Update 17.39

The BBC and the South Wales Guardian are reporting that the council will hold an extraordinary meeting of the full council on 27 February to discuss the two reports from the appointed auditor.

This is just within the one month deadline set by the auditor and, unless there are further developments, it will allow Kevin Madge and the ruling Labour-Independent coalition to wave through their budget.

Kevin Madge, who has been promising full disclosure of what he says are the facts since November, says that councillors will be shown advice from QCs and other documents relating to the scandals.

The opposition Plaid group is meeting now to discuss motions of no confidence in Kevin Madge, Pam Palmer and Meryl Gravell as well as the chief executive and the acting Head of Law, Linda Rees Jones. Also on the agenda is a call for an extraordinary meeting of the council. It is unlikely that they will be satisfied with the offer of a meeting at the end of the month.

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Despite the rapidly escalating crisis, the council's Executive Board met this morning to finalise a draft budget to go before councillors on 12 February.

Both the chief executive, Mark James, and the acting Head of Law, Linda Rees Jones, were present, with no sign that Kevin Madge is even thinking about suspending them.

Key points decided were that council tax support for the elderly will continue for another year after the last minute receipt of £236,000 from the Welsh Government.

The "Extra Care" development in Llanelli will go ahead with a very questionable £7 million back-of-the-envelope funding package which will necessitate the closure of the St Paul's residential care home.

Proposals to introduce charges for school transport for over 16s were dropped, as were proposals to chop lollipop patrols, close a disabled children's respite care centre and introduce parking charges for blue badge holders. The county's youth service and the libraries get a one year reprieve. Plans to cut the flood defence programme have also been put on hold for the time being (at least until it stops raining).

Forty plus other cuts outlined in the recent budget consultation are due to go ahead.

Council tax will rise by 4.7%.


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