News

Time to Care Charter not adopted

Published

11 years ago

February 24, 2015

Tom Sinclair

THE TIME TO CARE CHARTER was not adopted by Councillors at Monday’s (Feb 9) Cabinet Meeting.

Cllr Paul Miller: Put forward
Notice of Motion.

A Notice of Motion put forward by Cllr Paul Miller asked that the council should adopt the Charter which would have been launched from February 16.

Cllr Miller spoke of the need for the authority to make adult care a priority for the authority but, Cabinet members were concerned of the implications of accepting the Charter and said they would need to know more information before they could sign up to it.

Cllr Paul Miller said: “What we’ve tried to do is quite clearly set out what we would like to see being delivered from the Adult Social Care team going forward in Pembrokeshire. This document talks about the flexibility of carers to support their clients and whether they are given the appropriate time within the scheduling of visits to do that.

“In terms of time allocated to visits I accept what we are asking for is a greater meeting of needs of the client to the time allocated to visits. In general that means the end of fifteen minute visits but I do accept the directors report that there are some fifteen minute visits that are appropriate. There are significant concerns from carers that their time with clients is limited by travel times not being appropriately factored into the schedule.

“We’re also convinced that there are examples in Pembrokeshire of home carers not being paid the minimum wage, that is completely unacceptable but it is something that we need to be mindful of. This is about doing more for people in Pembrokeshire but for me it is a question of priorities and this needs to be a priority for us as an authority.”

Council Leader Jamie Adams said: “I recognise that many of our ageing residents are in danger of becoming vulnerable but I think it is important that we recognise, not just the financial framework, that we get the model of care right.

“There are fundamental aspects of that model of care that need to be put in place before we consider signing up to this.”

Cllr Simon Hancock said: “This is very much a valid part of social care and wider political discourse and I agree with his comments, something we would all agree with, we want to protect the most vulnerable, we want to protect people in the community and give them low-level community services. We all share the same philosophy as to how the model of social care is and should be. There are six providers that we commission that pay the living wage but as Paul illuded to, this is a question of cost. Preliminary figures show that if we signed up to this, it would cost us a minimum of £155,000 in extra expense and a full procurement exercise would have to be carried out and that would also have significant associated costs. Everybody in this room would agree we would love to have everybody on a living wage. We don’t pay living wage to all PCC employers. We are never complacent but there is a lot more work and a lot greater understanding to receive clarity before we as an authority could bind ourselves to this charter.”

Cllr Sue Perkins added: “I support everything that has been said but we couldn’t sit here and vote for something without knowing the costs. I would like to know a huge amount more information.”

Cllr Miller responded: “I would also like to understand exactly what this would cost. This is broader than just paying the living wage although it is a key part of what we are seeking. We need to make sure we are providing the best possible level of care to people in Pembrokeshire. For me this needs to be a priority for this authority.”

Cllr Adams said: “There is not a desire to dismiss the points you have made which are valid and worthy of consideration but a quick fix is going to be very difficult. I’m a bit worried that we are being pushed into effectively signing on to a document that is slightly meaningless, simply because we’re pushed on a timescale. There is a lot of change currently within adult social care. I am keen that we keep a watching brief on this.”

Business

Llangwm brewery closes after entering liquidation

Published

4 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SMALL Pembrokeshire brewing company has been formally wound up after its owners concluded the business could no longer continue.

Black Tar Brewing Co Ltd, which was registered in Llangwm, entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation following a meeting of company members on February 27, 2026.

The meeting was held at the Swansea offices of Stones & Co Insolvency Practitioners, where Gareth Stones was appointed to oversee the closure.

The company’s registered address was at Gail Rise in Llangwm, near Haverfordwest, and official records listed its activities as beer manufacturing.

No public details have yet been released about the size of the business, the value of its assets or the amount owed to creditors.

As liquidator, Mr Stones will now take control of the company’s affairs, identify any remaining assets and determine whether funds are available for those owed money.

Creditors are expected to receive further information as the process develops.

The liquidation was initiated by the company rather than through a court order, meaning its members voted to bring trading to an end and place its finances in the hands of an insolvency practitioner.

A public notice connected to the closure directs creditors and other interested parties to Stones & Co for further information.

The winding-up brings an end to the Llangwm-registered brewery, although the company’s recent level of trading and the number of people connected to the business remain unclear.

Crime

Murder investigation launched into death of Pembrokeshire man in 1991

Published

6 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A 67-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after new potential evidence emerged in connection with a death more than three decades ago.

Dyfed-Powys Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of 58-year-old Bentley Mathias, who died in hospital in 1991.

Mr Mathias died at Morriston Hospital on November 19, 1991, with his cause of death recorded at the time as a brain haemorrhage.

His death was not initially treated as suspicious. However, police said new potential evidence had since come to light, prompting the case to be investigated as a murder enquiry.

On Wednesday, July 22, officers arrested a 67-year-old man from the Llandewi Velfrey area of Pembrokeshire on suspicion of murder.

He has since been released on police bail while enquiries continue.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.

The enquiry remains ongoing.

Education

Haverfordwest pupils impress judges with eco-friendly cleaning business

Published

8 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Ysgol Preseli also represented Pembrokeshire among five finalists at an all-Wales green skills competition

A TEAM of Haverfordwest pupils has earned national recognition after developing a range of environmentally friendly cleaning products aimed at hotels and tourism businesses.

The Sustainables, from Haverfordwest High VC School, presented their idea to business leaders, Welsh Government representatives and sustainability experts at the Tomorrow’s Changemakers Hackathon 2026.

The pupils gave a live demonstration of their product and explained how it could be priced and marketed to businesses across the hospitality sector.

Their combination of environmental thinking and commercial awareness impressed the judging panel, which awarded the team a Highly Commended prize.

Pupils from Ysgol Preseli also reached the final, meaning Pembrokeshire was represented by two of the five teams selected from across south and west Wales.

The competition, held at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Carmarthen, challenged Year 8 pupils to find practical solutions to environmental problems affecting tourism, hospitality and the built environment.

The overall winners were the Green Guardians from Llangatwg Community School in Neath Port Talbot.

Their design for a more sustainable school included an outdoor learning centre which could also operate as a pupil-run garden café.

The hackathon marked the end of a year-long programme in which pupils worked alongside teachers, employers and community organisations to research problems, develop ideas and present their solutions.

More than 1,000 Pembrokeshire pupils have taken part in the Tomorrow’s Changemakers programme since it was introduced in the county in 2023.

The Port of Milford Haven is the programme’s main partner in Pembrokeshire.

Anna Mullarkey, the Port’s stakeholder engagement and communications manager, said: “The creativity and innovation shown by these learners is truly inspiring.

“They transformed their ideas into practical solutions that could help build a more sustainable future.

“We’re proud to support young people in reaching their full potential and delighted to see schools across Pembrokeshire creating environments where ideas and talent can flourish.”

The programme has now worked with more than 3,000 young people across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Neath Port Talbot.

It is due to expand further from September, with Ysgol Harri Tudor and Ysgol Caer Elen joining the Pembrokeshire programme alongside schools in Swansea, Powys and Bridgend.

Cymbrogi Futures founder and chief executive Liza Lort-Phillips said Pembrokeshire remained at the heart of the initiative.

She said: “The county has extraordinary young people with bold ideas about the future of their communities.

“Our job is to give them the space, the tools and the confidence to act on those ideas.”