Business
Welsh Conservatives call to reverse business rates relief rebuffed by Senedd
THE SENEDD rebuffed calls for the Welsh Government to reverse plans to slash business rates relief for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
Peter Fox led a Conservative debate, raising concerns about business rates relief falling from 75% to 40% under Welsh ministers’ draft 2024-25 spending plans,
The Monmouth MS urged the Welsh Government to use money from Westminster to support businesses and protect jobs by keeping the 75% rate.
Mr Fox warned that businesses in Wales will pay almost twice as much in non-domestic rates than if they were based in England.
The former leader of Monmouthshire County Council told the chamber it is vital Welsh businesses are not penalised and disadvantaged.
He said: “For years, businesses in Wales have been disadvantaged by the highest business rates in Great Britain, with both small and large businesses paying the same rate – both of which are higher than the rate that small businesses pay in both England and Scotland.”
Luke Fletcher, for Plaid Cymru, urged ministers to move away from non-domestic rates, saying the system simply does not work and has not moved with the times.
He called for greater flexibility to ensure, for example, that out-of-town shopping centres and supermarkets pay more into the system.
The South Wales West MS also raised concerns about an imbalance between brick-and-mortar businesses and those that operate online.
Janet Finch-Saunders quoted Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, as saying the trade body is seeing a 10% higher business failure rate in Wales.
The Conservative MS for Aberconwy accused Labour and Plaid Cymru of being “busy brainstorming novel ways to bankrupt our businesses”.
She said: “This represents nothing more than gross negligence, a shambles of a budget that is a death sentence to many businesses.“
Hefin David, a Labour backbencher who represents Caerphilly, highlighted the wider context of 14 years of austerity and soaring inflation.
He criticised UK Government tax cuts at a time when public services are “on their knees”, highlighting the International Monetary Fund’s call for a spending boost.
Dr David said the Welsh Government is prioritising the NHS, social care and schools: “The only way you can have functioning public services – I don’t even mean world-class or good public services, but functioning public services – is if those budgets are protected.”
Rebecca Evans, Wales’ finance minister, said business rates raise £1.1bn a year – a non-trivial contribution to the funding required to sustain public services.
She said the Welsh Government has had to make difficult decisions to refocus funding towards core front-line services but still provides £384m in rates support.
Ms Evans pointed to ministers’ decision to cap inflation of the multiplier at 5% next year, adding an additional £18m recurring cost to the Welsh budget.
She told the Senedd: “We’re also investing £78m to provide that fifth successive year of rate relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in 2024-25.
“And let’s remember that that was always a temporary scheme.”
Ms Evans said the Welsh Government continues to explore the idea of land value tax as a possible long-term replacement for non-domestic rates.
The Tory motion was voted down, 14-36, following the debate on January 31. While Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government amendments were agreed, the motion as amended was not.
Business
Welsh Water slammed after thousands were left without water
DWR CYMRU has been slammed by a councillor who warned people “could have died” after thousands were left without water.
Tens of thousands of residents across the county were left without water after a mains burst at a treatment plant in Dolgarrog last week.
Welsh Water said supplies were restored to homes and businesses on Monday morning.
The chairwoman of Conwy’s finance committee slammed Dwr Cymru during a meeting at the council’s Bodlondeb HQ on Monday.
Old Colwyn councillor Cheryl Carlisle thanked volunteers and council staff for pulling together before calling for a public inquiry into the crisis.
Security guards
Cllr Carlisle claimed those in poor health had been left without water and said security guards at water stations had turned people away with small children.
“I’d like to take the time to thank everyone that’s being involved in the crisis in Conwy over the last six days, the selfless volunteers, everyone that provided water and help to the elderly and vulnerable, and also the engineers for fixing the problem and our social care staff and the other staff who have helped keep our nursing homes going, our care homes, and (looked after) the most vulnerable,” she said.
“On a different note, there will need to be an inquiry, won’t there, into the crisis response from Dwr Cymru.
“You cannot fault the engineers, but the delays in basic organisation, like setting up the water stations.
“It was 48 hours in my particular community. Without the volunteers, it would have been very, very serious, indeed, for those with health conditions.”
She added: “The priority lists of Dwr Cymru did not work.
“There were people on it that were still undelivered (not had water delivered) as was last night [Sunday], cancer patients, dialysis patients. This is completely unacceptable.
“Security guards turned away members (of the public) with little children. That was absolutely unacceptable as well.
“I think this has brought out the very best in people and, in just a few, the very worst. There needs to be a clear disaster plan going forward.”
Cllr Carlisle then insisted an inquiry was needed after Cllr Goronwy Edwards suggested a review.
She added: “I think it needs to be something more than a review, given the seriousness.
“People could have died, those with (serious health conditions). I don’t think we should downplay anything until everyone has come through this intact.”
Conwy Council leader Cllr Charlie McCoubrey also thanked those councillors and members of the public “who had gone above and beyond to look after their communities”.
He added the authority was now in a recovery phase with some households still without water and some schools affected.
“Clearly, with any major incident, questions need to be asked about could this have been prevented, was the response adequate, and what happens in the future in terms of how we coordinate things and prevent incidents like that happening again?”
Cllr McCoubrey said he was working with Welsh Government to get answers from Dwr Cymru.
Report by Richard Evans, Local Democracy Reporter
Business
Decision due on development of buildings at Trewern Farm
A CALL to let a 950-herd north Pembrokeshire dairy farm keep a farm shed built without permission over a decade ago is expected to be approved later this month.
In an application recommended for conditional approval at Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee meeting of January 29, Trewern Farms Ltd is seeking permission for the retention of the agricultural building and lay down area at Trewern Farm, Felindre Farchog.
The application is part of a wider complex planning history associated with the site.
A report for Park planners says: “Trewern Farm is operated as a zero grazing style dairy farm with 304 hectares located on two separate parcels of land, one at Trewern with the remainder being at Penpedwast, adjacent to Castell Henllys. The farm has a dairy herd of approximately 950 cows.
“Trewern Farm has expanded significantly over recent years with many of the buildings and structures on site having been erected without the prior benefit of planning permission, and having since been regularised through a combination of retrospective applications and certificates of lawfulness.
“The building subject of this application is believed to have been constructed in 2014. The site currently comprises an agricultural shed immediately adjoining another shed and is used for cubicle housing.
“A slurry lagoon, silage clamps and 12 of the newer agricultural buildings are now lawful as Certificates of Lawfulness were granted for these whilst the Authority was awaiting an Environmental Impact Assessment to be submitted by the applicants for the 2015 planning application to regularise the unauthorised buildings.
“However, this is the last of the outstanding agricultural buildings which are not lawful, and an enforcement notice was served in May 2018 requiring its removal. This notice was appealed in November 2019 and is currently being held in abeyance by the Planning Inspectorate.”
It says the building referred to in the application “is described as being designed to house cattle in a series of cubicles, and forms part of a longer set of buildings running along the southern section of the farming complex,” adding: “The livestock numbers are not proposed for increase as a result of this application but will be as secured [by a planning consent] restricted to no more than 960 milking cows with 1020 maximum excluding calves.”
Local community council Nevern has previously said it has “grave concerns” about the application, asking, amongst other things, how the 960 cattle limit will be policed and important nearby woodland will be protected.
The application was previously recommended for approval at the park’s December meeting, but was deferred as not all received documentation had been published on the national park’s planning website.
The application is now returning to the January meeting, again recommended for conditional approval.
Business
Castell Howell launches new Food Show at Welsh International Culinary Championships
CASTELL HOWELL has launched a new Food Show, showcasing the food trends and innovations that the hospitality industry can expect to see in 2025 and giving visitors a preview of its growing range of Welsh food and drink products.
The new industry event is taking place alongside the 2025 Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) at the International Conference Centre in Newport from 20-22 January.
Castell Howell managing director Matt Lewis said: “The Castell Howell Food Show will be a new highlight in this three-day celebration of Welsh culinary excellence, hospitality skills, and innovation. As the largest wholesale supplier of Welsh Food & Drink, it gives us the opportunity to champion our excellent Welsh producers, to support hospitality customers in developing their businesses and, ultimately, to help our communities and local economies throughout Wales to thrive.
“Visitors will have the unique opportunity to engage directly with Castell Howell specialists representing every aspect of our business from insights into the latest trends, to discovering what’s in the pipeline for Welsh food and drink producers in 2025,” he said.
The Castell Howell Food Show will be a new annual event in the calendar at the start of the year, serving as a preview for its larger established trade shows, hosted at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli and Parc Eirias in Conwy.
The Welsh International Culinary Championships, organised by the Culinary Association of Wales, bring together the nation’s most talented craft chefs, butchers, and front-of-house professionals for three days of demanding competition. The 2025 WICC also hosts the Skills Competition Wales hospitality finals, showcasing the country’s top apprentices.
Deputy First Minister, with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said:
“These two events promise to be a fantastic showcase for Wales’ food and drink industry. It’s an opportunity to celebrate Wales’ culinary excellence and the strength of our hospitality sector. Castell Howell plays an important role in supporting Welsh farmers, producers and the hospitality sector – and I wish them well with this new event.”
Further information about the event is at foodshow.wales
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