog Davies, presented the reports, highlighting the challenging circumstances faced by these schools and the need to align with the approved MEP Strategy and statutory procedures. Councillor Alun Lenny declared a personal interest in Ysgol Meidrim and Ysgol y Fro due to a close relation being a pupil at Ysgol Llansteffan, and in Ysgol Llansteffan due to being a school governor in the Federation of Bancyfelin and Llansteffan. Councillor Carys Jones declared a personal interest in the matter due to being a school governor in the Federation of Bancyfelin and Llansteffan, and was of the opinion that there was a potential overlap involving all the schools mentioned. Councillor Lenny withdrew from the meeting during the debate and voting of Ysgol Llansteffan. Councillor Jones left the Chamber prior to the discussion of this item.

Carmarthenshire County Council Environment Act Forward Plan Jan 2023 – Dec 2025

The Cabinet received and approved the council's Environment Act Forward Plan for January 2023 to December 2025. This plan outlines the actions undertaken by the council to deliver its Biodiversity Duty as placed upon it by the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. The plan will be published on the council's website as required by Welsh Government.

Carmarthenshire County Council Environment Act Forward Plan Jan 2026 – Dec 2028

The Cabinet also received and approved the draft Environment Act Forward Plan for January 2026 to December 2028. This plan sets out the scope and opportunities to address the Nature Emergency in the council's next three-year plan. The plan will be submitted to Welsh Government.

Notice of Motion - Transport Funding

The Cabinet received a progress update report on a Notice of Motion concerning transport funding, which had been referred by the County Council. The report detailed a letter forwarded to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, seeking greater clarity and accelerated investment in rail infrastructure in west Wales, and supporting the devolution of railways in Wales to ensure a fairer share of Barnett consequentials. The Cabinet unanimously resolved to agree the progress of the Notice of Motion.

Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 - Establishment of Sub Committee

The Cabinet received a report seeking the establishment of a Sub-Committee of Cabinet in respect of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. This was in response to an application for an oral hearing. The Cabinet unanimously resolved to agree the membership of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act Sub Committee as nominated by the Leader: Councillors Linda Evans, Hazel Evans, Alun Lenny, Edward Thomas, and Aled Vaughan Owen. The Sub Committee will receive training prior to the hearing.

Plaid Cymru Nomination for Welsh Language Advisory Panel

The Cabinet noted the nomination by Plaid Cymru of Councillor Meinir James to replace Councillor Liam Bowen on the Welsh Language Advisory Panel.

The meeting concluded at 11:17 am.