Court overturns council decision to revoke Penny Pizza premises licence but imposes strict new conditions

AN ABERYSTWYTH restaurant has successfully overturned a council decision to revoke its premises licence.

The Olive Branch restaurant, trading as Penny Pizza Ltd from 35 Pier Street, Aberystwyth, won its appeal against a decision by Ceredigion County Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee to revoke its licence in November last year.

The appeal was heard at Aberystwyth Justice Centre on Thursday (May 14), where magistrates ruled in favour of the business and reinstated the premises licence.

Court documents show the company argued that the council’s original decision had been disproportionate, that the circumstances differed from the authority’s policy position and national guidance, and that steps had since been taken to address concerns through new systems and structures.

In allowing the appeal, the court set aside the council’s decision made on November 21, 2025, and ordered that the licence remain in force, subject to a number of additional conditions.

Among the new requirements, Penny Pizza Ltd must ensure right-to-work checks are carried out on all staff before they begin employment, in line with Home Office guidance.

The checks must be conducted by an independent third-party provider, such as a human resources or employment law consultancy, with detailed records kept and made available to licensing, police or immigration officers on request.

The court also ordered the licence holder to provide Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service with evidence within 14 days of fire drills, monthly alarm testing, the removal of bolts from a basement door and an emergency evacuation plan.

Magistrates made no order for costs, meaning each side will bear its own legal expenses.

The restaurant will continue to be permitted to provide late-night refreshment until as late as 4:00am on certain nights under the terms of its reinstated licence.

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.”