A WELL-INTENTIONED policy to restrict profits in children’s care in Wales has backfired, allowing remaining providers to “make hay” and double their costs, a committee has heard.

Jake Berriman, leader of Powys Council, warned an “unforeseen” consequence has left councils with no choice but to cough up because other providers have fled the sector.

In February, the Senedd passed a law aimed at “eliminating” private profit – with looked-after children only cared for by the public sector, charitable or not-for-profit organisations in future.

Cllr Berriman said the Welsh Government’s phased move to restrict profit has seen private providers leave the sector and others have simply doubled their costs.

“We have to pay because there is no choice within the market,” he warned. “I think they are making hay while it is there to be made and the sun is shining.

“We’re paying the price for that and that was unforeseen.”

Giving evidence on the Welsh draft budget to the Senedd’s local government committee on November 13, councils pointed to the increasing demand and complexity of social care.

Jane Gebbie, the deputy leader of Bridgend Council, said: “We’ve got one placement for one young person across Wales at the minute, that’s £20,000 per week – that is excessive.”

Mary Ann Brocklesby, the Labour leader of Monmouthshire Council, added: “We’d all like to say that’s unusual – it’s not, it’s becoming standard. I don’t think there is a local authority across Wales that is not facing that kind of singular cost pressure.”

Cllr Gebbie said people are rightly angry about council tax rises amid a cost-of-living crisis, with poverty increasing demand for public services across the board.

The Labour councillor warned funding for prevention and early intervention has been cut over the years, with councils forced to focus on statutory services.

Cllr Berriman said: “There’s a great deal of nervousness around the potential of a roll-over budget of around 2%. Even at the 2.5% that has been modelled, that is opening a gulf – a shortfall in budget projections due to in-year pressures.”

He warned of £560m of pressures, “which clearly won’t be covered” by the 2.5% average increase for councils proposed in the Welsh Government’s draft budget.

Cllr Berriman added: “We’re looking nervously across the border at authorities in England which have had section 114 notices [effective bankruptcy] on them and we’ve seen the devastating effects that has as those authorities lose control over their budgets.”

The Liberal Democrat stressed: “We want to avoid that at all costs.”

He called for a “meaningful” funding floor to ensure no council receives an increase less than a certain amount, “reducing the impact of winners and losers out of the settlement”. Ministers have proposed a 2.3% funding floor in the 2026/27 draft budget.

Calling for an increase of at least 4%, Cllr Brocklesby told the committee council tax makes up nearly 40% of Monmouthshire council’s revenue and “we cannot keep increasing it”.

She said councils are expecting no let-up in constraints before the 2027 local elections.

The councillor told Senedd Members: “A roll-over budget, with a 2.5% increase, doesn’t give us confidence that we will be able to collectively meet all the challenges.”

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has warned of a funding gap of £436m based on a 2% increase, the equivalent of 14,000 jobs or a 22% average council tax hike. Adjusted for the proposed 2.5% increase, the budget shortfall would be about £400m.

Cllr Brocklesby also expressed concerns about increasing national insurance costs, which the Labour Welsh and UK Governments have only partially covered.

She told the committee: “It does mean we have to consider various cost savings across the board, including looking at our workforce. For some councils, that will lead to redundancies… in others it will result in reduced services.”

Cllr Berriman added: “Those frontline services, as ever, are suffering this year and will be suffering next year as a result of this unexpected cost and other cost pressures.”

He warned of a “painful picture”, with every 1% less in the settlement from central government resulting in a 3% council tax increase in Powys.

The council leader told the committee: “The cost pressures… are such that we are diminishing the local government offer and we just can’t carry on on that basis.”

Asked how councils will bridge the estimated £400m gap, Cllr Gebbie bluntly said: “I think the Welsh Government needs to tell us what they don’t want us to do.”

A FAMILY night of festive bingo will take place in Pembroke Dock next month to raise funds for Pembroke Borough’s Under-14 football squad.

The event, organised by Pembroke Borough AFC, will be held on Thursday, 5 December, with organisers promising an evening of fun suitable for all ages. The fundraiser will take place at The Quinns Function Room on London Road, Pembroke Dock (SA72 6DT).

Doors open at 6:30pm, with the first game starting at 7:00pm.

The night will feature a full bingo programme led by a festive-themed caller, along with family-friendly prizes and refreshments. All proceeds will go directly towards supporting the Under-14 team with equipment, travel and match-day costs for the season ahead.

A spokesperson for the club said the evening will be “a great chance for the community to get together, have some fun and support the youngsters who represent Pembroke Borough every week”.

All are welcome, and organisers are encouraging local families and supporters of grassroots football to come along, enjoy the night and help make the fundraiser a success.

A MAN who turned up unannounced to Llandudno’s Remembrance Sunday parade wearing what appeared to be a senior Royal Navy uniform is under investigation amid claims he is an impostor.

Jonathan David Carley, aged 64, was seen marching at the front of the parade and saluting the town’s war memorial while dressed in a rear admiral’s jacket and displaying twelve medals. His appearance immediately raised suspicions among veterans and serving personnel.

The Royal Navy has since described the incident as “insulting” and confirmed that impersonating a Naval officer “could be considered a criminal offence” under the Uniforms Act 1894, which prevents anyone who has not served from wearing military uniform.

He has now been arrested, police said.

Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan said: “Our enquiries into this incident are currently ongoing.

“We can confirm that, during a search of the male’s address earlier today, a naval uniform and a selection of medals were recovered from within.

“Further updates on this investigation will be provided when available.”

Unusual uniform and medals

Observers at Sunday’s event noted several inconsistencies: an unlikely mix of medals including a Distinguished Service Order, an MBE, the Gulf War Medal and the Queen’s Voluntary Reserves Medal — the latter awarded only to reservists and never to someone who also holds a DSO. His shirt, collar style and oversized sleeves also appeared to breach Navy dress regulations.

A retired senior officer told national media that “it’s disgraceful”, adding that the uniform lacked essential branch badges and that the combination of medals made no sense. A serving soldier was similarly blunt, saying he did not understand why anyone would pretend to be “a mega-senior officer”.

Not on the guest list

Llandudno Town Council, which organised the service, has confirmed that Mr Carley was not invited. When approached by the parade marshal, he allegedly claimed he was representing the Lord-Lieutenant of Clwyd. The Lord-Lieutenant, Harry Fetherstonhaugh, said that this was not true and that he had “never seen him before”.

Mr Carley appears to have taken part in other Remembrance events in Caernarfon in 2018 and 2019 wearing similar attire.

Background questioned

Public records show Mr Carley listed only once in the London Gazette — as a 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) in the Combined Cadet Force at Cheltenham College, where he worked as a history teacher. He has previously claimed to have studied at Christ Church, Oxford, and at Harvard University, though veterans’ groups say his name does not appear on Harvard’s alumni list.

The Walter Mitty Hunters Club, which exposes military impostors, has called this “possibly the highest-ranking Walt attempt ever”.

Residents in Harlech, where Mr Carley lives, told the press he had boasted about his supposed military service, describing their shock at the allegations now emerging.

Royal Navy response

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “Impersonating a Naval officer is insulting to anyone connected to the service and could be considered a criminal offence. Nothing should detract from the poignancy of Remembrance Sunday.”

Llandudno Town Council added that although the man had laid his wreath respectfully, the matter was now in the hands of military organisations.

Mr Carley declined to comment when approached.