Adjudication Panel for Wales reschedules case-paper hearing for February 12

A TRIBUNAL hearing into alleged breaches of the members’ code of conduct by a former Neyland town councillor has been adjourned and rescheduled, official papers confirm.

The case involving former Councillor Brian Rothero had been listed to be determined on Tuesday (Jan 27) at 10:00am, using remote attendance technology.

However, the tribunal meeting has now been adjourned at the request of the tribunal panel, with the case due to be determined instead on Thursday, February 12, at 10:00am, according to a notification issued by the Adjudication Panel for Wales’ Welsh Tribunals Unit at the eleventh hour (Jan 26).

The matter relates to allegations of breaches of the statutory members’ code of conduct. These include alleged failures to show respect and consideration, and requirements around treating others with respect and not using bullying or harassing behaviour.

The tribunal will determine the case on the papers only and will not hear oral submissions or evidence from the parties or any witnesses. The notification states that Mr Rothero’s presence on the rescheduled date is not required.

It also confirms the tribunal’s meeting, deliberations and adjudication will not be open to the public.

Neyland council context

The adjournment comes amid an extended period of heightened scrutiny around Neyland Town Council, which has repeatedly featured in complaints and conduct-related disputes.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Standards Committee has previously been told that Neyland Town Council accounted for a significant proportion of code of conduct complaints made about town and community councils in the county.

In a separate recent case, a Neyland councillor was banned from public office for four years after a tribunal found breaches linked to communications described as lacking respect and amounting to bullying or harassment.

The council has also faced ongoing rows over governance and decision-making, including controversy surrounding a co-option process that drew criticism over transparency.

THE POLICE part of the council tax bill in Dyfed and Powys is to rise by nearly 7.5 per cent, following a near nine per cent last year, meaning the average household will be paying £390 this coming year for that element alone.

The overall council tax bill for residents in the counties of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Powys is made up of the county council element of the council tax, the Dyfed-Powys Police precept, and individual town or community council precepts.

At the January 23 meeting of the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel, held at County Hall, Haverfordwest, Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn called for a raising of the precept by 7.474 per cent for the 2026-’27 financial year, a rise of £26.95 for the average Band D property, bring that element up to £387.63 for an average band D property in 2024-’25.

Any property paying a premium of council tax, such as second homes, also pays that premium on the police precept as well, meaning their bills for this element are proportionately higher.

Of the force’s funding, 56 per cent, or some £93m, comes from the precept.

Last year saw an 8.6 per cent increase on the force’s precept.

Speaking at the meeting, Pembroke county councillor Cllr Jonathan Grimes asked: “what can council tax-payers expect to see in terms of their council tax payments, what will they see in terms of value for money?”

Mr Llywelyn said it would support efficiencies helping a “more visible and accessible police service”.

Members backed the recommendation of a 7.47 per cent increase.

This year’s near-eight per cent increase follows a public consultation.

Local authorities are due to decide their council tax levels in the next few months.

Ceredigion is currently mooting a 4.75 per cent increase in that element of the overall council tax bill.

A DESCISION on the level of council rents in Pembrokeshire for the forthcoming year had to return to a special meeting after some figures were incorrectly reported when a decision was made last month.

A decision had previously been made at the December meeting of full council, but, following “a final review of the working papers to inform Revenue Services of the new 2026/27 rents, it was identified that in parts of the 2026-27 working papers the rent roll (individual actual rent figures for tenants) had not been updated with the 2025-26 rent increases [approved by council in December 2024].”

In a report presented at a January 21 extraordinary meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, by Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Michelle Bateman, members heard: “The consequence of this was that the supporting data was incorrect. Nevertheless, this report confirms that the overall rental increase recommended [in] the report presented on December 12 was compliant with Welsh Government rental policy.”

It said supporting data incorrectly reported at that meeting “impacted the number of properties under Pembrokeshire Standard Rent, the actual number being higher than that shown”.

It added: “To clarify, the calculation on the overall income cap and the subsequent calculations on the amount of income required to deduct from the overall income cap for transitioning and for voids being relet was not affected by this omission, as these calculations had correctly used the rent roll for 2025-26 and there had been an allowance included for uncertainty over some of the assumptions.

“The additional headroom has enabled the recommendation of ‘3.6 per cent plus up to £2.55 per individual rent that is currently below Standard Rent’ [as recommended in December] to remain compliant with WG rent policy.”

Members backed the January 21 recommendations that the previous decisions be rescinded; the Pembrokeshire Standard Rents are increased by 3.6 per cent plus up to £2.55 per individual rent that is currently below Standard Rent, garage rents be increased by 4.3 per cent, and for tenanted properties improved to the highest possible energy rating of EPC A or B, the rent for the property will increase until the Standard Rent for new/improved homes rent levels is achieved.