News

Pembrokeshire loses out as Labour ‘rewards its heartlands’

Published

1 month ago

December 11, 2024

THE HEADLINE figure is an average rise in Welsh local authority budgets by 4.3%. Every Welsh rural council got less than that.

From Monmouthshire in the east to Anglesey in the north to Pembrokeshire in the west, the funding bonanza trumpeted by the Welsh Government as part of the best financial settlement since devolution turned into a damp, wet fart. No rural authority got the average settlement; only Carmarthenshire came close with a 4.1 increase. Meanwhile, Labour councils in the Valleys and metropolitan areas all experienced above-average rises in Welsh Government funding.

**Not impressed: Pembrokeshire’s Sam Kurtz MS has blasted the Welsh Government**

Local MS Sam Kurtz said, “It’s clear that the Welsh Labour Government is looking after their heartlands first and foremost as we run up to the Senedd election and is ignoring the needs of others.

“Delivering services in rural areas costs more; it’s the rural premium, but for the Welsh Labour Government to ignore this shows them at their worst.

“Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire county councils are asked to do more and more. It’s only right that they are supported correctly to deliver those services. Sadly, this provisional settlement falls well short of what is required.”

WG “TAKING PEMBROKESHIRE PUBLIC FOR FOOLS”

***County Councillor Aled Thomas JP says Labour is taking the Pembrokeshire public for fools***

Pembrokeshire Conservative county councillor Aled Thomas said: “Labour is taking the Pembrokeshire public for fools, claiming that today’s announcement is good for Pembrokeshire when the reality is that our rural communities are being left behind once again.

“Labour is giving with one hand and taking away with the other, with a significant proportion of this additional money already spent on increased national insurance contributions.

“Pembrokeshire’s Labour cabinet member for finance must now commit that this money will be spent on core services and not wasted on vanity projects as we have seen time and again in the county.”

Whether Josh Beynon, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, rises to that challenge remains to be seen. Our request for a response to the Welsh Government’s funding settlement for Pembrokeshire was refused.

SETTLEMENT SHOWS WHERE LOYALTIES LIE

The Independent Group was not as shy.

“The Welsh Government settlement lays bare where their true loyalties lie and the battleground for Senedd 2026 where Labour will concentrate their resources on protecting their established strongholds at all costs. “They may deny it, but that’s the appearance with healthier WG settlements of above 5% for Cardiff, Newport and Merthyr compared to 3.6% for Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Anglesey and even less for Gwynedd at 3.2%. Inflation is currently at 2.3%, meaning the real increase for Pembrokeshire is around 1.3%, and higher inflation over the next few months will erode the value of this settlement further.

“Furthermore, all local authorities are currently having to accept the consequence of the Chancellor’s rise of National Insurance, with Mark Drakeford revealing that there will be no decision from the UK government on NI compensation for public sector employers until May 2025, meaning much of the additional AEF will have already been swallowed up, a decision that needs to be taken sooner rather than later many would suggest.”

CONSULTATION UNDERWAY

The Independent Group spokesperson continued: “Today launches six weeks of formal consultation on the settlement for 2024-25, ending on Friday, January 24, 2025.

“We hope that the current administration will use this process to articulate the concerns of many, that the settlement is not sufficient to cover the financial pressure faced by Pembrokeshire and argue for additional support, even if targeted towards areas of significant concern such as Social Care.

“The reality for us in Pembrokeshire is that providing the services our residents expect and rightly deserve has just become a lot more difficult with this settlement, which can only be described as disappointing.

“As a direct result of this AEF settlement, we will inevitably face a higher than wished-for Council Tax rise in April 2025, and much of the responsibility will sit with Cardiff.

“Pembrokeshire has the joint highest second home council tax in Wales, and we will almost certainly increase the level of tax on empty homes. Many of us in County Hall cannot be accused of shirking tough decisions that best serve our residents.

“We have significant Social Care pressures, which is a common theme across all Welsh local authorities. We have many schools falling into deficit, with Ysgol y Preseli, Milford Haven & Greenhill in dire need of a total overhaul to provide the facilities our young deserve. We hope that the Welsh Government will see fit to allocate Pembrokeshire a generous element of the £1.04bn for the capital grant they have provisionally allocated in this settlement for all of Wales. The continuation of the 40% business relief for tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses is welcomed for an industry that employs 23% of our working population.

COUNCIL TAX AFFORDABILITY CRUCIAL

“The Independent Group will focus on the need to protect essential services whilst addressing the ability of hard-pressed households to afford further Council Tax rises next April.

“In a week when the local authority, partner agencies, and many volunteers have stood up to Storm Darragh’s challenges, the least our residents deserved was more bad news with today’s Welsh Government settlement for Pembrokeshire.

“Storm Darragh’s impact highlighted the need for careful management of Council reserves. Using up reserves cannot continue year on year. Therefore, any proposal for their future use must be carefully considered before we can support it. Once used, these reserves are not available for future eventualities.

“Without additional support, this settlement will result in even higher Council tax bills in four months.”

The spokesperson concluded: “As the largest opposition group within County Hall, we will hold this administration to account in the forthcoming weeks and months prior to setting the Council Tax for 2025/26. We will be critical friends in this task and will not shirk from asking difficult questions.”

Charity

Women take on Three Peaks Challenge to support mental health services

Published

3 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TEN inspirational women are set to tackle the iconic National Three Peaks Challenge on June 7, 2025, to raise vital funds for PATH – Pembrokeshire Action for the Homeless.

Motivated by the support they received through free counselling provided by Pathway Counselling, these women are embarking on this ambitious challenge to help fund mental health services offered by the charity.

The gruelling challenge, organised by Lucy Brazier with the support of Aspire Fitness and Charlotte Neill, will see the group climb the three highest peaks in the UK – Ben Nevis in Scotland (1,345m), Scafell Pike in England (978m), and Snowdon in Wales (1,085m) – all within a 24-hour timeframe. In total, the event involves 23 miles of walking and 450 miles of driving between the mountains.

Lucy Brazier, the organiser, expressed the group’s determination to succeed in this challenge, stating: “We are doing this to give back to the services that helped us through difficult times. Mental health support is crucial, and we hope our efforts will make a difference to others who need help.”

The challenge is not just a test of physical endurance but also a significant fundraising effort. Donations can be made through the group’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/page/nationalthreepeaks.

PATH has been instrumental in supporting individuals struggling with homelessness and mental health issues across Pembrokeshire. The funds raised will ensure the continuation of essential services that positively impact lives.

The team is calling on the community to rally behind them and support their mission. Every donation, no matter how small, will help them reach their goal and make a difference.

For more updates on the challenge and to show your support, visit the JustGiving page and follow PATH’s social media channels.

News

Senedd debates UK Government’s ‘disastrous’ first six months

Published

4 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

THE CONSERVATIVES criticised the UK Government’s record six months on from the general election, accusing Labour of doing “not a dickie bird” to stand up for Wales.

Darren Millar, leader of the Tories in the Senedd, said people were told Labour governments at both ends of the M4 would be great for Wales in the run up to July’s election.

But he warned: “What we’ve actually ended up with is a double whammy: broken promises and failing policies … alongside a passive, silent Labour Welsh Government unwilling to offer a squeak of criticism or lift a finger to defend the interests of the people of Wales.”

Leading a Tory debate, he said the new UK Government has hit farmers with inheritance tax, taken winter fuel allowance from pensioners and hiked national insurance for businesses.

Mr Millar told the Senedd that Welsh railways remain underfunded as he accused Labour of settling for “scraps” despite previously calling for billions of pounds from HS2.

Peter Fox, the Tory shadow rural affairs secretary, warned farmers have to deal with Labour governments “who either do not care or do not understand the needs of rural communities”.

Mr Fox, a farmer and former council leader who represented Monmouth since 2021, criticised changes to agricultural property relief by the UK Government.

“It’s not a loophole,” he said. “It’s a carefully designed policy … to protect Britain’s family farms from being broken up.”

His colleague Natasha Asghar, who represents South Wales East, described a -45% approval rating for Keir Starmer’s government as “a tad generous”.

She said: “If this is just what the first six months of Sir Keir’s premiership look like, I sincerely dread to imagine what the next six months have in store for all of us.”

Mark Drakeford said the Conservative motion in front of the Senedd concentrated entirely on matters outside the Welsh Parliament’s responsibility.

Following the debate on January 15, Senedd members voted 26-24 against the motion with Labour’s amended version agreed by the same margin.

News

Welsh Government ‘in the dark’ on £109m tax rise cash

Published

4 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT remains in the dark about how much Wales will receive to cover the estimated £109m cost of tax rises in the public sector, a committee heard.

Jayne Bryant said the UK Government has confirmed it will provide funding to public-sector employers towards the increased cost of national insurance contributions from April.

But Wales’ local government secretary said ministers expect to receive additional funding in ‘late spring’ and have not yet received confirmation of how much Wales will receive.

Plaid Cymru’s Siân Gwenllian raised concerns about the impact of tax hikes as the Senedd’s local government committee scrutinised Welsh ministers’ 2025/26 spending plans.

Judith Cole, deputy director of council finance policy, said the Welsh Government estimates the cost of the tax hike to the public sector in Wales at £109m.

Asked how funding will be divided between councils, Ms Cole said the standard funding formula could be used or it may be based on a proportion of spending as in England.

But she stressed that other factors need to be taken into account because, for example, some councils will provide more services by directly employed staff.

Reg Kilpatrick, director of local government, added: “We’re entirely dependent on the negotiations between the cabinet secretary for finance and the UK treasury.”

Ms Gwenllian warned of the impact of tax hikes on the voluntary sector and outsourced services, piling more pressure on council budgets.

She said: “I’ve spoken with three councils … but one said that this will cost an additional £2m in terms of internal salaries but £2.5m in terms of the work that is commissioned.

“Another council said £5.4m on the internal, £2.8m on the work that is outsourced – another said £8m internal and £3m on the outsourced work. There is a lot of work commissioned beyond the local authorities themselves and there is no mention of any support.”

Giving evidence on January 15, Ms Bryant said the UK Government has confirmed it will use the Office for National Statistics definition of a public sector worker.