Politics

Call to bring forward council tax shake-up rejected by Senedd

Published

1 month ago

July 12, 2024

THE SENEDD rejected calls to press ahead with “long overdue” reforms to council tax before the next election despite an “overwhelming” moral case for change.

Peredur Owen Griffiths, Plaid Cymru’s shadow local government secretary, warned council tax imposes a disproportionate burden on poorer households.

He tabled an amendment to the local government finance bill, which would have placed a duty on the Welsh Government to stick to implementing reforms by April 2025.

In mid-May, the Welsh Government pushed back plans – which were jointly agreed with Plaid Cymru – to redesign council tax with the aim of making it fairer until 2028.

Plaid Cymru pulled out of the broad cooperation agreement two days later due to the delay coupled with concerns about donations to Vaughan Gething’s leadership race warchest.

During a debate on July 9, Mr Owen Griffiths urged fellow Senedd members to back his amendment to ease pressure on some of the poorest households in Wales.

He said: “Reflect on the real-world implications of kicking this reform into the long grass, especially for lower income families who are continuing to struggle to make ends meet.”

He warned the delay would condemn those with the least to three years of disproportionately high council tax bills while those with the broadest shoulders do not pay their fair share.

Mr Owen Griffiths told the Senedd: “The moral case for implementing this change is overwhelming and, given the continued financial pressure facing households across the length and breadth of our nation, now is the time to strike whilst the iron’s hot.”

The South Wales East MS accused the Welsh Government of letting an opportunity slip, with parliamentary arithmetic currently in favour and a Senedd election on the horizon in 2026.

Rebecca Evans, for the Welsh Government, described the Plaid Cymru amendment as “too broad to constitute workable or clear law”.

The finance secretary reiterated that a consultation found a clear appetite for a council tax shake-up but over a slower time frame.

Ms Evans said it is no longer feasible to deliver reforms by 2025, adding: “We’re listening to the people of Wales by moving forwards with council tax revaluation and reform in 2028.”

She stressed ministers remain committed to reforming council tax, with the first revaluation of Wales’ 1.5 million homes since 2003 scheduled for 2028 and every five years following.

She told the chamber the local government finance bill will underpin delivery of the proposals developed with Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell as part of the cooperation agreement.

Members voted 12-37 against the amendment.

Peter Fox put forward amendments that would give people a say on “reckless” council tax rises, with a local referendum required for any increase in excess of 5%.

The Conservatives’ shadow local government secretary, who led Monmouthshire Council for more than a decade, said: “Councils can’t keep hiking council tax excessively year on year.

“I put council tax up, I admit it, every year. We had to do that. But there is a limit to how long the public can keep putting their hands in their pockets. Sometimes they need to have a say in if this is right or not, and the councils have to go back to the drawing boards.”

Ms Evans said no council that has held a referendum has been able to proceed with its initial budget needs since the policy was introduced in England in 2012.

She said setting limits in this way effectively becomes a target for local authorities to raise council tax to the maximum allowed rather than carefully considering what is necessary.

Mr Fox’s amendment fell, with 36 against, one abstention and 12 in favour. As did another Tory amendment seeking to enshrine the 25% single person discount within the bill.

If passed, the bill would increase the frequency of business rates revaluations to three years.

Mr Fox also spoke to a Conservative amendment to use new powers in the bill to create a separate business rates multiplier for small businesses.

He said: ”It is important that the differences between small businesses and medium and large businesses are recognised in the rates that they pay.”

The Tory MS for Monmouth added: “We should be really thinking about looking at creating a multiplier for small businesses, as Scotland and England have.”

Plaid Cymru supported the amendment, with Mr Owen Griffiths saying seeking and obtaining powers but not using them has been a recurring trend with the Welsh Government.

Ms Evans said the Welsh Government has no current policy intention to create a small business multiplier, committing to consulting before introducing any such differential.

The amendment was narrowly defeated, with 25 against and 24 in favour.

Following the meeting, Mr Fox warned: “Be in no doubt, Labour has today passed a bill that will result in continued excessive council tax rises for the people of Wales.”

But Ms Evans told the Senedd the bill will deliver meaningful change to council tax and business rates in the short term as well as pave the way for further reforms.

“It’s an opportunity to make a real difference to a taxation system that impacts almost every person and business in the country,” said the finance minister.

The bill now moves onto the fourth and final stage of the Senedd’s legislative process, with a vote of the whole Senedd on the amended version scheduled for July 16.

With Labour and Plaid Cymru’s support, and no legal challenge expected, the bill is likely to be agreed next week before moving on to receive royal assent.

Politics

Haverfordwest Tennis club gets floodlights after vandals closed past venue

Published

13 hours ago

August 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE tennis club has been allowed to erect new floodlights for year-round use after a previous facility used for teaching junior members was closed due to vandalism.

Dean Richards, chairman of Haverfordwest Tennis Club, based at The Parade, Haverfordwest, sought permission for floodlighting for courts 1 and 2, along with an amendment of the lighting source at the two other courts, from metal halide lights to LED lighting.

A supporting statement accompanying the application said: “Haverfordwest Tennis Club has been operating for over 80 years at the current site on The Parade in Haverfordwest.

“The Tennis Club schedules club nights and tennis coaching for members and is available to both junior/adult and veteran members most days of the week, throughout the year.

“The club success is attributed to the dedicated members who maintain/promote the facility, where people from all backgrounds can enjoy the social and health benefits associated with the game.

“The tennis club currently has four tennis courts, two located near to the existing clubhouse (courts 3 & 4) and two located towards the southern boundary (courts 1 & 2).

“At present Courts 3 & 4 have floodlights; these lights are utilised between the months of September to April, with keycode access controls.

“In previous years two courts with lighting were deemed sufficient, as the club used the indoor tennis courts at Tasker Milwood School (The Dome) for members, and coaching for junior members.

“Due to the permanent closure of this facility in 2022 due to vandalism, we now need to provide flood lights to the two remaining courts to retain the current junior coaching program and continue the benefits for existing/future members of the club.”

It said the design of the floodlights at court 1 and 2 was intended “to reduce the visual impact as much as reasonably practicable, and to reduce the wider impact of the lighting on neighbours, to reduce any light spill/glare reduction,” with the lights only used September 1 to the End of April between the hours of 4 and 9pm.

An officer report said: “It is considered that the use of the flood lights should be subject to a time limit condition to ensure that the activities facilitated by their use will not lead to unacceptable noise disturbance for the occupiers of neighbouring residential properties, and to protect the enjoyment of the conservation area.”

Conditional approval, including a time limit on the floodlights and conditions on the strength of the lighting, was granted by planners under delegated powers.

Politics

Kilgetty housing scheme near railway line refused by council

Published

13 hours ago

August 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS to build three homes near the railway line on the edge of a south Pembrokeshire village have been turned down, in part due to no formal financial contribution to affordable housing, despite an informal offer being made.

Robert Bowen, through agent Ceri Davies Planning Ltd, had applied to Pembrokeshire planners for outline permission to develop the three plots on a vacant site between Westaways and The Laburnums, Station Road, Kilgetty.

The proposal was supported by Kilgetty/Begelly Community Council, but one letter of concern by a member of the public was raised, citing fears including an overbearing scale of the development and impact of the foundations on neighbouring properties.

A supporting statement through the agent said: “The planning application involves a proposal for residential development at a vacant site adjacent to Westaways. The application is in outline form only with all detailed matters reserved for future consideration. Indicative plans accompanying this submission show the siting of three dwellings with garden amenity space, boundary treatments and vehicular access and parking areas.”

It conceded: “There is no doubt that the siting of three dwellings at this location would introduce built form at an otherwise undeveloped site, however, it would not represent a prominent or conspicuous form of development.

“While the proposed development would inevitably change the character of the site itself, the proposed changes would not be to the extent that would result in an unacceptable impact on local amenity in terms of visual amenity.

“The proposal would make beneficial use of an otherwise redundant site.”

The agent’s statement said that the proposal for three open-market units fell below the affordable housing provision threshold, but said: “Nevertheless, the applicant accepts that a contribution through a commuted sum towards the provision of affordable housing will be sought as part of this application.

“The applicant is prepared into a Section 106 agreement with the council to secure the above provision; for that purpose, the legal agreement will be completed at the appropriate time.”

An officer report recommending refusal said that, while there were positive economic benefits to the development, it failed to comply with policy as the application was not supported by a Green Infrastructure Statement (GIS) and no biodiversity enhancement have been provided on the indicative plans.

It added: “The application is not supported by a Unilateral Undertaking and Certificate of Title to secure a financial payment (15 per cent) towards local needs affordable housing and therefore fails to accord with the requirements of policy GN.28 (Local Needs Affordable Housing) of the LDP.”

It also said the acceptable density was actually lower than policy.

The application was refused by officers under delegated powers on the basis of an indicative density of 19 dwelling per hectare rather than 25, no direct offer of an affordable housing commuted sum, and no Green Infrastructure Statement.

Education

Newport school’s ‘inclement weather’ scheme approved

Published

2 days ago

August 21, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for coverings in parts of a north Pembrokeshire school to make them “useable during inclement weather” have been given the go-ahead by the national park.

Pembrokeshire County Council, in an application before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, sought approval for canopies to cover school yards at Ysgol Bro Ingli, Long Street, Newport, a modern school built in 1993.

A supporting letter, sent through agent Harries Planning Design Management, said: “This application seeks to provide two new canopies/coverings to two open areas within Ysgol Bro Ingli.

“These coverings seek to allow parts of the school to be useable during inclement weather, especially the yard area. The canopies will be constructed with transparent materials to ensure adequate light and to ensure that no external lighting will be required.

“The proposal also seeks to propose a doorway to the north elevation of yard 2 to provide wheelchair accessible access to the covered area from the neighbouring building.

“The proposed canopies are within the grounds of the existing school. They do not seek to intensify the use on site, just to simply provide additional areas during inclement weather. Therefore, they will not create any negative impact on the surrounding areas.”

The proposal was supported by Newport Town Council.

An officer report, recommending approval, said: “The proposed scheme is considered to be acceptable in terms of scale, form, use and design. The development will not cause an unacceptably detrimental impact to the special qualities of the national park.

“It is not considered that the development will cause an unacceptable impact upon privacy or amenity of neighbouring properties. Ecology and landscape features will not be adversely affected by the development.”

The application was conditionally approved by officers under delegated powers.