Politics

Senedd budget set to increase by 16% amid expansion plans

Published

2 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

Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’

Published

6 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”

The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.

Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”

NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.

“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.

“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”

The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”

This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.

Education

Pembrokeshire free school transport call to be heard at County Hall

Published

3 days ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to allow school pupils from Johnston and Tiers Cross access to free school transport to the nearby Haverfordwest high school is to be heard by councillors next week.

Due to a change in catchment areas the pupils are no longer able to access free transport to Haverfordwest, instead coming under the Milford Haven catchment area.

A petition calling for the reinstatement of the former catchment area to access free transport for pupils to Haverfordwest was recently started in the county.

The e-petition, which ran from September 18-November 1 on the council’s own website, attracted 351 signatures, meeting the threshold for a debate at the relevant Pembrokeshire County Council overview and scrutiny committee, in this case the Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28.

The petition, started by Kirsty Coaker, reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to change Johnston and Tiers Cross School Catchment back to Haverfordwest.

“Children of Johnston and Tiers Cross are now ineligible for free school transport to Haverfordwest High due to the areas no longer being in ‘catchment’.

“Both Johnston and Tiers Cross are Haverfordwest postal codes and are classed as Haverfordwest, yet the school catchment is Milford Haven.

“Please help our children access suitable transport to and from secondary school.”

The e-petition will now be considered at the November 28 meeting.

Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

Published

3 days ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.