Local Government

Calls for fairer council tax as scrutiny committee backs relief for holiday lets

Published

3 months ago

September 11, 2025

COUNCILLORS in Pembrokeshire have backed a series of recommendations on Second Home Council Tax, including a proposal to give discretionary relief for holiday cottages.

At the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday (Sept 9), Councillor Huw Murphy, who represents Newport and Dinas, said the current premium of 150 per cent for second homes and 300 per cent for long-term empty properties should remain in place for the 2026/27 financial year.

However, he proposed that Cabinet apply 50 per cent relief for holiday cottages let out between 140 and 182 days a year. If accepted, this would mean those meeting the threshold would pay council tax at 100 per cent instead of 150 per cent, while second homes used solely for private purposes would continue to face the full rate.

The committee backed the recommendation with no votes against.

Financial backdrop

The move comes as Cabinet reviewed first-quarter financial figures on Monday (Sept 8), showing a projected £2.2 million surplus for 2025/26. The Independent Group, the largest in the Chamber, welcomed the easing of pressure on social care budgets and argued that some of the surplus should be used to lessen the burden on council taxpayers.

Councillor Murphy also raised concerns over 1,800 properties in Pembrokeshire on the Non-Domestic Rate system, most of which pay nothing under small business rate relief. He said if they were taxed at an average Band E rate, the county could raise millions more.

“There has to be a fairer Council Tax system that raises revenue in a more cost-effective way,” he said. “The Welsh Government should have been bold and tackled this years ago.”

Tourism and the economy

The committee also criticised the Welsh Government’s retention of the 182-day letting rule for holiday lets, branding it unrealistic for many rural operators. England’s threshold is 105 days.

Councillors said a 140-day target would be more practical and help support smaller tourism businesses, particularly in inland areas outside hotspots like Tenby, St Davids and Newport.

They warned that with around 20 per cent of Pembrokeshire’s workforce employed in tourism, leisure and hospitality, weakening the sector could be a disaster for the county. Declining car park revenue, linked to falling visitor numbers during the cost-of-living crisis, was cited as a sign of strain.

Wider concerns

Councillor Murphy also criticised Welsh Government proposals that self-catering owners should donate two weeks of free rental to charity. He argued that many lets are run by farming families encouraged to diversify in the past but are now penalised by the rules.

The Independent Group reaffirmed support for small business rate relief for pubs, restaurants and attractions, but called for new measures such as reduced vehicle tax in rural counties, noting that poor public transport makes car ownership a necessity.

They said such steps could help reduce rural poverty, protect the Welsh language in its heartlands, and tackle depopulation.

Looking ahead

The Group also called for action to make Pembrokeshire more attractive to younger people to counterbalance the county’s ageing population. Without it, they warned, the future of local services and funding would come under increasing strain.

Local Government

Call for Return of Salt Tip in North Pembrokeshire to Improve Winter Road Safety

Published

18 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PROPOSAL for the reinstatement of a salt tip in North Pembrokeshire to improve road safety during snowy and icy conditions has been put forward by local councillor Huw Murphy.

At the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Murphy called for a review of the council’s current weather strategy, highlighting the need for an auxiliary salt tip in the north of the county. His motion, which was supported by senior councillors, aims to address the challenges faced by motorists during severe winter weather.

Cllr Murphy’s motion emphasized the importance of having a reserve salt tip available to ensure primary routes remain clear and accessible during snow and ice conditions. This would allow emergency services to respond to calls, key workers to reach their workplaces, and essential vehicles like HGVs to access farms for activities such as milk collection.

Historically, a salt tip was located near Crymych, which proved invaluable for gritting roads, particularly the A478 between Crymych and Cardigan, and between Crymych and Clunderwen. These roads, often treacherous during snowy weather, have caused difficulties for HGVs, coaches, and school buses in the past.

The proposal stresses that a new salt tip in Pembrokeshire would allow for quicker and more regular gritting, making roads safer for all users, especially during the harshest winter conditions. Cllr Murphy also highlighted that recent heavy snowfall exposed weaknesses in the current gritting strategy, particularly in the northeast of Pembrokeshire and the Preseli Mountains, which are most prone to severe weather.

The motion also called for prompt gritting and the deployment of snow ploughs on key routes, including the A478, A487, B4332, and B4329, which are vital for the local communities in the northeast and Preseli areas.

The county council’s Cabinet will now consider Cllr Murphy’s motion for further review.

Local Government

Carmarthenshire welcomes new council leader

Published

2 days ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

New Cabinet confirmed following Full Council meeting

COUNCILLOR Linda Evans has been appointed Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council and Chair of the Cabinet following a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday (Dec 10).

A long-serving Plaid Cymru councillor for the Llanfihangel-ar-Arth ward, Cllr Evans has served on the authority since 2008 and has been a Cabinet Member since 2015.

Her appointment was formally confirmed during the meeting, where she also announced her Cabinet team — a 10-member executive responsible for the council’s overall business. The Cabinet meets fortnightly to make key decisions and recommendations to Full Council and, in some cases, decisions can be taken individually by Cabinet Members.

All members of the previous administration have retained their roles, with one change: Cllr Emlyn Schiavone joins the Cabinet as the new Cabinet Member for Homes.

The full Cabinet is as follows:

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism: Cllr Hazel Evans
Cabinet Member for Education: Cllr Glynog Davies
Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Communities and Welsh Language: Cllr Carys Jones
Cabinet Member for Organisation and Workforce: Cllr Philip Hughes
Cabinet Member for Resources: Cllr Alun Lenny
Cabinet Member for Homes: Cllr Emlyn Schiavone
Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services: Cllr Edward Thomas
Cabinet Member for Integrated Health and Children and Adult Social Services: Cllr Jane Tremlett
Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability: Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen
Leader of the Council: Cllr Linda Evans

Speaking after her appointment, Cllr Evans said:
“It’s an honour to be elected as Council Leader and I look forward to working with the Cabinet and all members across the chamber for the benefit of the residents of Carmarthenshire.”

Climate

Urgent calls for action on Pembroke Commons flooding

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

TWO PEMBROKESHIRE councillors have submitted an urgent call for action following recent heavy flooding in parts of Pembroke.

Pembroke councillors Aaron Carey and Jonathan Grimes have submitted an urgent notice of motion ahead of tomorrow’s December 12 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council following heavy flooding in the town’s Commons and Castle Pond area.

The notice of motion covers six points.

“That this council notes with concern the repeated and increasingly severe flooding experienced in our coastal, estuarial and river-fringe communities over recent weeks — in particular the flooding events affecting the Commons/Castle Pond area.

“That the council further notes that, according to correspondence from the Coastal, Rivers & Drainage Team Manager, the tipping gate at the barrage remains out of operation until mid-January due to mechanical issues; meanwhile high tide, heavy rain, wind-driven tidal surges and overspill at the sluice have combined to overwhelm the drainage/outfall infrastructure.

“That we recognise the current maintenance schedule (delayed till after the summer season) and the justification given — but further that such planning failed to foresee the likelihood of severe winter storm and surge events, which climate change makes more frequent and more intense.

“That this council therefore calls on the Cabinet to commission an urgent review of:

The adequacy of the current drainage/outfall and tidal-sluice infrastructure (barrage tipping gate, sluice/sluice-valve, flap valve, outfall capacity) for current and projected climate/tide conditions.
The maintenance scheduling policy for coastal and estuarial flood-risk assets, with a view to ensuring critical maintenance is completed before winter high-tide / storm-surge season, rather than — as at present — being delayed until after summer for ‘recreational / biodiversity’ reasons.

“That, pending the outcome of the review, the council should allocate appropriate emergency capital funding to remediate the barrages / sluices / outfalls at risk of failure or blockage — to safeguard residents, properties, highways and public amenities from further flooding.

“That, further, this council resolves to publish a public flood-resilience plan for the county, identifying all coastal and river-fringe ‘hotspots,’ maintenance schedules, responsible teams, and a transparent timeline for upgrades or remedial works — so residents have clarity and confidence in flood prevention measures.”

The submission also includes a question for Cabinet Member Cllr Rhys Sinnett.

“In light of the repeated flooding events across the county – including the recent overflow at Castle Pond and the acknowledgement by your own Coastal, Rivers & Drainage Team that the barrage tipping gate remains inoperable until mid-January can you explain what assessment has been made of the adequacy of our tidal outfall infrastructure in the face of current and projected future storm surges and sea-level rise?

“If no such assessment has yet been undertaken, will you commit now to commissioning an immediate structural and risk-capacity audit, with a report to full council within three months, and with proposals for funding any remedial works required — to avoid recurring damage and disruption to residents, highways, and public amenities?”