News
Council discusses scrutiny

County Hall
AT TUESDAY’S Democratic Services Committee, Councillors discussed a number of ways to help improve scrutiny. They discussed its effectiveness, ways to improve it, adequacy of support and public engagement. Cllr Owen James said: “There needs to be a recognition of how good they think scrutiny is. What measurement facilities are there?” Mark Elliot, Head of Public Protection, responded: “It’s very hard to define success criteria; the way it was done was all about a self-assessment process, identifying examples of good practice and areas for development. There is nothing previous to this but there is nothing set in stone other than the examples we have.”
Cllr Pat Davies said: “With my committee we evaluated where we were going and what we wanted to achieve. The task and finish group was set up as was the school standards. Each committee should be able to do a self-evaluation.” Mark Elliot added: “It is important to get member engagement. The starting point would be to begin with the template that the Welsh Audit Office has come up with and trial that. Then there can be some sort of judgement as to where we are.” Cllr Rhys Sinnett said: “I support trying it out and seeing if there are any gaps.
We won’t know unless we try it out.” Cllr James added: “With regards to member engagement – this is something that you need right across the authority. If everyone is involved it will be quite a pleasant environment, at the moment we don’t have that. You can’t do one without the other.” Huw Miller, Head of Legal & Committee Services, said: “The stance you are taking so far is good. There is a need to involve all members – members of scrutiny will change. You have to consider how you notify and involve all other members.”
He continued: “All chairs will produce annual reports and they will all be put on the website. The scrutiny website is building up quite nicely. Any member can see how scrutiny works.” Cllr Pat Davies said: “Scrutiny members sit in their groups; I don’t like that and I have switched names around in the past. They shouldn’t be there to sit in political groups.” Cllr John Allen-Mirehouse said: “I can see the point of this but it depends on the size of the committee and the size of the room and the business being discussed.”
Cllr Keith Lewis added: “I would always argue caution in terms of trying to over manage the situation. We are where we are, we’ve got to sit somewhere.” Cllr Allen-Mirehouse added: “Public engagement is very important; councillors are elected to represent their interests and views. It is very important that the public know what is happening. Somebody who does not know what is going on will come to a wrong decision. We are not trying to cut the public off; we all have a responsibility to our electors.”
Cllr Sinnett said: “We have to respond to our direct electors. The question is how we get their views of a topic we are looking at. We invite external views and this would be very useful to triangulate those. We are the ones who have to make the decision.” Cllr Keith Lewis said: “I agree with everything being said but you are missing out on one fundamental tier of government. “We should also consider the roles of community councillors. There are some which are very efficient and there are some which are useless.
“There have been examples recently like the public toilets; any decision we make will affect that area. “There have been different outcomes, other communities have said they would take them on but they haven’t”. Cllr Pat Davies said: “This could be a vehicle for trying to engage better with town and community councils”. Cllr Allen-Allen-Mirehouse added: “The community councils are very keen for the council to spend money in their wards. The town and community councils do not want a certain asset removed and this is where the role of the community council comes in. “It is good for democracy, that although a councillor may not get their way, their voice has been heard”.
Huw Miller then spoke about the adequacy of scrutiny support. He said: “This is the first report of adequacy of scrutiny. When the team was set up it was pointed out that there was a gap in terms of support for scrutiny. They have done a great job in taking the authority forward in terms of the scrutiny function. We are getting there, we are not there yet.
I don’t think there is perfect scrutiny and we’ve got to do our best to try and get as close to that as we possibly can.I’m certainly of the view that the current provision of staff is sufficient but it has to be kept under continual review.” Finally, Councillors spoke about public engagement, focussing on the forms that are available on the council’s website. Members of the public are free to submit their views on any agenda item that is being discussed and they can also submit a proposal for an agenda item.
Cllr Owen James said: “This is something new you’re engaging in. It may cause an awful lot of work. I think we should let this grow organically rather than push it out there.” Cllr Rhys Sinnett added: “It is down to the committee to decide whether or not and when to add it to its work agenda. It needs to be clear that you can suggest things but it won’t automatically be discussed. There is a process that has to be gone through by a committee.”
Crime
Two arrested after Tenby station stabbings released on bail
Investigation continues after four teenagers were injured in late-night railway station violence
TWO people arrested after four teenagers were stabbed during violence at Tenby railway station have been released on bail while police continue their investigation.
British Transport Police are leading the inquiry into the incident, which happened at around 9:50pm on Tuesday (Apr 7). Officers were called to reports of disorder involving a group of youths at the station.

Four teenagers, aged between 13 and 17 and all from the Pembroke area, suffered stab wounds and were taken to hospital for treatment. Police have since confirmed that their injuries were not life-threatening or life-changing, and that all four have now been discharged.
A 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. Both have now been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Police said they believe the incident was isolated, but there will be an increased officer presence in the area to reassure the public.
Detectives are urging anyone who witnessed the violence, or saw what happened in the lead-up to it, to get in touch. They have also asked members of the public not to speculate online or share footage while the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 916 of Apr 7.
News
Plaid Cymru sets out childcare, NHS and child poverty pledges in 2026 manifesto
Rhun ap Iorwerth’s party says plan is radical and fully costed as it bids to lead next Welsh government
PLAID CYMRU has launched its manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election, setting out a programme focused on childcare, health, education and tackling child poverty as the party seeks to convince voters it is ready for government.
With opinion polls suggesting Plaid could be in contention for its strongest ever Senedd result, the party is presenting itself as a serious alternative administration under leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Rather than putting major constitutional change at the centre of the campaign, Plaid’s manifesto concentrates heavily on public services and living standards. While the party continues to support Welsh independence, it is not proposing an independence referendum during a first term in government.
Instead, Plaid says it would establish a national commission for Wales, with a budget of £500,000, to examine future constitutional options including further devolution and the foundations for a future white paper on independence.
On education, Plaid is promising to widen access to free school meals. The party says it would extend free meals to year seven to 11 pupils in households receiving Universal Credit, with no income cap. It is also pledging new incentives to attract teachers and says it wants to strengthen Welsh-medium education.

However, questions remain over whether enough Welsh-speaking staff could be recruited to support the scale of expansion Plaid is proposing across childcare and education.
The party is also promising a review of the Curriculum for Wales, alongside clearer guidance for teachers, in what appears to be an acknowledgement of continuing concern about how the reforms are working in practice.
In health, Plaid says it wants to cut waiting times, although the manifesto itself does not contain a detailed overall target. Rhun ap Iorwerth has said that under a Plaid-led government no-one would be waiting two years for treatment within the first year, with wider waiting lists brought back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of a Senedd term.
The manifesto also says Plaid would consider “all options” for reforming Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in north Wales, leaving open the possibility of structural change at Wales’ largest health board.
On higher education, Plaid says it would prioritise a review of universities and their funding amid growing financial pressure in the sector. The party says it wants to ensure more Welsh government spending on higher education remains in Wales.
The manifesto also proposes refocusing the Seren programme towards Welsh universities and boosting participation from disadvantaged communities. Critics, however, may argue that such a move risks narrowing options for the most academically able students.
Housing and tourism policy also feature prominently. Plaid says it will review the effectiveness of current second homes and self-catering holiday let rules, including the controversial requirement for holiday lets to be rented out for at least 182 days a year to avoid being treated as second homes for council tax purposes.
That rule has been defended by those concerned about housing shortages in tourism hotspots, but it has come under strong criticism from tourism operators who say it is harming local businesses.
Plaid is also proposing to explore a Welsh child payment of £10 a week for children under six in families receiving Universal Credit. The idea would begin as a pilot scheme aimed at addressing child poverty.
But there are doubts over how easily such a scheme could be delivered, given that Wales does not have the same benefits powers as Scotland, where a similar payment already exists. Any full rollout could depend on cooperation from the UK government.
Taken together, the manifesto suggests Plaid Cymru is trying to broaden its appeal beyond its traditional base, offering a platform centred less on constitutional change and more on bread-and-butter issues such as health, schools, housing and family finances.
Whether that approach is enough to persuade voters Plaid is ready to run Wales may prove one of the defining questions of the 2026 election campaign.
Charity
Drive care forward: Help keep end-of-life care moving in Pembrokeshire
PAUL SARTORI Hospice at Home is calling on the community to help keep end-of-life care moving across Pembrokeshire as it launches an urgent appeal to fund a replacement for its essential Equipment Loan Van.
The appeal, which went live on Friday, April 10, 2026, will run until December 1, 2026, with the aim of raising £40,000 to replace the vital vehicle and safeguard the future of the service.
Every day, families across the county face some of the hardest moments of their lives while living with terminal illness or saying goodbye to a loved one. Paul Sartori Hospice at Home believes everyone deserves dignity, comfort and choice at the end of life, and its Equipment Loan Service plays a crucial role in making that possible.
At the heart of this service is the charity’s van, which delivers essential equipment free of charge directly to people’s homes. From hospital-style beds and wheelchairs to commodes and pressure-relieving mattresses, these items enable patients to remain in familiar surroundings, close to the people they love.
The service often responds on the same day, ensuring urgent needs are met quickly. By providing the right equipment at the right time, the team helps prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and supports faster hospital discharges, giving people the chance to spend precious time at home.
Beyond deliveries, the team also shows families how to use the equipment, supports safe transfers where needed, and fills critical gaps that statutory services are unable to meet. For many people, this service provides something truly invaluable: dignity, independence and comfort during end-of-life care.
However, the current Equipment Loan Van is now reaching the end of its working life, putting this lifeline service at risk. To continue operating safely and efficiently across Pembrokeshire, the charity urgently needs to replace it with a reliable, roadworthy vehicle.
Pat Coombs, Clinical Coordinator and Equipment Facilitator at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, said: “This van is essential to the care we provide. Every day, we see the difference it makes, helping people return home from hospital, supporting families to care for loved ones, and making sure patients can remain where they feel most comfortable.
“It is not just about delivering equipment; it is about delivering dignity and choice at the end of life. Without a reliable van, we simply cannot respond as quickly or effectively as people need us to.”
The charity is encouraging individuals, businesses and community groups to get involved and support the appeal. Donations of all sizes will help ensure that no one in Pembrokeshire has to face the end of life without the care and equipment they need.
To support the campaign and help fund a new Equipment Loan Van, visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/equipmentloanvan

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