Politics

Senedd budget set to increase by 16% amid expansion plans

Published

3 months ago

September 29, 2024

THE SENEDD Senedd Commission has unveiled plans for a 16% budget increase as preparations ramp up for an extra 36 politicians in Cardiff Bay from 2026.

The commission, which is responsible for support services and the Senedd estate, has today (September 27) published its £84.3m draft budget for next year.

It includes an extra £12.1m to cover costs including those associated with Senedd reforms, public-sector pay, upgrading lifts and IT, and replacing screens in the debating chamber.

The commission said the cash is required to deliver the biggest change since the dawn of devolution in 1999, with the 16.7% uplift supporting a 60% increase in Senedd members.

But the Conservatives criticised the “ballooning” costs of Senedd reform, describing it as the “wrong priority” while around one in five people in Wales are waiting for NHS treatment.

The 2025/26 draft budget includes a 9% increase in staff costs on the previous year, reflecting a 5% pay award in common with much of the rest of the public sector.

This includes a ring-fenced £456,000 to conclude 2024/25 pay negotiations with staff on lower pay, under £40,000 a year.

In the spending plans for the 12 months from April, £2m is allocated to the ‘Bay 2032’ project which is looking at options for offices as the clock ticks down on the current Tŷ Hywel lease.

Options thought to be on the table include building new offices, extending the lease, buying Tŷ Hywel or taking up a nearby property in Cardiff Bay.

An additional £900,000 – on top of the £1.8m allocated last year – would be spent on renovating the debating chamber, or Siambr, to accommodate more members.

Politicians are expected to move to Siambr Hywel in Tŷ Hywel, the red-brick building linked to the Senedd by glass walkways, while works are carried out.

This is where then-Assembly Members sat while the Senedd was under construction.

The Welsh Parliament’s corporate body is made up of the speaker or Llywydd, Elin Jones, and four Senedd members drawn from the main political parties.

Hefin David, the commissioner responsible for the budget, described Senedd reforms as an important step, pointing out that it was agreed by a two-thirds “supermajority”.

The Labour MS for Caerphilly said: “There are so many places across the world where democracy is under attack, so this is something Wales can be very proud of.”

Dr David argued the increase in the number of members will bring the Senedd in line with other devolved parliaments, enabling better representation and greater scrutiny.

He said: “This budget proposes a 16% increase in spending, to support a 60% increase in members, with every effort being made to minimise the cost to the public purse.

“It is important that we remain mindful of our own accountability and taxpayer value for money, whilst also balancing the need for an enhanced democratic system.”

In the past two financial years, the Senedd Commission budget was reduced by a total of £750,000 while £800,000 was spent on cost-of-living payments for staff.

If passed, according to the draft budget, the anticipated uplift in Senedd reform-related costs for 2025/26 will be £3.9m – which is equivalent to a 5.3% adjusted increase on 2024/25.

The Conservatives’ Darren Millar reiterated his party’s opposition to Senedd reform, arguing Wales needs more doctors, nurses and dentists – not more politicians.

Mr Millar said: “The cost to taxpayers of Senedd reform is ballooning even before the full extent of Labour and Plaid Cymru’s plans for more politicians are implemented.

“Spending additional millions on this vanity project as NHS waiting lists hit six successive record-breaking months is the wrong priority.”

By comparison, the Scottish Parliament’s budget for 2024/25 is £135.6m – roughly £1m for each member – while the figure for Wales is about £875,000 a member.

The commission stressed that every effort has been made to ensure value for money.

A spokesperson said: “In the next two years, the Senedd will undergo the biggest change since it was established in 1999 – becoming a parliament of 96 MSs, with greater power to hold the Welsh Government to account, develop new laws and better represent the people.”

Senedd members will vote on the budget proposals in November. With around two-thirds supporting the reforms, the commission budget is likely to be agreed.

But, with parliamentary arithmetic otherwise on a knife-edge, First Minister Eluned Morgan is expected to face a tougher time passing the Welsh Government’s budget early next year.

The Senedd Commission and Welsh Government both draw their funding from the Welsh consolidated fund which is paid into by the UK Government.

In May, Senedd members passed landmark legislation to increase the size of the Welsh Parliament and change its voting system from 2026.

Under the Act, the number of politicians will increase from 60 to 96 due to concerns that the small size of the Senedd leads to ineffective scrutiny of the Welsh Government.

For example, Caerphilly County Borough Council has more councillors at 69 than Wales has Senedd members.

The 32 constituencies used in July’s UK general election will be paired to create 16 for the next Senedd poll in 2026, with each returning six members.

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.

Instead, voters will have one ballot paper rather than two and future Senedd elections will use a full form of proportional representation.

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.

News

Cars expected to remain banned from Newport Sands in 2025

Published

24 hours ago

January 1, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

NO PLANS to review the decision to end car parking on a north Pembrokeshire beach are expected in 2025, with works on a new car park development due to start early this year.

Newport Sands/Traeth Mawr became car-free in May 2023, when Pembrokeshire coast National Park ended parking on the beach after purchasing the land in response to growing safety concerns.

It said the beach would be a ‘car-free’ zone, with exceptions only allowed for emergency services and essential car users such as the RNLI and coastguards.

A petition was later launched demanding a backtrack, saying an outright ban will have an adverse effect on a wide cross-section of beach users, including disabled visitors.

Last July, members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s authority agreed to keep the car-free resolution, along with “actively pursuing options of how to improve access for people living with disability”.

In December, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee approved an application by the national park for the demolition and replacement of the existing public convenience block, the creation of an access ramp and steps to south slipway, the erection of a beach wheelchair storage building, and works to the existing car park, including new pay and display machines, at Newport Sands PCNP Car Park, Golf Course Road.

The works include an extra 52 car parking spaces over the 43 currently there, along with an increase in disabled parking spaces.

A report for committee members received at the December meeting said: “The proposal will result in improved and enhanced services for visitors to the Newport Sands car park by providing better beach access, clearly laid out parking bays and pedestrian zones, improved public convenience facilities, and landscaping enhancements across the site. The provision of a changing places facility, beach wheelchair storage and new access ramp are likely to assist in enhancing access for wheelchair users to this site.”

Concerns had been raised by Nevern Community Council, who had called for its refusal, saying: “Nevern Community Councillors are concerned that visitors pay for the car parking and then also have to pay for the use of the toilets, it is felt that this double pay is ripping people off and taking advantage of visitors.”

Following a request for any review on the beach parking, a Pembrokeshire Coast National Park spokesperson said: “We don’t have any plans to issue further updates on Newport Sands in the coming year.

“Planning permission was granted in the December DM meeting, and the intention is to commence construction on phase 1 (ramps and car parking surface / wheelchair storage and landscaping) in early 2025.”

News

Pembrokeshire County Councillor Andrew Edwards resigns suddenly

Published

3 days ago

December 30, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of PembroTHE CHIEF executive of Pembrokeshire County Council, Will Bramble, has released a statement announcing that Cllr Andrew Edwards has resigned for personal reasons. A notice of a casual vacancy will be published today (Dec 30).

The Pembrokeshire Herald contacted Cllr Edwards, who issued the following statement:

“Family matters have made my position as a county councillor untenable.

“I have therefore decided to resign from the council, as I feel unable to carry out my duties to the standard I would wish at this time.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the staff and fellow councillors who have supported me during my tenure.

“I wish the very best to my successor, who I am confident will serve the community with dedication.

“This has not been an easy decision, but I believe it is in the best interests of those I represent.”

Edwards, a barber, has served on the council since May 2022.

In April 2023, the Conservative councillor referred himself to the Public Services Ombudsman following the emergence of a recording in which he appeared to make offensive remarks suggesting all white men should have a black slave. However, it was later suggested that the recording may have been artificially generated using AI to discredit him.

News

Christmas Eve sign-off for Pembrokeshire over-55s housing scheme

Published

6 days ago

December 27, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

THE FINAL sign-off for a scheme to build 24 affordable homes for the over-55s at the “eyesore” site of the former Motor World building in Milford Haven has been given the go-ahead.

W B Griffiths & Sons Ltd, on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council, in an application before the council’s November planning committee, was given approval for the construction of a new residential redevelopment of 24 affordable apartments for over-55s at 70A-80A Charles Street.

It is planned to build 21 one-bed apartments and three two-bed apartments, along with associated works.

***How the building looked before it was demolished***

The former Motor World site, previously described as an “eyesore,” was cleared in 2018 to enable redevelopment, with planning permission granted on the site for the development of 15 affordable apartments for over-55s in 2020 but the previous contractor was put into administration under what was described as, ‘significant financial stress’.

The application, submitted through agent DPP Planning, followed a public consultation earlier this year.

At the November meeting, approval was proposed by Cllr Alistair Cameron, seconded by committee chair Cllr Simon Hancock, who said: “We need to achieve regeneration of our town centres by repopulating them, and they will be much more sustainable in the future.”

He was supported by Cllr Mark Carter, who said: “I like developments like these; I think this is the way forward for communities, we’ve got a site here that as far back as I’ve been a councillor has attracted questions about when it will be built.”

A sticking point for the application was it was subject to a Welsh Government Holding Direction where planning permission could not be fully granted until an awaited vehicle Swept Path Analysis has been approved demonstrating that a turning area can be provided within the site for the largest type of vehicle that would serve it.

Members backed delegated authority for the council’s head of planning to approve the application following resolution of the issue.

The application was formally conditionally approved by planning officers on December 24, a Welsh Government response saying it “as highway authority for the A4076 trunk road does not issue a direction in respect of this application”.