Over 1,200 liability orders issued in a single day at record-breaking hearing

MORE than 1,200 Pembrokeshire households were hit with court orders on Monday (July 7) for non-payment of council tax, The Pembrokeshire Herald can reveal.

At Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, a total of 1,270 liability orders were granted to Pembrokeshire County Council in a single session – according to a justice source this is the most ever in a single day. The court heard complaints relating to 1,500 defendants — one of the largest mass enforcement actions ever.

With an estimated 48,200 homes in Pembrokeshire, the figures suggest that more than 1 in every 40 households faced court action for unpaid council tax on the same day.

Court records show:

• 1,270 orders were granted,
• 142 cases were withdrawn, and
• 85 accounts were marked as paid before the hearing.

The council was represented by officer Dafydd Thomas, who gave evidence under oath. The session was conducted under Regulation 34 of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992.

Enforcement action expected

A liability order gives the council the legal power to take further steps to recover the debt, including:

• Deducting money from wages or benefits,
• Placing charging orders on property, or
• Passing the case to bailiffs (enforcement agents).

The Herald has already reported on recent enforcement activity in Milford Haven, where vulnerable residents say they were threatened with forced entry by bailiffs — something that is not permitted under council tax law unless a specific legal process has been followed.

Council tax arrears at record levels

The court hearing follows recent Welsh Government figures revealing that council tax arrears across Wales now stand at £263 million, a 139% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Pembrokeshire County Council was owed £8.75 million in unpaid council tax as of March 2025 — up from £8.38 million the previous year.

Finance Minister Mark Drakeford recently described current enforcement rules as “too aggressive” and confirmed that the Welsh Government is consulting on proposals to extend the period before court action from two weeks to two months.

Pembrokeshire County Council have been contacted for comment.

Bailiff powers — know your rights

Council tax is a priority debt, meaning non-payment can lead to court action and enforcement — but residents still have rights.

Bailiffs cannot break into a home to collect council tax unless they’ve previously been inside and signed a Controlled Goods Agreement. They cannot force entry on a first visit and must not enter if a vulnerable person is home alone.

If you are struggling to pay or have been contacted by a bailiff, you can:

• Contact Pembrokeshire County Council directly to arrange a payment plan.
• Ask about the Council Tax Reduction Scheme or discounts such as single person discount.
• Get free help from Citizens Advice, StepChange, or National Debtline.
• If you are vulnerable, request that the council recall the case and apply its vulnerability policy.

If you have received a court summons or have been contacted by an enforcement agent, The Pembrokeshire Herald would like to hear from you.
Contact the newsroom at [email protected]

A HAVERFORDWEST man is due to appear in court tomorrow (Tuesday, July 8) to face multiple charges relating to indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

LUKE PHILLIPS, aged 23, of Woodlands Park in Haverfordwest, is scheduled for a first hearing at 2:00pm at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

He is charged with possessing an extreme pornographic image portraying an act of intercourse or oral sex with an animal. The image is alleged to be “grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character,” and the prosecution claims a reasonable person would believe the act depicted involved real people or animals.

This offence is said to have taken place on June 16, 2023, at his home address.

Phillips also faces three separate charges of making indecent images of children. These include:

• Three Category A images – the most serious classification – allegedly created on December 3, 2022.
• Six Category B images, also said to have been made on the same date.
• One Category C image, said to have been made on June 16, 2023.

All offences are alleged to have taken place at the same Haverfordwest address.

The case will be heard before magistrates, who may decide to send the matter to crown court due to the seriousness of the allegations.

The Herald will report further as the case progresses.

Public consultation launched ahead of planning application

DYFED-POWYS POLICE and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Dafydd Llywelyn has unveiled plans to build a large-scale solar farm on unused land at the force’s headquarters in Llangunnor, Carmarthen.

The proposed development includes the installation of 1,420 photovoltaic (PV) panels, a battery storage system, and associated infrastructure. Once operational, the solar farm is expected to generate approximately 592,245 kWh of electricity each year—of which around 88% would be used directly by Dyfed-Powys Police.

This move is projected to reduce the force’s reliance on grid electricity and deliver an estimated carbon saving of 109,647 kg annually. While exact financial savings will depend on future energy prices, the project is expected to significantly cut the force’s long-term energy bills.

Commissioner Llywelyn said the project reflects the force’s wider commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible use of public funds.

“In addition to cutting our carbon footprint, this investment in renewable energy will deliver long-term financial savings and help us contribute to a greener future,” he said. “I strongly encourage local residents—particularly those in the Llangunnor area—to engage with the consultation and share their views.”

CBRE, a commercial real estate and investment firm, is acting on behalf of the PCC and Dyfed-Powys Police. A pre-planning application consultation has been launched to gather public feedback before submitting a formal application to Carmarthenshire County Council.

As part of the consultation, an in-person public drop-in event will take place at Carmarthen Library on Wednesday, 10 July, from 9:00am to 6:30pm.

Full details of the proposed development, along with an opportunity to comment, are available online at: [View the Solar Farm consultation here].

The consultation is open until 25 July 2025.

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