HISTORY has been made at Pembrokeshire County Council with the election of its first-ever woman leader, Tessa Hodgson, following a three-way battle at today’s May 15 AGM for the top job.

At Pembrokeshire County Council’s annual council meeting of May 15, an all-women battle to be the leader of Pembrokeshire County Council took place.

The leader of the council is elected every two years under the council’s constitution, and leader Cllr Jon Harvey had decided not to stand for re-election.

Pembroke St Mary North member Cllr Harvey became leader in May 2024 after narrowly beating fellow leadership hopeful Conservative group leader Di Clements by 30 votes to 27.

Cllr Harvey replaced Cllr David Simpson as leader.

Following his decision to step down, Cllr Harvey said: “It has been a fantastic two years, a real honour and privilege to lead the council, working with a talented and committed cabinet.

“After much thought and reflection, I feel now is the right time to make way for someone else to lead the council through the next 12 months to the local government elections in May 2027.”

Three nominations were received for the leadership battle: Conservative Group Leader Cllr Di Clements, unaffiliated member and current Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Cllr Tessa Hodgson, and Leader of the Independent Group Cllr Anji Tinley.

Cllr Harvey had backed Cllr Hodgson for the top job.

The May 2026 leadership role will be held for one year, ahead of the 2027 council elections where the 2026 incumbent may, or may not, keep the role.

Two secret ballots were held, with 30 votes out of the 59 members present needed to secure a win.

During the first round, Cllr Hodgson gained 28 votes, Cllr Tinley 20, and Clements 11, Cllr Clements being eliminated for the second round.

That round saw Cllr Hodgson triumph by one vote: 30 to Cllr Tinley’s 29.

Accepting the role, Cllr Hodgson spoke of her “immense honour” to accept and being “part of history in the making as Pembrokeshire has its first ever female leader”.

Cllr Hodgson thanked her fellow leadership hopefuls for their “fair and honourable” challenge for the top job.

She also paid tribute to her colleagues and to, poignantly, her mother and late father, Cllr Viv Stoddart and former councillor Mike Stoddart for “their long record of public service,” and for their “always fair and unwavering support and guidance”.

Cllr Hodgeson has not yet announced her new Cabinet portfolios, the Cabinet remaining unchanged for now other than a vacancy following the news Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham is to step down from his role.

The AGM also saw Cllr Delme Harries unanimously elected as council chair for the forthcoming year, replacing Cllr Maureen Bowen, and Cllr Nick Neumann elected as Deputy Presiding Member/Vice-Chair, beating Cllr Bethan Price by 34 votes to 24.

Cllr Simon Hancock will continue to serve as Presiding Member.

COUNCIL TAX rates in Pembrokeshire have increased by nearly 100 per cent in less than a decade councillors heard.

For the 2026 to ’27 financial year, the county council part of council tax levels in the county rose by 4.6 per cent, equivalent to an extra £76 for the average Band D property, less than half last year’s increase.

The previous year saw Pembrokeshire’s council tax increased by 9.35 per cent, lower than that year’s Cabinet recommendation of 9.85 per cent.

The previous year to that saw a 12.5 per cent rise on top of previous increases of 12.5 per cent, 9.92 per cent, five per cent, 3.75 per cent, five per cent and 7.5 per cent.

The overall council tax bill is made up of the county council element, the largest part, the Dyfed-Powys Police precept, and individual town or community council elements.

In a submitted question heard at Pembrokeshire County Council’s May 14 meeting, Councillor Alan Dennison asked: “Since 2017, what percentage increase has occurred for a Band D property, and what benefits have the majority of council tax-payers experienced as a result of this increase in council tax?”

Responding, Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance Efficiencies Cllr Alistair Cameron said the level of council tax for a Band D average property had increased by 95.7 per cent in that time.

He said the benefits for the majority of taxpayers were the “ongoing provision and enhancement of essential services for some of the most vulnerable in our communities,” adding that funding in education had increased by 49 per cent and social care by 121 per cent.

Milford Haven North councillor Dennison, in a supplementary question, said feedback he received from constituents highlighted concerns at works needed on addressing “weeds reaching three feet in some areas of Milford Haven,” and an absence of dog waste bins, and “all the things associated” with the bill by council tax-payers.

“People that don’t have children don’t see the benefit of a 95 per cent increase,” he added.

Cllr Cameron responded by saying funding in the last budget had been allocated to such areas as street cleaning, adding of the areas previously highlighted by him: “The reality is a lot of the budget has to go in areas education and social care.”

Her said Pembrokeshire, with an ageing population, would see greater pressures as people got older, and it was “quite right” the council supported “the most vulnerable people”.

Alistair Cameron, in setting this year’s budget said: “The most significant cost pressure for the 2026-27 budget continues to be within social care, with a projected total increase in pressure of £12m for 2026-27 representing 42 per cent of the total council service pressures for 2026-27; and £30.5m across the remainder of the medium-term financial plan.”

CLLR DELME HARRIES has been elected chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council for the coming municipal year.

Cllr Harries, who was elected in 2022 to represent the Bro Gwaun ward, is a member of the Independent Group.

He has worked for the NFU for many years and has extensive experience in agriculture, governance and community leadership.

Within the council, he has held several key roles, including chairman of the Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He is also the council’s Members’ Champion for the Welsh Language and for Children and Young People.

Cllr Harries is deeply involved in education and youth development. He serves as a local authority governor at Ysgol Ger y Llan and Ysgol Casmael a Llychllwydog, and is club leader of Llysyfran Young Farmers Club.

He also chairs the POINT Youth Project in Fishguard, where he is a trustee.

Young Farmers background

Cllr Harries has held numerous senior leadership roles within the Young Farmers’ movement at county, national and international level.

These include chair of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs from 2019 to 2024, chair of Wales Young Farmers Clubs, chair of European Young Farmers, and chair of Pembrokeshire YFC.

In recognition of his contribution, he has been awarded honorary life memberships and vice-presidencies within Young Farmers organisations at county, national and UK level.

He is also a director and trustee of Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society.

Upon taking the chains, Cllr Harries thanked outgoing chairman Cllr Maureen Bowen.

He said: “I am truly humbled and honoured to have your support in appointing me as Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council for the coming year.

“When I was elected to represent the Bro Gwaun ward in 2022, this role was certainly not on my list of expectations. To now stand before you as your Chair is something I feel deeply privileged to do, and I am extremely grateful for the confidence you have placed in me to serve as the civic leader of this authority.

“I am particularly proud to serve as Chair in a year when Pembrokeshire will welcome the National Eisteddfod. This is a moment of huge significance for our county, and I hope we will all embrace this wonderful event, which promises to be one of the very best.

“I look forward to seeing many of you in Llantood this August as we celebrate our language, culture and heritage together.”

Cllr Nick Neumann was elected vice-chairman for the coming year. He was nominated by Cllr Di Clements and seconded by Cllr Mark Carter.

Caption:

New chairman: Cllr Delme Harries with new vice-chairman Cllr Nick Neumann, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed Meurig Raymond, High Sheriff of Dyfed Andrew Phillips, Presiding Member Cllr Simon Hancock and outgoing chairman Cllr Maureen Bowen.