Planning

The Planning Division, which is part of the Regeneration Department, is comprised of 72 staff working from three area offices based in Carmarthen, Llanelli and Llandeilo.

Within the Planning Division are the following services:

• Development Control & Enforcement
• Building Control, Forward Planning
• Conservation & Countryside.
• The Division also carries out Land Charges searches.

Carmarthenshire covers an area of 591,000 acres with approximately 170,000 residents. The gross cost of the Planning Division to each resident is approximately £13.27 per annum.

Part of the County falls within Brecon Beacons National Park, who are a separate planning authority.

Trading Standards

Aims of the Trading Standards Service include:

• To regulate and enforce weights and measures standards.
• To regulate and enforce food standards.
• To regulate and enforce product quality standards.
• To regulate and enforce product safety standards.
• To regulate and enforce fair trading.
• To provide an advice service for consumers.

Fire Safety

"Work carried out by the ODPM on fire issues includes fire safety and prevention, national policy, developing legislation and guidance, advice and support to fire authorities and Brigades, arson reduction, research and statistics. The aim is to reduce death, injury and damage relating to fire and other incidents."

Office of the Deputy Prime Miniter (ODPM) provides important advice on Fire Safety for businesses on their website.

Health And Safety

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.

Our mission is to protect people's health and safety by ensuring risks in the changing workplace are properly controlled.

We look after health and safety in nuclear installations and mines, factories, farms, hospitals and schools, offshore gas and oil installations, the safety of the gas grid and the movement of dangerous goods and substances, railway safety, and many other aspects of the protection both of workers and the public. Local authorities are responsible to HSC for enforcement in offices, shops and other parts of the services sector."

Employment Law

Employment Relations Directorate is working to develop a framework for employers and employees which promotes a skilled and flexible labour market founded on principles of partnership. It deals with relationships between workers and their employers, including individual rights as well as collective arrangements.

What We Do:

Develop legislation on: Hours of work, pay entitlement, public holidays, employment agency standards, individual employment rights, redundancy arrangements, employee consultation, trade union and collective rights.