News

Council tax to rise 9.75% for residents in Carmarthenshire

Published

1 year ago

February 11, 2025

Plaid Cymru blames Welsh Government funding and NI hike

PLAID CYMRU on Carmarthenshire County Council has blamed inadequate Welsh Government funding and the Labour Chancellor’s National Insurance hike for creating a multi-million-pound shortfall in the council’s budget for 2025/26—forcing an increase in Council Tax of 9.75%.

Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Alun Lenny, said: “In my experience, this year is even worse than all those years of Tory austerity. Due to inflation, pay settlements, and growing demand, we needed an extra £55m to fund essential services like social care and education, but received just £25m in annual grants from the Labour Welsh Government. We’ve had to fill the gap with efficiencies and a far higher Council Tax rise than any of us would like.”

Cllr Lenny said only 16% of the council’s income comes from Council Tax, with each 1% rise generating £1m. He added that the council had initially anticipated a 4-5% rise, but the National Insurance changes introduced by Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves would leave the council £4m out of pocket.

**Cllr Alun Lenny: This year is even worse than all those years of Tory austerity** (Pic: Herald)

“The Labour Chancellor’s action has also hit local businesses hard, with lower-paid workers in retail and hospitality particularly worried about their jobs,” he said.

Cllr Lenny also criticised the disparity in UK Government funding, highlighting that councils in England are receiving extra money through the £4.7bn Local Transport Fund. He said Herefordshire—a county with a similar population and highways network to Carmarthenshire—was getting an extra £102m over the next seven years.

“That scale of spending on roads is something we can only dream about, and shows that we in Wales are the poor relatives when it comes to UK Government funding,” he said.

He also slammed Westminster’s refusal to allocate consequential funding from the HS2 railway development in England, stating that Plaid Cymru estimates Carmarthenshire’s share should be around £250m—enough to solve its budget issues overnight.

Why are council tax rises happening across Wales?

Carmarthenshire is not alone in facing a sharp increase in Council Tax, with many Welsh councils struggling to balance their budgets. Several key factors are driving these rises:

Funding shortfalls for local authorities: Despite an additional £253m allocated to local councils in the Welsh Government’s draft budget, the Welsh Local Government Association has identified a shortfall of £560m. This leaves councils unable to meet rising demands without increasing taxes, cutting services, or making job reductions. For example, Wrexham Council is considering tax hikes of up to 15% to address these challenges.
Inflation and service pressures: Councils are dealing with significant inflationary pressures and increased demand for public services, particularly in social care and education. These factors have exacerbated financial strains, forcing councils to consider tax increases to maintain service levels.
Outdated tax system: Council tax in Wales is based on property values from 2003, making it increasingly outdated and regressive. This system creates disparities between councils and households, as property values and local needs have changed significantly over the last two decades.
Delays in tax reforms: The Welsh Government had planned to reform council tax by revaluing properties and introducing new tax bands to make the system fairer. However, this has now been postponed until 2028, meaning councils must continue relying on an outdated system to generate revenue.
Limited fiscal devolution: Welsh councils rely heavily on central government grants, restricting their ability to raise local revenue and adapt taxation to local needs. This dependency leaves them vulnerable to funding shortfalls when government grants fall short of rising costs.

Public concerns and Welsh Government response

Public opposition to rising Council Tax bills has been growing. A petition has been launched calling for Welsh councils to be limited to a maximum annual increase of 2% from April 2025. Meanwhile, Labour’s stance on Council Tax has shifted, with UK Labour ruling out changes to Council Tax bands. This contradicts the Welsh Labour government’s previous plans, creating a potential policy divide between Cardiff and Westminster.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said local authorities in Wales receive significantly more funding per capita than those in England and that difficult financial choices stem from wider economic factors, not just Labour policy.

A Welsh Labour source added: “We are committed to supporting councils, but the economic reality is that years of Tory austerity, inflationary pressures, and high interest rates have made local government funding more challenging.”

Carmarthenshire Council’s position

Despite financial pressures, Carmarthenshire County Council has committed to continued investment in education, housing, and adult and children’s services. Following public consultation, the council has scrapped plans to close public toilets unless asset transferred, will only increase car parking charges in line with inflation, and will invest more in highways, gully cleaning, and flood prevention.

As the Welsh Government finalises its budget, Plaid Cymru has pledged to lobby for fairer funding up until the last moment.

Local Government

Milford Haven civic service marks start of mayoral year

Published

9 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Mayor’s charities named as civic leaders gather at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church

THE CIVIC SERVICE of the Mayor of Milford Haven, Cllr Mark Woodward, took place at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church on Saturday (June 20).

The service marked Cllr Woodward’s election as Mayor and First Citizen of Milford Haven.

It was conducted by Rev Dr Adrian Furse and Canon John Cecil, with music from church organist Richard Stephens, Gelliswick Community Choir and Milford Haven Town Band.

Guides and Brownies, Milford Haven Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets were also among those taking part, with councillors Colin Sharp and Yvonne Southwell acting as ushers.

Refreshments followed at Milford Haven Bowling Club.

Local MS Paul Davies was among those attending the service and wished the new mayor all the best for his term in office.

Cllr Woodward’s chosen charities for the year are Patch Charity and Greenacres Rescue.

Photo caption:

Civic guests attended the Mayor of Milford Haven’s service at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church on Saturday (Pic: Supplied)

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

19 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Health

Medicine shortages now ‘most severe on record’, health leaders warn

Published

19 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PATIENTS are facing some of the worst medicine shortages ever seen in the UK, with pharmacists warning the situation now poses a serious risk to safety.

The National Pharmacy Association said shortages affecting commonly used medicines are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and causing increasing disruption for patients, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

The warning comes as Serious Shortage Protocols for Creon, used by people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help digest food, have been in place since May 2024 and have now been extended until July 10, 2026.

HRT treatment Estradot has also been under a Serious Shortage Protocol since December 2024, with the current extension also running until July 10.

Patients travelling between pharmacies

A survey by the National Pharmacy Association found that 98 per cent of pharmacies had encountered patients who had visited several pharmacies in one day to find a prescription.

It also found that 96 per cent of pharmacies believed the current situation posed a serious risk to patient safety, while 89 per cent said they had been unable to dispense a medicine at least once a day because of supply problems.

Some pharmacy teams have also faced anger and abuse from patients unable to obtain medication.

Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.

“These shortages are some of most severe the UK has experienced.

“It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.”

Calls for urgent taskforce

The NPA is calling on the government to convene an emergency taskforce involving manufacturers, wholesalers, clinicians and pharmacists.

It also wants changes to rules which currently stop pharmacists from making simple substitutions, such as changing a tablet to a capsule or a cream to an ointment, even where a safe alternative is available.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said medicine shortages were frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists, and added pressure to already stretched services.

She said the College supported pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions where a medicine is unavailable and a safe alternative exists.

She added: “The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Pancreatic Cancer UK have also raised concerns about the impact of shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on people who rely on the medication to digest food, maintain weight and stay well enough for treatment.