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Wedding fees and charges agreed despite private sector concerns

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CABINET members have approved changes in charges for the council’s registration services although some councillors said they were uncomfortable about giving their support.

Councillor Tessa Hodgson said they needed to consider the difficulties that private businesses had been having while Cllr Neil Prior said there were other areas they should be looking at.

Cllr Phil Baker thanked the officers at the registration services for their hard work over what he described as an ‘extremely difficult 12 months’.

He added: “The report seeks cabinet approval for the changes to the registration service fees and charges. The fees and charges are reviewed annually to ensure they are set at the optimal level that achieves full cost recovery where appropriate but is also mindful of the need for market pricing in a small number of situations in order to stay competitive.

“I would like to confirm that as a result of the pandemic, the majority of bookings for summer 2021 are the postponed ceremonies from 2020 and last year’s fees will be honoured in these cases.”

Cllr Tessa Hodgson said: “I think it is important that we acknowledge the difficulties that private businesses in the wedding sectors will have faced this year and the year to come. They will be in extreme financial difficulty and I think we need to be extremely mindful that we are entering a competitive market but with the cushion that we can afford to take some losses in the first year which a private company is not able to do.

“I’m going to abstain from voting on this today because I think we do need to consider the private companies who work in what is an extremely competitive field.”

Cllr Phil Baker understood her concerns but said it was going to be a ‘bumper year’ for everyone.

Scolton Manor will also be looking to host wedding this year but it was highlighted that they would only looking to host around ten so it would not undermine the private sector.

Cllr Neil Prior added that he was uncomfortable with the charges stating that there were other areas to be offering subsidies rather than for a small number of weddings.

When it was put to the vote, there were eight votes in favour, Cllr Neil Prior voted against and Cllr Tessa Hodgson abstained.

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property

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A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.

Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.

The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.

The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.

The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.

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News

Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’

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THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”

The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.

Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”

NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.

“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.

“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”

The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”

This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.

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Community

Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed

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RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.

The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.

Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.

Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.

The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.

With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.

“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”

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