A NEYLAND town councillor has been banned from public office for four years for breaching the code of conduct, communicating with the clerk and fellow councillors “in a manner which lacked respect and amounted to bullying and/or harassment”.

A case tribunal convened by the President of the Adjudication Panel for Wales recently considered a reference in respect of Councillor David Devauden of Neyland Town Council.

The Adjudication Panel for Wales received a referral from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in relation to allegations made against Councillor Devauden, who was informed of this last March.

The Adjudication Panel for Wales findings said: “The allegations were that he had breached Neyland Town Council’s Code of Conduct by repeatedly treating and/or communicating with the council’s clerk and fellow councillors in a manner which lacked respect and amounted to bullying and/or harassment.

“Further, that his conduct, both with regards to the clerk, his fellow councillors and the PSOW, had brought his office and/or the council into disrepute and that he had failed to comply with the PSOW’s requests in respect of her investigation into those matters.

“The Case Tribunal determined its adjudication at a hearing which was convened on January 15 and 16 at the Haverfordwest County Court.  The Case Tribunal unanimously found that the councillor had acted in breach of the Code [as set out above].

“The Case Tribunal concluded by unanimous decision that Councillor Devauden should be disqualified from acting as a councillor for any authority for a period of four years in respect of all matters concurrently.

“The Authority and its Standards Committee are notified accordingly. The Respondent has the right to seek the leave of the High Court to appeal the above decision. The Case Tribunal made no recommendations to the Authority.”

Cllr Devauden has been contacted for a response.

The Adjudication Panel also lists a January 27 hearing concerning former Neyland Town Council member Brian Rothero, who is alleged to have breached paragraphs 4(b), 4(c), 6(1)(a), and 6(1)(d) of the code of conduct.

Paragraph 4 (b) deals with “When undertaking your role as a member, you must show respect and consideration for others,” 4(c) covers “You must not use any bullying behaviour or harass any person including other councillors, council officers (the Clerk or Proper Officer) or members of the public”.

6(1) (a) covers “You must not behave in a way which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute at any time,” while 6 (1) (d) covers “You must not make vexatious, malicious or frivolous complaints against other members or anyone who works for, or on behalf of, your council”.

That hearing, conducted remotely, will not be open to the public.

FINAL Budget plans worth £27.5bn for 2026-27 have been published by the Welsh Government, with ministers saying the package will deliver £1.2bn more for people, public services and businesses than in the current financial year.

The Welsh Government said the Final Budget includes £400m of new allocations since the Draft Budget was set out in October, including £300m of revenue funding for local government and the NHS, secured through the budget agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru.

A further £100m in revenue and capital funding is earmarked for priorities including bus services, apprenticeships, further education, flood prevention and maintenance of school buildings.

Ministers said every Welsh Government department will receive at least the same level of funding in real terms in 2026-27 as this year, with uplifts for inflation and pay intended to help protect frontline services and safeguard jobs.

Key allocations highlighted in the announcement include an extra £112.8m for local government, with all councils set to receive increases of four per cent or above, and a further £180m for health and social care, bringing the total revenue budget for the sector to more than £12.6bn.

A £116m package of support for businesses over two years has also been announced to help firms manage the impact of the 2026 non-domestic rates revaluation.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said the Final Budget would provide extra resources for the services Wales relies on, while delivering certainty for public services.

He said: “This Final Budget provides extra resources to support the services Wales relies on. Every department has been protected with at least the same funding in real terms as this year, including extra funding for inflation and pay – recognising the vital work of our public service workforce.

“By working across the Senedd, we are providing certainty and stability for public services now, while ensuring the next Welsh Government has the resources it needs to deliver its priorities from day one.”

The Final Budget will be debated and put to a vote in the Senedd on Tuesday, January 27. The timetable published by the Welsh Government shows the Draft Budget was released on Tuesday, October 14, with the detailed Draft Budget published on Monday, November 3, before the budget agreement with Plaid Cymru was reached on Tuesday, December 9.

Responding to the Welsh Government Budget, Aaron Hill, Director of CPT Cymru, said: “We welcome news that the Welsh Government’s Final Budget includes an additional £6 million in revenue and £10 million in capital funding. This is a positive step that responds to CPT’s calls for greater investment to keep pace with the rising cost of running services.

Buses are a vital part of Wales’s economy, carrying nearly 200,000 passengers every day and enabling people to earn, learn and spend in their local communities. They are the most popular form of public transport in Wales, accounting for three quarters of all journeys.

Investment in buses delivers exceptional returns – every pound invested brings £4.55 in benefits to the environment, public health, and local communities. Yet funding for buses in the UK remains far below levels seen across Europe, and in real terms, core support has been eroded over the last decade.

This additional investment is welcome, and we look forward to working with the Welsh Government to ensure this funding delivers maximum benefit for passengers, communities and the economy.”

HAVERFORDWEST councillors have called for a shake-up of the approach to parking in Pembrokeshire’s county town, with free short-term parking to boost business.

At the January 15 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s policy and pre-decision overview and scrutiny committee, Haverfordwest Castle Ward county councillor Tom Tudor requested a public submission of a ‘Strategic Parking Plan to Boost Haverfordwest Town Centre Economy’ be added to the committee agenda.

Cllr Tudor brought forward a proposal made by town councillor Scott Thorley “aiming to increase footfall while maintaining fiscal responsibility,” which includes two hours free parking in Haverfordwest town centre across all car parks to encourage short visits for shopping, dining, and services, Monday-Saturday, 9-5.

It also includes extending the parking duration at the Perrots Road Car Park to a four-hour maximum stay, with the first two hours free, with free parking from 5pm Saturday to 8am Monday to support evening and weekend activities.

He also proposes free parking all day on Sundays “to attract visitors to hospitality businesses, such as cafes, restaurants, and pubs, fostering a vibrant weekend economy”.

His strategy also includes leveraging “increased footfall from free parking to boost local business revenue, offsetting potential losses in parking fees through keeping businesses open and attracting more investment into the town,” adding: “Evidence from similar UK schemes suggests a potential five–15 per cent increase in retail spending with free parking initiatives,” with a call for social media and local press marketing of the proposed changes.

He also proposes staff working in the town centre “adopt alternative transport methods to free up parking spaces for customers,” through such things as the promotion of car-sharing, encouraging the use of public transport, and supporting cycling and walking through investments in secure bike storage and incentives for staff.

He says there would be an economic boost to the town’s businesses through his proposed changes through increased footfall; free Sunday parking also helping the hospitality industry, and encouraging staff to shift to alternative transport reducing congestion and giving environmental benefits.

Members agreed to note the submission by Cllr Tudor on behalf of Cllr Thorley.