Politics
Senedd rejects Tory motion on national insurance hike

THE SENEDD rejected Conservative calls for the UK Government to compensate charities for the increasing cost of employer national insurance (NI) contributions from April.
Mark Isherwood called for Welsh charities, not-for-profits and voluntary organisations, which play a crucial role in delivering public services, to be reimbursed for the extra costs.
The Conservative criticised Rachel Reeves’ “debt-driving, tax-hiking and job-destroying” first budget as UK chancellor and Labour’s “cruel” decision to increase NI contributions.
Mr Isherwood warned of false economies, with the UK tax set to rise from 13.8% to 15%, “swallowing up” increases in funding through the Welsh budget.
“This is dumb economics,” he told the Senedd.
The north Walian raised concerns from the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), an umbrella organisation for the sector, about the impact of NI increases across the country.
Mr Isherwood said the WCVA has warned many voluntary organisations already face significant financial pressures, with the extra strain jeopardising vital services.
He pointed to comments from cancer care charity Tenovus which described the rise as devastating and urged the Welsh Government to mitigate the impact.
Adferiad, a mental health and addiction charity, told the North Wales representative that the rise will cost £600,000 a year, potentially leading to reduced services and staff being let go.
Mr Isherwood warned that the 16 charitable hospices in Wales are all facing deficits and having to consider “significant” cuts which would lead to “huge gaps”.
He said: “They provide essential care to over 20,000 children and adults in Wales affected by terminal and life-limiting illnesses each year, and provide a huge cost saving to the NHS.”
Leading a Tory debate on March 19, Mr Isherwood stated hospices urgently need £5.9m to cover the impact of NHS pay rises and safeguard the immediate future of services.
The motion urged Welsh ministers to call on their UK counterparts to ensure charities are included in the ONS definition of public sector employer and reimbursed NI costs as a result.
Heledd Fychan, Plaid Cymru’s shadow finance secretary, argued the cost of increases to employer NI contributions to core public services should be fully covered by Westminster.

The UK treasury intends to use the Barnett formula to calculate funding for Wales based on the costs in England, which could leave public bodies facing a shortfall.
Conservative Tom Giffard warned the uplift in NI contributions could cost the voluntary sector across the UK a “whopping” £1.4bn a year, according to estimates.
Labour’s Lee Waters described the Tory motion as “breathtakingly cynical, incoherent and opportunistic”, questioning where the opposition would find extra money for public services.

But he said: “I do have some sympathy with the arguments about NI contributions, I think it is the wrong tax to be raising and I regret the fact that other taxes have been ruled out…. I don’t think it’s the right call but there is a significant deficit in public spending.”
Mr Waters, a former minister, cautioned that the Labour UK Government inherited “threadbare” public services and a “rotten” economy from the Conservatives.
Responding for the Welsh Government, Jane Hutt recognised concerns about the impact of NI rises on public bodies which commission services from the third sector.

Ms Hutt, who is responsible for the voluntary sector in Wales, said the UK Government more than doubled the employment allowance to protect the smallest businesses and charities.
The social justice secretary stressed that NI is non-devolved, adding that Welsh ministers will continue to make representations to their counterparts in Westminster.
She told Senedd Members: “The UK Government has confirmed it will provide funding to public sector employers to cover the increased cost of NI contributions.”
Ms Hutt said the Welsh Government has initially estimated the additional NI cost to devolved public sector employers in Wales at £253m.
Senedd Members voted 36-14 against the Tory motion before a version amended by Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government was agreed by the same margin.
News
Iconic Tenby seafront hotel renovation to take place

WORKS to improve the appearance of a prominent Tenby hotel which overlooks both Caldey Island and St Catherine’s Island have been backed by the national park.
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Martin Phillips of Clarence House Hotel, The Esplanade sought permission for to replace existing signage with “newer, less obtrusive signs,” including a change of the front signage for one incorporating the Clarence’s name and logo.
Tenby Town Council backed the proposals, saying it was a “markedly improved upgrade on the Grade-II-listed hotel, in the town’s conservation area.
An officer report recommending approval said: “There are five new signs proposed as part of this application. These will aim to replace the existing and dated signage currently present on the Clarence House Hotel.
“The Building Conservation Officer has supported the application and has stated that the designs are a clear improvement on the existing situation. The proposed signage is to replace the existing signage with a more modern design; however, this will not impact the heritage of the listed building and has a positive impact on the street scene. The designs are appropriate in terms of design, scale and positioning.
“[Policy] requires that the identity and character of the town and village is not lost. The proposed signage does not compromise the existing character of the building or the streetscape and is therefore acceptable.
“The proposal for new signage for the Clarence House Hotel will have a beneficial impact on the street scene and the conservation area of Tenby. The proposal adheres to all relevant national, regional and local legislation and policy.”
The application was approved by park planners.
Business
Huge slurry lagoon to be built in Pembrokeshire countryside

PLANS to build a new slurry lagoon at a 650-dairy herd Pembrokeshire farm have been given the go-ahead.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Richard Morris of Bowett Ltd sought permission for the construction of the lagoon, and associated works, at Quoits Hill Farm, Bentlass Road, Hundleton, near Pembroke.
A supporting statement through agent Cynllunio RW Planning Ltd stressed the applicant does not intend to increase livestock numbers on farm as a result of this 60 by 35 metre development.
“The Morris Family farm at Quoits Hill Farm and specialise in dairy farming. The farm is home to approximately 650 dairy cows plus followers. The herd is autumn calving with milk sold to Laprino. The home farm is grass based and extends to over 300 acres, with more off lying land utilised for growing winter forage.
“The family have invested significantly in recent years in on farm infrastructure to include a rotary milking parlour, silage clamps and covered feed yards.”
It added: “The proposed development seeks to increase the farms slurry storage capacity to above the five-month storage required by NVZ regulations. The existing slurry store and slurry handling facilities are not adequate to comply with the new regulations.”
It went on to say: “The proposed store will provide the farm with 6452 cubic meters of storage capacity (minus freeboard) which will equate to over 171 days storage. It is proposed to use the existing field slurry store as a lightly fouled water store to collect the parlour washings and reduce the size of the store required. Slurry will continue to be scrapped into the existing yard store and then pumped to the new store when required. This work will be monitored closely to reduce the risk of any leakage.”
It concluded: “The proposed development will enable slurry to be spread during the growing season rather than during more difficult weather conditions in the winter. This will be of benefit to farm efficiency and the wider environment.”
The application was conditionally approved.
News
Huge slurry lagoon to be built in Pembrokeshire countryside

PLANS to build a new slurry lagoon at a 650-dairy herd Pembrokeshire farm have been given the go-ahead.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Richard Morris of Bowett Ltd sought permission for the construction of the lagoon, and associated works, at Quoits Hill Farm, Bentlass Road, Hundleton, near Pembroke.
A supporting statement through agent Cynllunio RW Planning Ltd stressed the applicant does not intend to increase livestock numbers on farm as a result of this 60 by 35 metre development.
“The Morris Family farm at Quoits Hill Farm and specialise in dairy farming. The farm is home to approximately 650 dairy cows plus followers. The herd is autumn calving with milk sold to Laprino. The home farm is grass based and extends to over 300 acres, with more off lying land utilised for growing winter forage.
“The family have invested significantly in recent years in on farm infrastructure to include a rotary milking parlour, silage clamps and covered feed yards.”
It added: “The proposed development seeks to increase the farms slurry storage capacity to above the five-month storage required by NVZ regulations. The existing slurry store and slurry handling facilities are not adequate to comply with the new regulations.”
It went on to say: “The proposed store will provide the farm with 6452 cubic meters of storage capacity (minus freeboard) which will equate to over 171 days storage. It is proposed to use the existing field slurry store as a lightly fouled water store to collect the parlour washings and reduce the size of the store required. Slurry will continue to be scrapped into the existing yard store and then pumped to the new store when required. This work will be monitored closely to reduce the risk of any leakage.”
It concluded: “The proposed development will enable slurry to be spread during the growing season rather than during more difficult weather conditions in the winter. This will be of benefit to farm efficiency and the wider environment.”
The application was conditionally approved.
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