News

‘Terrible piece of legislation’ says councillor

Published

11 years ago

November 4, 2014

Tom Sinclair

Outspoken: Cllr Reg Owens

AT THURSDAY’S children and families overview and scrutiny meeting, members discussed issuing penalty notices for unauthorised school absences.

A number of councillors had questions on the subject. Cllr Reg Owens was the most outspoken of the committee on the subject and raised a number of questions. He said: “This system would have been completely unnecessary if, a few years ago, parents of particularly bad attending children were prosecuted. To pile on a £60 fine is just going to add to the misery to some of these families. The decision on issuing a notice should be made by a three-person committee from this committee but we should have a say as members on whether or not that fine should be issued.”

Council officer Jake Morgan added: “That may require a constitutional change. We would be better off in providing detailing scrutiny on fines that have been issued. We are not envisaging vast numbers of fines being issued. This is part of a whole range of issues that are designed to improve attendance. This system is relatively untested and how we implement it is all-important. We encourage people to have dialogue with us before-hand. If a child has two weeks away in every school year, that’s six months they will have missed, that is quite significant.”

Cllr Owens responded: “We’re presuming that the biggest reason for low attendance is kids being taken out of school. Some parents aren’t strong enough to enforce their child to go to school. This is a terrible piece of legislation and to treat it as a doubleyellow line fine is ridiculous.” Discussions then turned to military personnel with Cllr Owens asking: “Why is it an exception for military personnel, why can’t the mother take the child out on holiday?” Jake Morgan replied: “It wouldn’t be appropriate to draw a list of circumstances. This could be one of the scenarios and it would be up to us to decide”.

Cllr Guy Woodham said: “Schools may receive complaints about penalties being issued; is there any guidance on how schools can cope with this?” The committee also discussed discretions that may be given in some cases. Cllr Steve Yelland added: “I’m glad we’re going to show a little bit of discretion in various circumstances”. Cllr Rhys Sinnett added: “Discretion can be good but we have to have some consistency. We are entering in to a mine field and I hope the document gives fairly robust advice.”

Lastly, Cllr Owens asked: “If a parent says that their child is ill, how can you verify that? Something like this will knock down attendance.” Assistant leader for behaviour and attendance, Cara Huggins, said: “There may be some exceptional circumstances, we cannot always verify an illness. We can ask for GP appointment cards and for parents to ring in or provide medical evidence.” Speaking after the meeting Cllr Pat Davies said: “It’s going to be quite a controversial thing and Reg was quite right really, there are some families who have behaviour issues with their children and they try their best to do things with their children.

When I was in school, you called it truant then, they didn’t go to school and there will always be those types of children and that’s for the authority to work with those families and try and help and support to encourage and engage those young people to come to school. I think that’s where the issue may be, not so much middle class families taking their children out on holiday to Spain for a fortnight, that’s one issue but families that are struggling and struggling with young people trying to get them into to school that’s another issue.”

Crime

Drug and weapon charges after Pembroke Dock arrest

Published

6 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Court Reporter

Man remanded in custody following Diamond Street vehicle search

A MAN has been remanded in custody after appearing at Swansea Crown Court charged with drug, weapon and driving offences following an arrest in Pembroke Dock.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers from Pembrokeshire Roads Policing and response teams searched a vehicle on Diamond Street on Saturday (Apr 4).

Following the search, Zamurd Hussain, 43, was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Hussain was later charged with possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, and driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Apr 6), where he was remanded in custody.

His next court appearance is due to take place at Swansea Crown Court at 9:00am on May 8.

Crime

Woman fights order taking four dogs from her

Published

7 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Swansea Crown Court hears appeal after long-running barking dispute in Trefin

A PEMBROKESHIRE woman has told Swansea Crown Court that complaints about her dogs are unfair as she appeals against the sentence imposed on her by magistrates, including the order that led to four of her dogs being taken from her.

Julia Goodgame appeared before His Honour Judge Simon Hughes on Friday (Apr 10) in the latest stage of a long-running case arising from complaints by residents in Trefin about persistent dog barking.

The appeal follows a ruling by Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court in December, when Goodgame, of Bryn Y Derwydd, admitted breaching a Community Protection Notice issued by Pembrokeshire County Council.

Magistrates ordered the immediate forfeiture and seizure of four Border Collies, which Goodgame said were the only dogs in her possession.

The court heard on Friday that residents had complained of constant barking, with only short breaks of around 30 minutes, sometimes continuing until 10:00pm.

The dogs have reportedly remained in kennels since December while the appeal is dealt with.

Goodgame told the court: “My dogs are exceptionally well behaved.”

She also raised concerns about the conditions the animals are being kept in, saying the kennels were exposed to the weather and did not provide a suitable environment.

Goodgame said she had attended conflict resolution classes and had tried her best to resolve the issues raised by neighbours, but said she could not understand why the dogs had not been returned.

The original case followed months of complaints from residents in Trefin about dog noise and control. In addition to the forfeiture order, magistrates imposed a fine, costs and a Criminal Behaviour Order.

The case continues.

News

Plaid Cymru commits to review 182-day rule

Published

7 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SUPPORTING local tourism businesses is key, Plaid Cymru said as it launched its manifesto and confirmed it would review the 182-day threshold for holiday accommodation in Wales.

The party said it would also introduce clear and reasonable national exemptions in cases where accommodation should not be treated as a private home.

Plaid Cymru says many holiday-let business owners in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire are struggling to meet the 182-day threshold each year due to factors beyond their control, including poor weather, and that this is having a serious impact on both their businesses and their wellbeing.

Under the party’s proposals, national exemptions would be introduced to ensure genuine holiday-let operators are treated fairly and given the support needed to help their businesses succeed.

Kerry Ferguson, Plaid Cymru Senedd candidate for Ceredigion Penfro, said: “As a business owner myself, I know how much financial pressure small businesses are under at the moment and the toll that can take on owners, their friends and families.

“We have heard directly from many furnished holiday-let owners in both Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire that lowering the 182-day threshold for overnight stays would make a huge difference to their businesses.

“I am pleased that Plaid Cymru has committed to reviewing the 182-day rule for non-domestic rates in Wales and to introducing national exemptions to help genuine businesses that are unfairly affected by the rule, while excluding self-catering accommodation that cannot be used on the open housing market.”