Senedd to get more members after expansion plan approved

Published

2 years ago

May 9, 2024

LANDMARK legislation to increase the size of the Senedd and change its voting system cleared the final hurdle in the Welsh Parliament.

MSs voted 43-16 in favour of the members and elections bill, securing a necessary two-thirds supermajority, following a debate on May 8.

Under the bill, the number of Senedd members will increase from 60 to 96 in response to concerns that the relatively small size of the legislature leads to ineffective scrutiny.

The maximum number of Welsh Government ministers will increase to 17 – not including the first minister and counsel general – with powers to further increase this to 19.

The 32 constituencies in Wales that will be used in the forthcoming general election will be paired to create 16 for the 2026 Senedd poll, with each returning six members.

Mick Antoniw, who is counsel general, the Welsh Government’s chief legal adviser, said Welsh democracy has grown, developed and matured over the past 25 years.

Mr Antoniw told the chamber, or Siambr, that while the responsibilities of the Senedd have grown, its capacity has not – remaining the smallest of the UK’s devolved legislatures.

“The bill before us changes that,” he said. “It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in our democracy by creating a modern Senedd.”

Mr Antoniw said the bold reforms will give the Senedd greater ability and capacity to hold the Welsh Government to account as well as ensure that every vote counts.

He argued laws are best forged in the fires of parliamentary scrutiny, saying: “I think we’ve seen that in this bill’s own legislative passage.”

Darren Millar, who is the Conservatives’ shadow constitution minister, described the bill as a deeply flawed piece of legislation which will undermine Welsh democracy.

Wales will move away from the current additional-member electoral system which uses a mix of first-past-the-post constituencies and regional party lists.

Future Senedd elections will instead use a full form of proportional representation, with Wales becoming the first UK nation to entirely scrap the first-past-the-post system.

Under the new closed-list system, People will vote for political parties rather than individuals and parties will control the order of candidates on lists.

Mr Millar, whose party was alone in voting against the bill, said the reforms will damage the relationship between the public and their elected representatives.

He told the Siambr the closed-list system will strip away a fundamental right enjoyed by generations of Welsh voters to choose an individual candidate.

The Tory MS for Clwyd West said: “It is the biggest power grab from the people of Wales that it has ever suffered in the history of Welsh democracy.”

Mr Millar criticised the “shameful” costs of expansion which have been estimated at almost £18m a year, suggesting it would be better spent on schools and hospitals.

He said: “That money instead will be spent on luxury offices and pay for 36 more politicians, their entourage of staff and the structure needed here at the Senedd to support them.

“Spending £120m on more politicians over the review period is a luxury we can ill afford.”

Heledd Fychan, for Plaid Cymru, said the long-awaited reforms will strengthen opposition members’ ability to hold Welsh ministers accountable.

Ms Fychan, who represents South Wales Central, stressed that the reforms are not the end of the journey, with a review to follow the 2026 election.

She said Plaid Cymru will continue to support – and campaign for – the single-transferable vote (STV) electoral system, which would allow voters to rank candidates.

Ms Fychan added that her party will hold the Welsh Government to a commitment to bring forward a recall system, which would allow voters to remove members between elections.

She said: “There is still work to be done to strengthen our democracy but the step that we are taking today is a huge step forward – not only for this Senedd but also for our nation.”

Jane Dodds agreed the bill will enhance scrutiny as well as ensure proper representation for each and every one of Wales’ diverse communities.

The Lib Dems’ leader in Wales welcomed the “outdated” first-past-the-post system being binned but warned the proposed replacement is fundamentally flawed.

Ms Dodds said: “The introduction of closed party lists risks robbing voters of true choice.”

The Mid and West Wales MS argued STV would be the fairest and most accountable system, with every vote carrying equal weight and power.

Ms Dodds said she would support the legislation but she urged fellow members to view it as only the first step on a journey towards a stronger, fully democratic parliament for Wales.

Mike Hedges, a Labour backbencher who represents Swansea East, pointed out the practical problems of having as few as four members on some Senedd committees.

He said that day’s public accounts committee meeting would have had insufficient members to proceed if he had to go to the toilet, warning: “You cannot run an organisation like that.”

Mr Hedges described the reforms as akin to reverse gerrymandering, suggesting Labour will find it hard to win and the new system will consistently produce a hung Senedd.

The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent, officially becoming an Act, later this year.

MSs are considering two related bills: the elections bill, which would introduce automatic vote registration, and the candidate lists bill on gender quotas in Senedd elections.

Future of Milford Haven Library set to be secured by agreement

Published

10 minutes ago

December 19, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to residents for a potential £3.35 annual contribution to help support a town library has been overwhelmingly supported, councillors heard.

In a submitted question to Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett, heard at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, fellow Milford Haven councillor Cllr Alan Dennison asked: “I and many residents of Milford are deeply concerned about the drastic cut in funding for the Milford library, which has hindered its ability to function effectively, especially given its lack of a permanent location since its sale years ago.

“Many residents have voiced their dissatisfaction with the request for over £3 weekly contributions to keep the library operational for another year, particularly while we see ongoing financial support for Haverfordwest.

“As a councillor for Milford and responsible cabinet member, you are aware of the PCC’s plans for the Haverfordwest library.

“Are you not concerned, as your constituents are, about the insufficient investment in our town’s library, especially in light of the seemingly unlimited funds directed towards Haverfordwest and can you identify what plans are in place to support Milford library going forward?”

Cllr Sinnett responded by saying the county council was working in partnership with the town council and Milford Haven Port Authority to consider options to improve the financial sustainability of the library.

Milford Haven’s library has been based at the town’s Cedar Court for the past 16 years, with its lease running up to 2034, members heard.

He said the cost referred to were a town council survey of residents to see if they were willing to contribute, through the town council part of the overall council tax bill, towards the library, at a cost of £3.35 per year, with more than 89 per cent of responses favourable.

He said Haverfordwest was “not immune” from any potential cuts and cost savings, but funding had been secured to address antisocial behaviour at that library.

Business

Community council objections to Tenby Lidl store scheme

Published

16 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for a new store on the edge of Tenby by retail giant Lidl, which has seen objections from the local community council, are likely to be heard next year.

In an application recently lodged with Pembrokeshire County Council back in October, Lidl GB Ltd, through agent CarneySweeney, seeks permission for a new 1,969sqm store on land at Park House Court, Narberth Road, New Hedges/Tenby, to the north of the Park Court Nursing Home.

The proposals for the latest specification Lidl store, which includes 103 parking spaces, would create 40 jobs, the applicants say.

The application follows draft proposals submitted in 2024 and public consultations on the scheme, with a leaflet drop delivered to 8,605 local properties; an information website, with online feedback form; and a public exhibition, held last December at the De Valence Pavillion in Tenby, with a follow-up community event held at New Hedges Village Hall, close to the site, publicised through an additional postcard issued to 2,060 properties.

Some 1,365 responses have been received, with 89 per cent of respondents expressing support for the proposals, the applicants say.

A supporting statement says: “Lidl is now exceptionally well established in the UK with the Company operating c.980 stores from sites and premises both within and outside town centres. Its market share continues to increase substantially, and the company is expanding its store network considerably. The UK operational model is based firmly on the success of Lidl’s operations abroad with more than 10,800 stores trading across Europe.

It adds: “The granting of planning permission for the erection of a new Lidl food store would increase the retail offer and boost the local economy. The new Lidl food store would create up to 40 employment opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds, providing opportunities for training and career development. This in turn will create an upward spiral of economic benefits.”

Local community council St Mary Out Liberty Community Council has formally objected to the scheme, saying that, while it supports the scheme for a Lidl store in principle, recognising “the economic benefits a new retail store could bring,” it says the proposed location “is unsuitable, conflicts with planning policy, and cannot be supported in its current form”.

Its objections add: “The A478 is heavily congested in peak tourist months. A supermarket would worsen congestion, increase turning movements, and heighten risks to pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency access.”

It also raises concerns on the potential impact through “noise, lighting, traffic disturbance, and loss of quiet amenity” on a neighbouring residential care home.

An initial assessment by Pembrokeshire County Council, highlighted concerns about the visual impact, with the authority’s landscape officer commenting that the store would introduce “an intense urban function into an otherwise rural context”.

The report added: “It is not considered to be compatible with the character of the site and the area within which it is located; and furthermore, will lead to a harmful visual impact on the setting of the National Park.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

Local Government

£4m Plaid Cymru deal boost to Pembrokeshire council coffers

Published

20 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PEMBROKESHIRE’S financial situation for next year is some £4m better off after a higher settlement from the Welsh Government, but the council still faces difficult decisions, councillors heard.

While council tax makes up a proportion of the council’s annual revenue, a crucial area of funding is the Aggregate External Finance (AEF) rate from Welsh Government.

Pembrokeshire was to receive a 2.3 per cent increase on its settlement, a total of £244,318,000, amounting to an extra £5,493,000, placing it at joint 13th of the 22 local authorities in Wales.

Now, following a Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru agreement, local authorities including Pembrokeshire have received a better financial settlement.

Speaking at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, while presenting a report on the outline draft medium term financial plan (MTFP) 2026-27 to 2028-29, Cabinet member for finance Cllr Alistair Cameron said the recent rise in the financial settlement from the Welsh Government had decreased the expected funding gap for the next financial year for the county from £17.7m to £13.6m, but stressed: “There are still increased pressures we are going to have to face.”

His report for members outlined some of the pressures faced by the council in setting its budget for the next financial year.

“Based on the revised projected funding gap of £13.6m, it is evident that major budget savings as well as a significant Council Tax increase will be required in order to deliver a balanced budget for 2026-27. The lower the Band D Council Tax increase, the higher the budget savings requirement will be, with the consequential adverse impact on the provision of Council services and on the medium-term financial sustainability of the council.”

His report also noted the decision in October by members to cut the council tax premium on second homes from 150 to 125 per cent, which on its own has increased the funding gap for 2026-27 by £1.3m.

The report, listing the many pressures and potential savings, said that where possible, discretionary fees and charges income has been budgeted to increase by 3.8 per cent, with any increases above this level included as part of the budget savings options presented.

The report for members, prior to the revised settlement from Welsh Government, gave council tax increase options ranging from five to 10 per cent with 7.5 per cent highlighted as the most favoured option, the 7.5 rate equating to a £2.38 a week increase for the average Band D property; each one per cent increase or decrease in council tax being worth £0.908m for council coffers.

Leader of the Conservative group on the council Cllr Di Clements made a plea to the leader, calling on the council to use the extra money from Welsh Government to “contribute to making this authority financially sustainable in the long term,” adding: “We know it’s tough out there for our council tax-payers, let’s hopefully give them a break this year.”

Independent Group leader Cllr Huw Murphy said the better settlement was “a huge sigh of relief” for the council, adding: “The budget negotiations still won’t be any easier because we’ve had this pot of money; [but] we have to applaud Plaid Cymru on this.”

A long string of recommendations essentially noting the report, but including the fees and charges increase, was moved by Cllr Cameron, seconded by Leader Cllr Jon Harvey, backed by members by 46 votes to one, with three abstentions.

The actual setting of the budget and related council tax level along with any potential savings and cuts, will be decided at a later date, with a public consultation running to January 4, followed by committee scrutiny ahead of Cabinet considering a revised draft budget on February 9, before it is recommended to full council on February 20.