News
Second homes Council Tax contributed £9.1m to Pembrokeshire

Second home-owners in Pembrokeshire, whose 200 percent Council Tax premiums have contributed more than £9m to council coffers in this financial year, are not expected to see that level rise if a recommendation before full council is backed later this week.
Second-home owners, since this financial year, have been paying a 200 percent premium on their Council Tax, effectively a treble rate, following an increase from the previous 100 percent (or double rate) premium.
Under Welsh Government legislation, local authorities are able to increase the council premium on second homes to as much as 300 percent, effectively a quadrable rate.
Long-term empty properties in the county are also currently charged a premium Council Tax rate: 100 percent after 24 months, 200 percent after 36 months, and 300 percent after five years.
At the October 7 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members backed recommending to full council, meeting on October 17, that the second homes premium remain at the current 200 percent, with the long-term empty property rates also remaining at the current levels.
The report also included a review of the council’s discretionary discount policy in relation to properties returning into the Council Tax list from non-domestic rating following the Welsh Government change to a 182 days criteria for holiday lets rate relief, with Cabinet members recommending full council write to Welsh Government asking them to reduce the 182 days let threshold.
A Pembrokeshire consultation has been undertaken on the level of Council Tax premiums, which had one of the highest responses ever received by the council, saw 2,974 responses, with 2,155 from someone whose main residence is outside of Pembrokeshire, along with 67 responses from organisations.
From October 2017-August 2024, the number of second homes paying the premium had dropped from 3,889 to 3,221, with exemptions rising from 137 to 760 over the same period.
In April 2023 councillors backed 75 percent of the funds raised from the second homes premium be used to fund elements of the council’s budget relating to affordable housing and enhancing the sustainability of local communities, the remaining 25 percent spit 75/25 for the Affordable Housing programme and the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant scheme.
From April 1 of this year, that was changed to 85 percent, the remaining 15 percent to the other two areas.
For long-term empty properties this was set at 100 percent for elements of the council’s budget relating to affordable housing and enhancing the sustainability of local communities.
In the previous two financial years the additional income had been placed into an Empty Property Reserve for bringing homes back into use.
Following the Cabinet recommendations, a report before the October 17 meeting of full council asks members to back the Cabinet recommendations, saying: “The consultation shows that some second homeowners support the need for a Council Tax premium, albeit at a lower level than current 200 percent.
“The current Council Tax premium level does seem to be changing behaviour as we are seeing a greater number of properties on the market and the overall number of self-catering units and second homes are starting to reduce. The council still has a large homelessness issue and while the market is moving the current level of Council Tax premium is achieving its aim. As such there seems little reason (or support) to look to increase it.
“Whilst the consultation demonstrates that there is little support for the current level of second homes Council Tax premium and there have been concerns raised from the tourism industry, it is potentially too soon to change a policy that would seem to be starting to achieve its intended consequences of bringing down the overall level of second homes and self-catering units.”
The report says second homes and empty properties premiums contributed £10.8m to the council’s budget relating to affordable housing and enhancing the sustainability of local communities during 2024-25, £9.1m from second homes.
It said any reduction in the premium would increase council budget pressures, listing the effects of a potential 25 percent drop for the next financial year, leading to a £1.3m drop on a potential general Council Tax increase of 11.14 percent and £1.2m for a potential 7.5 percent rise.
News
Residents meet councillor and police at community event in Monkton

RESIDENTS in Monkton had the chance to speak directly with their local councillor and police officers this week (Apr 22) during a community engagement event held at Tenby Court.
The “meet the street” event was attended by County Councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, alongside officers from Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Police.
Also present was Danny from Pembrokeshire County Council’s housing team, who offered on-the-spot support to residents dealing with housing-related issues.
Cllr Grimes thanked all those who came out to say hello and take part in the initiative, which aims to bring local services closer to the community.
These “meet the street” events are part of an ongoing effort to improve communication between local authorities and residents, addressing concerns and offering help where needed.
News
Parc prison under fire as MP slams abusive staff culture

Welsh Affairs Chair demands answers after Herald exclusive reveals shocking officer messages
THE CHAIR of the Welsh Affairs Committee has demanded urgent answers from the leadership of HMP Parc after a Pembrokeshire Herald exclusive revealed prison officers had shared messages joking about violence and mocking prisoners in language described as “offensive and abusive.”
In a strongly worded letter to both Will Styles, Director of HMP Parc, and Gordon Brockington, Managing Director of G4S Care and Rehabilitation Services, Ruth Jones MP said the revelations—first reported by The Pembrokeshire Herald in March—raise serious questions about the culture at the troubled Bridgend prison.
Our investigation, published on March 29, exposed a series of leaked messages exchanged by Parc staff, some of which joked about excessive force, mocked inmates in distress, and included dehumanising language. The messages painted a disturbing picture of contempt and cynicism within the ranks of prison officers—fueling concerns about systemic issues that go beyond poor management or underfunding.
“A sobering reminder”
Jones, who chairs the influential Welsh Affairs Committee, said the messages were “deeply concerning” and highlighted “demeaning and offensive behaviour towards prisoners.”
“Even if many of these messages are historic, they paint an alarming picture,” she said. “That seventeen Parc inmates died last year remains a sobering reminder of the risks if prisoner safety is not made a priority.”
Her committee is now seeking detailed answers from G4S regarding its staff conduct policies, including guidance on social media use and how violations are dealt with. In her letter, Jones also criticised the Ministry of Justice for supplying a quarterly progress report on Parc that was “so lacking in detail we were unable to publish it.”
“This lack of transparency is deeply unhelpful for the confidence Parc needs to rebuild amongst the local community and the families of the men held at HMP Parc,” she added.
From leaked messages to political fallout
The Pembrokeshire Herald was the first news organisation to publish details of the leaked communications, which included jokes about suicide watch, racial slurs, and bragging about rough treatment of inmates. The story prompted widespread concern and has now formed part of the evidence base for the Committee’s intervention.
The messages came to light shortly before the publication of a damning inspection report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons, which detailed how drugs had been found nearly 900 times in 2024, violence was rife, and 17 men had died—many of them after suspected overdoses involving synthetic opioids like nitazenes.
A culture problem, not just a crisis
While new director Will Styles has been praised for halting further deaths since his arrival in mid-2024, the message scandal suggests the rot may go deeper than operational failings.
Jones said her committee would raise these concerns directly with the Ministry of Justice. “Safety at Parc prison remains a top priority,” she said. “I plan to meet with the Ministry to discuss how progress is being monitored and what oversight is in place.”
G4S remains under pressure
A spokesperson for G4S has yet to address the leaked messages specifically but previously told The Herald that the company was “working tirelessly on a comprehensive improvement plan.”
However, with the credibility of that plan now under question, and MPs demanding transparency and accountability, the pressure on G4S and the Ministry of Justice is mounting.
As Ruth Jones warned: “Local communities around Parc, and the families of men held there, must be able to trust that inmates are being treated with dignity.” The Herald will continue to hold those in charge to account—and shine a light on the failures still facing one of Britain’s most troubled prisons.
News
Welsh Conservatives urge review of sex education after ‘choking’ lesson claims

Concerns raised over PSHE content in Bridgend schools
THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have called for an immediate review of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons in Bridgend, following reports that pupils were taught about sexual practices involving choking.
Natasha Asghar MS, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, has written to Labour’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, requesting urgent clarification and action. The lessons, she claims, could risk normalising “harmful, misogynistic behaviours” among young people.
Ms Asghar said she was particularly concerned about the message such lessons might send to young girls and warned of the potential influence of violent pornography on youth culture.
“This is a matter of great urgency. Schools should be places of learning, not environments where harmful behaviours are taught or normalised,” she said.
“This is an alarming indication of the cultural shift towards violent and demeaning acts towards women and young girls being perceived as acceptable. Our education system must actively counter such trends, not contribute to them.”
The Welsh Conservatives have called for Bridgend County Council to work closely with domestic abuse charities, such as Welsh Women’s Aid, and with survivors of abuse, to ensure that sex education lessons are delivered appropriately and sensitively.
“These sensitive and serious topics should be addressed with care and expertise, not reduced to PowerPoint presentations,” Ms Asghar added. She has requested a ministerial statement in the Senedd next week.
Calls for context and clarity
The Welsh Government has not yet responded to the claims. It is currently unclear which materials or lesson plans were involved, or whether the lessons were part of approved curriculum guidance.
Sex education in Wales is now taught under the new Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) framework, which became mandatory in 2022 and aims to provide age-appropriate, inclusive and factual information to pupils across all schools.
Supporters of the new framework say it aims to equip young people with knowledge about consent, respectful relationships and personal safety. Some experts argue that avoiding topics like pornography or rough sex may leave young people unprepared or misinformed.
The Herald understands that some education professionals have defended the inclusion of difficult topics—such as choking or coercive sexual behaviour—when taught responsibly and in age-appropriate ways, as a way of tackling myths, preventing harm and encouraging discussion around consent.
Bridgend County Borough Council has not commented publicly on the matter, but the issue is likely to be raised formally in the Senedd next week.
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