THE LEADER of Pembrokeshire’s council is to stand down amid denied claims of a ‘coup ‘, with a three-way challenge for the role taking place at the May AGM .

The leader of the council is elected every two years under the council’s constitution, and current leader Cllr Jon Harvey has decided not to stand for re-election.

Pembroke St Mary North member Cllr Harvey became leader in May 2024 after narrowly beating fellow leadership hopeful Conservative group leader Di Clements by 30 votes to 27.

Cllr Harvey replaced Cllr David Simpson as leader.

Three nominations have been received for the leadership battle at the May 15 AGM: Conservative Group Leader Cllr Di Clements, unaffiliated member and current Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Cllr Tessa Hodgson, and Leader of the Independent Group Cllr Anji Tinley.

Former leader of the Independent Group on Pembrokeshire County Council Cllr Huw Murphy, in a statement, has claimed Cllr Havery has been removed in a “coup,” which the leader has denied.

Cllr Murphy, in his statement where he talks about himself in the third person, said: “Cllr Murphy stated that the decision confirms what many councillors already know, in that the Cabinet is fractured and no longer retains the confidence of a majority of elected members.

“He further suggests that efforts by some Cabinet members to replace Councillor Harvey is no more than a bid to maintain their own Cabinet roles and the additional allowances this attracts, which appears to be an act of considerable disloyalty towards the now outgoing Leader.

“Cllr Murphy further commented that the removal of the Leader following what appears to be a coup by other Cabinet members does not resolve many of the issues as Cabinet failure is not the fault of the Leader alone, far from it.

“The motto of Pembrokeshire County Council is ‘Ex Unitate Vires’ (in Unity Strength). It’s abundantly clear there has been no unity or strength in Cabinet for some time, rather a desire to now sacrifice their Leader on the altar of trying to save their own Cabinet positions, which is an unedifying spectacle for many.”

Cllr Murphy concluded by expressing his gratitude for Councillor Harvey’s service over the past two years as Leader, but said that “councillors now had a genuine opportunity to embrace real change in electing Councillor Anji Tinley as the next Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council”.

Cllr Harvey has denied any ‘coup’ taking place, promising a full response to Cllr Murphy’s claims.

He later said: “Honestly, I had to laugh at this statement by Cllr Murphy. I’ve enjoyed my time as Leader immensely and I am proud of my record but I have done a full leadership term.

“The decision to stand down and not seek re-election was mine and mine alone and I’m looking forward to supporting Cllr Tessa Hodgson at the AGM.”

COUNCILLOR Huw Murphy has claimed Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet is “fractured” following Cllr Jon Harvey’s decision not to seek re-election as leader.

Cllr Murphy, a member of the Independent Group, said the decision confirmed what he claimed many councillors already believed — that the Cabinet “no longer retains the confidence of a majority of elected members”.

He alleged that attempts by some Cabinet members to replace Cllr Harvey were aimed at preserving their own Cabinet positions and the additional allowances attached to them.

Cllr Murphy said: “The motto of Pembrokeshire County Council is ‘Ex Unitate Vires’ — in unity, strength. It is abundantly clear there has been no unity or strength in Cabinet for some time.”

He added that removing the leader would not, in itself, resolve what he described as wider Cabinet failure.

Cllr Murphy thanked Cllr Harvey for his service over the past two years and wished him well for the future, but said councillors now had an opportunity to choose “real change” by electing Cllr Anji Tinley as the next leader.

RESIDENTS and businesses in Tenby’s Walled Town are being urged to apply for vehicle access permits ahead of this year’s summer pedestrianisation scheme.

Pembrokeshire County Council said the annual scheme is due to begin on Monday, July 6, and run until Friday, September 11.

The restrictions will operate daily between 11:00am and 5:30pm.

As in previous years, the Walled Town will be divided into three zones, with each zone having different levels of vehicle access.

Full details of the scheme, including the online application form, will be available from Friday, May 1, on the council’s website at www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/tenby-pedestrianisation

Residents and businesses within the Walled Town are being encouraged to complete the application process as soon as possible once the documents go live.

The council said this will allow enough time for applications to be processed and for any additional checks to be carried out if further information is needed.

Permits are expected to be issued approximately seven to ten days before the scheme begins.

Paper application forms and guidance notes will no longer be delivered to residents and businesses within the Walled Town, meaning all permit requests must now be submitted online.

Permit holders are also being encouraged to continue planning journeys outside the restricted hours of 11:00am to 5:30pm wherever practical, in order to support the smooth running of the scheme.

Further information is available by emailing [email protected].