News

Welsh Conservatives slam Labour’s council tax reform as ‘failing families’

Published

7 months ago

May 25, 2025

Consultation launched on exemptions and discounts, but Tories say tax hikes continue unchecked

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has launched a consultation on modernising council tax exemptions and discounts—but the Welsh Conservatives have criticised the plans, claiming they do nothing to halt spiralling council tax bills across the country.

First Minister Mark Drakeford, in a written statement on Friday (May 23), confirmed the consultation follows a comprehensive review into the system of council tax discounts and exemptions, many of which have remained unchanged since 1993.

Drakeford said the reforms aim to “modernise these measures better to reflect the evolving needs of today’s society,” adding that the Welsh Government’s goal is “a fairer council tax” through improved accessibility, reduced stigma around entitlements, and better targeting of support.

But Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Laura Anne Jones MS, said the consultation ignores the real issue—rising bills for ordinary people.

“These proposals will not reduce the never-ending increase to council tax bills that the people of Wales are struggling with,” she said.

“Under the Welsh Labour Government, the Local Government Funding Formula remains broken. It cannot be right that people in Wales are facing a 7.2% hike in their Council Tax, while Councils continue to sit on over £2 billion in usable reserves.”

The consultation, which runs until 15 August, sets out changes to the categories of people eligible for council tax exemptions and discounts, in line with the 2024 Local Government Finance (Wales) Act. The aim is to better reflect modern household needs and remove inconsistencies in the current system.

However, the Welsh Conservatives argue that the review is a distraction from the bigger financial pressures facing residents.

“Only the Welsh Conservatives will stop Labour’s mounting council tax hikes,” Jones said, “with our proposals for local referenda, which would give communities a direct say, ensuring councils cannot raise council tax by over 5% without the consent of local residents.”

The Welsh Government maintains that the consultation is a key part of delivering its Programme for Government and is encouraging stakeholders to submit their views.

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

49 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, visited Pembroke Dock Community School on Friday 12th December to present a prize to the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.

The competition invited pupils to design a festive Christmas card, with entries received from schools across the area. The standard of artwork was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, imagination and talent of young people in the community.

During the visit, Samuel Kurtz congratulated the winning pupil and thanked all those who took part, as well as the teachers and staff who supported the competition. Each child who entered also received a certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

Speaking after the presentation, Samuel said, “It was a real pleasure to visit Pembroke Dock Community School today and announce the winner of my Christmas Card competition. This year the winner is Mair Moseley, aged 10, and she designed a wonderful Santa image that really stood out. She has won a chocolate selection set and a £20 book token to enjoy over Christmas.”

He added, “ The creativity and enthusiasm shown by all the children was fantastic, and it made choosing a winner extremely difficult. I want to congratulate all the entrants and thank the staff for their ongoing support.”

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher, Mrs Katie Crockford-Morris, added, “We were delighted to welcome Samuel Kurtz MS to the school to present the prize. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition, and they were incredibly proud to receive their certificates.”

The winning design will now be used as Samuel Kurtz’s official Christmas card this year, with one copy already on its way to His Majesty, King Charles.

Charity

Two Welsh families fund Childline across the UK on Christmas Day

Published

1 hour ago

December 15, 2025

Staff Writer

Joint £40,000 gift ensures vital support is available when children need it most

TWO Cardiff families have joined forces to fund the NSPCC’s Childline service across the whole of the UK on Christmas Day, ensuring children have somewhere to turn during one of the toughest times of the year.

The Peterson family and the Bowles family are each donating £20,000 as part of the charity’s One Unforgettable Day project. Their combined £40,000 contribution will cover the entire cost of running Childline for 24 hours on 25 December.

Childline operates 12 bases nationwide and offers a free, confidential service to anyone under 19, available day and night, 365 days a year. The festive period is often one of the most demanding for counsellors and volunteers; between 24 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, Childline delivered 4,261 counselling sessions.

Young people reach out to Childline for a range of reasons at Christmas, including mental health struggles, family tensions, financial worries, loneliness, and increased risks of abuse or domestic violence. With schools closed and regular support networks unavailable, demand for help typically rises.

Childline relies heavily on donations, fundraising and charitable partnerships. The support of Alan, Maggie and Hywel Peterson, and Nathan and Claire Bowles and their four children, will ensure counsellors are available throughout Christmas Day for any young person who needs them.

Hywel Peterson MBE, Chair of the NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board, said:
“It’s an honour to help fund Childline across the whole of the UK this Christmas. This joint donation will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers are there to support any child who needs us.”

Cardiff entrepreneur Nathan Bowles added:
“We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some children, so our family is delighted to be joining forces with the Petersons this year to support this vital service.”

Louise Israel, Childline team manager at NSPCC Cymru’s Cardiff base, said:
“While children and young people need Childline all year round, we speak to many who find this time of year particularly difficult. It is only with the support of such generous people as the Peterson and Bowles families that our staff and volunteers can continue to be here throughout the Christmas holidays. This kindness will genuinely make a difference.”

Children can call Childline free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk for advice.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include: