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The Welsh Government: ‘Inconsistent’ on councils
LEIGHTON ANDREWS’ apparently haphazard approach to ramming through radical change to local government in Wales has come under heavy criticism from opposition AM’s.
Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies told The Herald: “Leighton Andrews’ Local Government white paper is certainly looking to make some bold and interesting changes. There’s certainly a need for fresh blood and greater diversity in local government, but a ban on some candidates standing again may not be the fairest or most effective way to introduce younger candidates. Indeed, it’s a bit rich that the Welsh Government with some of the world’s longest serving ministers is proposing a limit on cabinet tenure of 10 years.”
Mr Davies continued: “However, there are some reforms which are also welcome. Pay levels for the most senior officers in Welsh councils have been raging out of control for some time now, at taxpayers’ expense and without any intervention from the Welsh Government to exercise restraint.”
He concluded: “A change in Labour’s local government culture is well-overdue and I, along with my colleagues at the Assembly will be monitoring the proposals in this white paper very carefully.”
Plaid Cymru Local Government spokesperson Rhodri Glyn Thomas observed: “Attempts to address the issue of senior officer pay in Local Government are long overdue and Plaid Cymru welcomes the Labour Government’s decision to heed Plaid demands for action. The wider issue of reorganisation of Local Government should be focused on improving the delivery of services and enhancing democratic accountability. I look forward to considering these proposals in more detail.
Sounding a note of caution, he concluded: “There is a danger that we see the Minister for Public Services jumping from one thing to another. First we had the Williams Commission, then he called on Local Authorities to propose voluntary mergers, they were turned down, now we are given a new introduction to look at management performance. This Labour Government needs to offer a clear vision of the future of Local Government and the delivery of public service delivery in Wales.”
Angela Burns said: “The Local Government White Paper raises some interesting proposals which will need rigorous scrutiny. However my concern is that it is yet another raft of potential changes on top of the Williams Review of boundaries and the many other initiatives currently set in train by Labour. I am not sure that the White Paper have time to be turned into a draft Bill then final Bill before the next Assembly election so it will be another costly exercise resulting in nothing.”
She suggested, however, that Labour and other parties were Johnny-come-latelies on pay restraint: “I thought it was ironic that one of the ambitions in the White Paper is to give Welsh Government tighter controls on the remuneration of Chief Executives and other Chief Officers. Given the scandals that have rocked Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire that is to be welcomed. However the Welsh Government, Labour backbenchers, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats all voted down a Welsh Conservative amendment to the 2013 Local Democracy (Wales) Bill which could have protected the Taxpayer from such behaviour.”
She concluded: “I find their current protestations and their actions inconsistent!”
Among the more startling proposals is the prospect of the Welsh Government time-limiting the time that Chief Executives for Welsh Councils can stay in post. A senior Pembrokeshire councillor has suggested that the idea is a non-starter and that far from broadening the diversity of the pool from which senior management can be drawn it would significantly constrict it, not least as such a policy inherently assumes that it is only older managers within local government would look to occupy such a post on such terms.
Former Pembrokeshire Chief Executive Bryn Parry-Jones, who is perhaps not the best example to rely upon, was in his mid-30’s when appointed to the post of Chief Executive of the then Llanelli Borough Council in 1991.
WLGA spokesperson Bob Wellington responded: “The WLGA recognises and supports the need to tackle the widespread challenges around diversity and disengagement in democracy generally in Welsh society. The principle of extending more power and a greater say to local people will be central to democratic renewal in Wales.”
Mr Wellington continued: “We need consistency across public services in Wales and equal treatment within the democratic sphere. The WLGA wants to see the difficult role of councillors properly valued.”
He concluded: “Any future changes to the role of local government must acknowledge the hugely challenging financial climate it operates within. Councils will also push to ensure local communities are offered a full say when it comes to developing a shared vision for the future of local public services in Wales.”
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Independent Alun Wills wins Prendergast by-election by 39 votes

HAVERFORDWEST’S Prendergast ward has a new county councillor after Independent candidate Alun Wills emerged victorious in a closely contested six-way by-election.
Wills secured the seat with 199 votes (31.6%), defeating five other candidates: Kaleb Jenkins (Welsh Liberal Democrats, 160 votes), Mike Mathias (Welsh Conservative Party, 136 votes), Scott Thorley (Reform UK, 71 votes), Alison Tudor (Welsh Labour, 57 votes), and James Henry Purchase (Wales Green Party, 8 votes).
The by-election, held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, was triggered by the resignation of former Conservative councillor Andrew Edwards. Edwards stepped down in December 2024 following a controversial tenure marred by allegations of racism. In 2023, he faced public backlash after reportedly stating that “all white men should have black slaves.” Although he withdrew from the Conservative group and served as an independent councillor following the scandal, he ultimately resigned from his role, citing family reasons.
The Herald at the time questioned if the recording of him saying those words was created by using Artificial Intelligence.
A shift in representation

Edwards originally won the Prendergast seat for the Conservatives in 2022, securing a decisive victory over Labour. However, his departure and the controversy surrounding his comments resulted in a highly competitive race that ultimately saw the Conservatives lose their grip on the ward.
Wills’ victory as an independent marks a significant political shift, reflecting voter dissatisfaction and a changing political landscape in Haverfordwest.
Priorities for the new councillor
Speaking after his win, Wills vowed to “insist on council tax value for money” and pledged to do his “utmost to revive the fortunes of Haverfordwest town centre.”
He will take office at a time when Haverfordwest’s regeneration remains a key concern for residents. Major projects such as the Western Quayside redevelopment and the proposed Public Transport Interchange are already in motion, with the aim of boosting the local economy and improving connectivity.
Additionally, Wills is expected to focus on tackling rising council tax costs, an issue that has sparked growing frustration among residents.
With an independent now representing the ward, the political landscape in Pembrokeshire continues to evolve. The question remains whether this result signals a broader trend of voters shifting away from traditional party politics.
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Crown Estate profits soar – but Wales sees little return, says MP

THE LAND and sea assets in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion are amongst the most lucrative of those owned by the Crown Estate.
In 2023, they helped accumulate a Welsh financial handover totalling £853m, resulting in a record net profit to the UK public finance coffers of £1.1billion. This represented a marked increase in Wales’ contribution, compared to its 2007 asset value of just £21.1m.
The escalation is being driven by the rising demand for renewable energy projects, and with the offshore investments that are currently taking place in seabed of south Pembrokeshire, Wales’ contribution to the Crown Estate looks set to soar even further
But how much of this contribution finds its way back to Wales? The answer, sadly, appears scant.
Instead of finding their way back to the Welsh public purse, profits generated from Wales’ green wealth are being distributed to the HM Treasury and the monarch’s Sovereign Grant, which funds a handful of senior members of the Royal family. In 2023-24, the sovereign grant amounted to £86.3m.
Now, in a bid to ensure greater transparency and a fairer financial management, pressure is being put on the Government to allow the Crown Estate to be devolved to Wales, putting it on equal footing with Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“The value of the Crown Estate in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion is hugely significant,” commented Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion and Preseli.
“The Crown Estate owns 65% of Wales’s foreshore and riverbeds, and more than 50,000 acres of land. And a considerable amount of this lies in the foreshores around south Pembrokeshire and the more rural areas of Ceredigion.
“Welsh County Councils, including Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, are having to make payments to the Crown in leasing fees and in 2023, this sum was nearly £300.000 Yet this is happening at a time when local services in Wales are under severe pressure. It doesn’t strike me as fair that we have these significant natural assets which are generating significant amounts of profit, yet they’re not returning back to Wales.
“The UK government says it’s spending money here, but when it comes to the provision of health, education and social services, Wales only gets a Barnett formula of roughly just under 5%.”
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In 2024, Scotland, which devolved from the Crown Estate in 2017, saw more than £100m enter its coffers as a result of its offshore energy.
“And the potential for Wales is just as significant,” said Ben Lake. “Engineers and experts are all pointing to the fact that the regeneration of renewable energy in Wales is going to be big and over the next ten years, the waters around Wales are going to see some of the biggest developments in offshore wind. But unless the Crown Estate is devolved, Wales is going to be severely shortchanged.”
The Crown Estate owns more than £603m of land in Wales which includes:
65% of Wales’ coast and riverbeds;
- The seabed which extends up to 12 miles out to sea;
- 50,000 acres of land;
- 250,000 acres of mineral deposits and
- All gold and silver deposits.
Last week Westminster blocked the transfer of Crown Estate management to the Welsh Government by voting down an amendment tabled by Plaid Cymru to the Crown Estate Bill.
The Liberal Democrats also tabled an amendment calling for Crown Estate assets to be handed to Wales. But both amendments were blocked by Labour MPs.
The stance contradicted recent comments from Wales’ First Minister, Baroness Eluned Morgan, who said she was “fighting very hard” for more control.
The Bill is expected to return to the House of Commons later this month for further debate and a bid to enforce a vote on the issue,
“Even if we’re able to get a small percentage of what Scotland is generating, Wales will be able to start investing in its public services given the acute pressures that are currently being placed on the NHS and the county councils,” concluded Ben Lake. “This will go a long way to alleviate the pressures they’re under.
“And further down the line, it’s possible that Wales could then start considering its own Wealth Fund, similar to what has happened in Norway as a result of its oil and gas licensing. Through its profits and interest, the Norwegian Wealth Fund has become one of the largest in the world. In 2024 it generated $220 billion to subsidise a significant amount into public services
“And Wales is no different.
“It’s now time for the money that’s being generated from Wales’ natural assets to come back for the benefit of the people who live here.”
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Wales set to ban supermarket junk food promotions

New rules could reshape the way snacks are sold
SHOPPERS in Wales may soon find fewer tempting offers on unhealthy snacks as the Welsh government plans to ban the promotion of junk food in supermarkets.
Under the proposed regulations, retailers with 50 or more employees will be prohibited from placing sugary, salty, and fatty foods near tills, store entrances, or at the end of aisles. Similar restrictions will apply online, preventing junk food promotions from appearing on homepage banners, category pages, or checkout screens.
The crackdown, which could come into effect in March 2026 if approved by the Senedd next month, would also spell the end for buy-one-get-one-free deals and free refills on sugary drinks.
Health Secretary Jeremy Miles defended the measures, highlighting concerns about childhood obesity. “With nearly a quarter of children in Wales overweight or obese by the time they start school, we must take action to help people make healthier choices,” he said.
Retailers who fail to comply with the new rules could face fines of up to £2,500.
Industry concerns
The proposed legislation is similar to rules introduced in England in 2022 and follows a consultation launched last year. However, the Welsh Retail Consortium has raised concerns, particularly over limits on promotional pricing, arguing that price competition benefits customers.
“Restricting meal deal offers and category promotions could impact affordability for consumers,” a spokesperson warned.
Some smaller businesses, such as independent sweet shops and specialist chocolatiers, will be exempt from the restrictions.
The Welsh government says the new rules are designed to curb impulse buying of unhealthy foods and encourage better dietary habits across the nation. However, with opposition from some in the retail sector, the debate over balancing public health and consumer choice is set to continue.
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