In a press release issued before the vote, the Labour Group said it would abstain on the revenue budget and raise concerns about the capital programme. However, when the votes were taken, Labour councillors voted against both the revenue budget and the capital programme.
Labour Group Leader Cllr Deryk Cundy said the budget has been made possible by a one-off £5 million contribution from the Dyfed Pension Fund alongside additional national support from the UK and Welsh Labour governments, helping to keep council tax increases broadly in line with the cost of living.
However, he warned this does not resolve the council’s underlying financial pressures, including recurring overspends in Children’s Services and Adult Social Care, rising demand in Additional Learning Needs provision, and continued reliance on post reductions as a form of efficiency.
“This is not a failure of staff — our workforce is our greatest asset. The challenge lies in how the system itself is organised. Too many services still operate in silos, with duplication, late intervention and escalating costs,” Cllr Cundy said.
“Leadership is not about surviving the year. It is about securing the decade,” Cllr Cundy said in the press release issued before the vote, which stated Labour would not vote against the budget. However, Labour councillors subsequently voted against the budget when it came to the chamber.
Labour councillors acknowledged positive allocations within the programme, including funding for care provision, disabled facilities, environmental improvements and the demolition of the former Llanelli Leisure Centre to prevent further deterioration.
The Group also welcomed new national investment for Wales — including over £120 million in additional capital funding to support infrastructure, schools, transport and regeneration from the UK Labour Government working with the Welsh Government.
However, Labour said the county’s overall capital strategy does not yet deliver a fair or balanced approach across Carmarthenshire‘s communities.
Cllr Kevin Madge highlighted what Labour described as insufficient capital investment in areas such as the Amman Valley, Gwendraeth Valley and other rural and post-industrial communities, stressing that regeneration funding must be used to generate employment, housing opportunities and revitalised town centres.
The Group also questioned whether the £1 million allocated for flood mitigation is adequate given increasing climate pressures.
“Climate resilience is no longer optional infrastructure — it is essential protection for our communities,” Cllr Madge said.
Labour has called for greater transparency surrounding rising costs linked to the Debenhams redevelopment in Carmarthen, with councillors seeking clarification on project management decisions, long-term liabilities and future operating costs to ensure value for money.
The Group also expressed frustration that previously announced school developments — including Heol Goffa and Ammanford — remain absent from the current five-year capital programme despite funding having been identified within the Modernising Education Programme.
“Communities cannot be asked to wait indefinitely for projects that have already been promised,” Cllr Madge said.
Carmarthenshire Labour is proposing a whole-service review of the council’s approximately 750 services, using national audit evidence to redesign delivery around integration, prevention, and better use of data and technology.
Despite the press release stating Labour would not vote against the budget, the Group voted against it when the matter came to a vote.
Labour said future capital investment must be geographically fair, economically focused and aligned with long-term service reform, and pledged to continue constructive scrutiny of spending decisions to ensure public money delivers sustainable benefit for residents across the whole of Carmarthenshire.
Both the revenue budget and capital programme were approved despite Labour’s opposition.
