Cabinet Member for Homes

The Cabinet Member for Homes approved a new Tackling Poverty Support Fund for 2026/27. The fund uses £303,171 from a Welsh Government grant to help food banks, pantries and wider poverty prevention work, and to pay for equipment.

1. Tackling Poverty Support Fund 2026/27

   Decided

   The Cabinet Member approved setting up the Tackling Poverty Support Fund, paid for by the Welsh Government's 2026/27 Tackling Poverty Support Funding Package.

   Why

   The Welsh Government gave the council £303,171 for 2026/27 to deliver poverty prevention and emergency food aid, after funds for these areas were combined into one package. The report says the money must be spent by the end of March 2027. It proposes three grants: for foodbanks and pantries, for wider poverty prevention, and for capital costs such as fridges and freezers. Local Members will be consulted before final awards are made.

   Based on the minutes, Summary

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1. 1

   Declarations of Personal Interest

   Minute

   Councillor Agenda Item Declaration E.M.J.G. Schiavone 3. TACKLING POVERTY SUPPORT FUND 2026/27 His wife works for Carmarthen Food Bank, and he is a trustee. Remained in the meeting as the report did not relate specifically to Carmarthen Food Bank.

2. 2

   To Sign as a Correct Record the Decision Record of the Meeting Held on the 21ST September 2026

   Decision as recorded

   RESOLVED that the decision record of the meeting held on the 21st September, 2026 be signed as a correct record.

   Minute

   RESOLVED that the decision record of the meeting held on the 21st September, 2026 be signed as a correct record.

   Papers: Minutes , 21/09/2026 Cabinet Member for Homes
3. 3

   Tackling Poverty Support Fund 2026/27

   Decision as recorded

   RESOLVED that 3.1 the establishment of the Tackling Poverty Support Fund funded by Welsh Government’s Tackling Poverty Support Funding Package 2026/27 be approved. 3.2 delegation to the Head of Economic Development & Property to award funding to successful applicants for various 3rd party grants be approved.

   Minute

   The Cabinet Member received a report on the establishment of the Tackling Poverty Support Fund, intended to support the needs of people facing poverty in Carmarthenshire. It was noted in the report that funding was received by Welsh Government for 2026/2027 to support the delivery of local poverty prevention and emergency food aid initiatives, to reduce hardship, strengthen resilience and improve access to support for residents most affected by poverty and the cost of-living pressures. The Cabinet Member was advised that in previous years an Emergency Food Aid fund was received, along with a revenue and capital pot for community projects. These have now been combined into the Welsh Government Tackling Poverty Support Funding Package (2026/27) of £303,171. The approach proposed was to split this funding into three funding pots for third party grants, as follows: - Foodbanks and Pantry Support - Wider Poverty Prevention - Capital Funding The specifics of these funding pots were further detailed within the report. RESOLVED that 3.1 the establishment of the Tackling Poverty Support Fund funded by Welsh Government’s Tackling Poverty Support Funding Package 2026/27 be approved. 3.2 delegation to the Head of Economic Development & Property to award funding to successful applicants for various 3rd party grants be approved.

   Papers: Summary

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.

• Emlyn Schiavone, Committee MemberPlaid CymruPresent

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