MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL will hold a Full Council meeting on Monday (April 28) at 7:00pm at the Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets Unit on Havens Head Business Park.

Councillors will be asked to review a packed agenda, with items ranging from committee reports and planning matters to the election of the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2025-2026 municipal year.

Current Mayor, Councillor W. Elliott, will chair the session, which includes updates on recent engagements by councillors, feedback from outside body representation, and financial matters relating to the town council’s accounts and expenditure for the past year.

The council will receive and discuss minutes from recent sub-committee meetings, including the Public Events Sub-Committee (April 22) and the Standing Orders Sub-Committee (April 23), as well as a review of the council’s insurance, financial regulations, and standing orders.

Financial accountability is a major theme of the meeting, with members set to review the Statement and Schedule of Accounts for March 2025 and a summary of expenditure covering April 2024 to March 2025. Applications for financial assistance from Milford Haven Men’s Shed and Milford Haven Round Table will also be considered.

Two councillors, V. Hammett and M. Woodward, have put their names forward for the role of Deputy Mayor, while the Mayor’s position for the forthcoming year will also be decided.

Later in the agenda, members will vote on whether to move into private session to consider confidential matters, including reports from informal meetings regarding the long-term future of Milford Haven Library. Representatives from Pembrokeshire County Council and the Port of Milford Haven have taken part in these discussions.

As per legislation under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, remote access will be made available to members of the public upon request.

The Herald will be following the outcomes of the meeting and providing updates online

A SCHEME for a rural Pembrokeshire One Planet Development, which would eventually include a charcuterie business using meats from a rare breed ‘flerd’ and a ‘natural health service’ has been turned down by county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Malcolm and Nichola Blunsden sought permission for the One Planet Development including a three-bed house, polytunnel and a freestanding photovoltaic array at Covert View, some one kilometre from the village of Jeffreyston, near Kilgetty.

A supporting statement through agent Sureline Design Services Ltd said of the applicants: “They have experience of managing this piece of land and are excited to have the opportunity to develop their ideas for an eco-house, rare breed ‘flerd’ [mixture of a flock and herd], a charcuterie business and a ‘natural health service’ that brings local community groups and schools closer to nature.”

Covering a five-year plan, it says the applicants would produce 56 per cent of their own food, with a small vegetable garden and polytunnel as well as a flock of chickens and ducks for eggs and meat, and will also keep geese, sheep, pigs and cattle for meat; the main enterprise on site will sell fresh meat and charcuterie products from the sheep, pigs and cattle.

“In addition to this they will develop a subsidiary enterprise based on community groups and general public visiting the site for educational and therapeutic purposes,” the statement adds.

Detailing the ‘Cleddau Charcuterie’ proposal, it says: “The overall objective is to use traditional rare breeds of Welsh farm animals, raise them in a dynamic ‘flerd’ (mixture of a flock and herd) to create a rich tapestry of diverse meadows in a regenerative ‘mob’ grazed system whilst also building soil carbon.”

It says the meats produced will be slaughtered and butchered locally and then cured in a purpose-built meat curing room, this will be located in one of the existing farm buildings on site.

“Research undertaken by Malcolm suggests a high demand for locally produced fresh meat as well as charcuterie products with known origins and high animal welfare.  The nearest producer for charcuterie is currently in Powys.”

An officer report, recommending refusal raised concerns about the robustness of financial figures and realistic possibility of achieving them, with “almost 90 per cent of the projected income would come from a single source, namely meat products production,” adding: “There is no supporting evidence from local schools or groups for a demand for the services offered. It is considered that there is not sufficient certainty to conclude that a significant proportion of the applicants’ food and income needs would be met on the site within five years”.

It also raised concerns about insufficient water resources on the site with a borehole required for drinking water.

The application was refused by planners.

Since the refusal, the application is listed as having an appeal against the decision lodged.

Calls grow for licensing scheme amid enforcement concerns

NEW data has revealed the Welsh hotspots for illegal vape sales, with over 30,000 illicit and unregulated products seized in 2024 – the equivalent of one every 20 minutes.

The worst-affected area was Newport, where Newport City Council confiscated more than 21,000 illegal vapes last year – an increase of 173% compared to 2023. The city accounted for a third of all illegal vape seizures in Wales. Over the past three years, 49 premises closure orders have been issued in the area.

Flintshire recorded the second highest number of seizures, with 4,545 illicit vapes removed from sale – up 170% on the previous year.

The findings come from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted to 108 local authorities by Vape Club, and are published in the 2025 Illegal Vapes Report. The research lays bare the scale of the UK’s growing illegal vape market.

Wales’ top five illegal vape hotspots in 2024

• Newport City Council: 21,169 devices seized
• Flintshire County Council: 4,545 devices seized
• Carmarthenshire County Council: 1,850 devices seized
• Gwynedd Council: 721 devices seized
• Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council: 607 devices seized

Despite 82 recorded instances of illegal vape sales in Wales last year, only five penalties were issued. Closure orders were served to just ten retailers – representing only 12% of reported cases. The figures have prompted growing concern over inadequate enforcement.

Across the UK, 1.2 million illegal vapes were seized in 2024 – a 44% increase from the previous year. That equates to two illegal vapes seized every minute.

Industry experts are calling for the introduction of a Vape Retailer and Distributor Licensing Scheme to help tackle the issue. Without stricter controls and additional resources for enforcement, they warn the illegal trade could surge – especially following the UK Government’s planned ban on disposable vapes this June.

Dan Marchant, Director at Vape Club, said:
“The real issue of illicit vape sales lies in the inadequate enforcement of current regulations and the weak penalties for offenders. With the disposable vape ban coming into force, we risk a flood of dangerous, unregulated products entering the UK, all because the core issue has not been addressed.

“This boils down to lacklustre fines and no structured funding for Trading Standards. That’s why we strongly support a robust retail and distribution licensing scheme, with revenues ringfenced for proactive enforcement.

“This funding could give Border Force the resources to stop more illegal products at the border, and allow Trading Standards to crack down on rogue retailers and impose meaningful penalties.”