News

Local government: Time for a change?

Published

11 years ago

February 18, 2015

A GOVERNMENT White Paper released on Tuesday set out plans for a massive re-organisation in Local Government, and paved

Leighton Andrews AM: Spoke of need to recast the relationship between
National and Local Government’.

the way for increased Welsh Government involvement at a local level.

In the foreword to this paper, Leighton Andrews AM spoke of the need to recast the relationship between National and Local Government in Wales’.

A series of mergers is planned between county councils, some of which will be voluntary. The salaries of executives and councillors will also come under scrutiny and the Welsh Government will have greater powers to audit County Councils.

These mergers will be overseen by a national Statutory Public Services Staff Commission, which will play a major role in overseeing the transfer of staff between authorities, as well as playing a role in the recruitment and remuneration for senior positions in those authorities. The Welsh Government paper claims that this is necessary in order to ‘build an engaged, motivated, and high performing workforce’.

Certain services will be subject to what the paper describes as ‘a clearly defined leadership role for the Welsh Government’, leaving Local Government to ‘determine local priorities’. This will lead to greater involvement by the Welsh Government in education, social services, economic development, and the environment. It is unclear how this will affect budget provision for Local Councils.

Significant alterations are planned to the structure of Local Councils. The report questions both the number of directors and the salaries that they command. It also recommends that some cabinet positions become part-time. Also under consideration is the £13,000 annual salary paid to Councillors for a three day week. The report claims that this figure ‘is a significant extra income’ to people of retirement age, which ‘may help explain the over-representation of councillors over 60. On the other hand, it may only partially compensate someone whose ordinary job is higher paid, or disadvantage a single parent with a part-time job by moving them into a higher tax bracket’.

This announcement comes at the same time that a proposed £10,000 salary increase for AMs is under consultation.

The Paper also criticises the induction and training received by Leaders and Cabinet Members, describing it as ‘patchy and inconsistent at best’. A development scheme is recommended for all new and existing Council Leaders, potential Cabinet Members, and Leaders of the Opposition. This scheme will be run by the Welsh Government’s Public Service Academy.

Fixed terms of office will be introduced. A councillor will only be able to serve for five five-year terms, while Cabinet members may only serve two consecutive terms. While the paper claims that this will lead to more competitive elections and a more diverse pool of candidates, it has yet to be considered at Assembly or National level. The Chief Executive, an appointed rather than elected position, would also be subject to a maximum term.

The role played by Community Councils is set to increase. However, many smaller Community Councils could be forced to merge. These councils would then have to pass a number of ‘competency tests’. For example, two-thirds of the councillors must have been declared elected, and the minimum annual budget must be £200,000. Community Councils declared competent will ‘acquire a number of privileges over other Community Councils, including being able to raise money by charging for discretionary services’.

Community Councils will also be encouraged to work in conjunction with public services and volunteer groups. Land and leisure facilities currently under Local Authority control will in some cases be transferred to these groups in a return to the ‘cooperative’ methods currently being reintroduced in areas of London and other major cities.

News

Pembroke Dock man sent to Crown Court over alleged ABH assault

Published

2 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Charge relates to incident in the town last weekend

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Darren Markes, aged 47, of High Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Markes is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act.

The charge relates to an alleged incident on Friday (Dec 13) in Pembroke Dock, when it is alleged that Markes assaulted a woman, causing her actual bodily harm.

No plea was entered at the hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegation, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial under the Crime and Disorder Act.

Markes was remanded on conditional bail. Conditions include:

Not contacting a witness, directly or indirectly
Reporting to Pembroke Dock police station every Wednesday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Living and sleeping each night at his home address

He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 16) at 9:30am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Crime

Aberystwyth man denies criminal damage charge over Cardigan gallery window

Published

2 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Alleged incident said to have taken place on Bridge Street

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has denied a charge of criminal damage relating to an alleged incident in Cardigan.

Ricky Myers, aged 27, of Jasper House, Aberystwyth, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Myers is accused of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The charge relates to an incident on Saturday (Aug 24, 2024) at Manchester House on Bridge Street, Cardigan, where it is alleged that a window at the Cardigan Gallery was damaged. The property is said to belong to Peter Austin.

Myers pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further case management, and Myers was remanded on conditional bail, with a condition that he live and sleep each night at his home address.

He is due to return to court at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 2:00pm.

Crime

Pembroke Dock man remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on string of offences

Published

2 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Harassment charge and three assaults among cases listed for Llanelli court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing after admitting a series of offences, including harassment and assaults.

Tony Brundrett, aged 21, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard Brundrett has pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act. The charge alleges that between Tuesday (Sep 17) and Thursday (Oct 31) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a female, including attending her home address and contacting her by text message.

He has also admitted assault by beating against the same female, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday (May 21) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, and a further assault by beating against a second female on Thursday (Oct 30), also at Spring View.

Magistrates were additionally told that Brundrett faces a further allegation of common assault against a third female, said to have occurred on Tuesday (Dec 9) at Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock. No plea was recorded to that matter in the register entry.

Brundrett has also pleaded guilty to a number of offences linked to an incident in Haverfordwest on Saturday (Nov 16). These include:

Aggravated vehicle taking, involving a Vauxhall Corsa, with damage caused before recovery
Using a motor vehicle without insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Criminal damage, involving a window belonging to Pembrokeshire County Council

He was remanded in custody, with the next hearing listed at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 31) at 10:00am.