News
Council tax to rise 9.75% for residents in Carmarthenshire
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.

“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.
Crime
Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach
Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order
ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.
The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.
The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.
Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.
Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.
He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.
The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.
A pre-sentence report was ordered.
News
Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest
Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply
A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.
Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.
A man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.
The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.
However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
No further details about the deceased have been formally released.
Crime
Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe
FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.
At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.
The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.
The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.
In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.
Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.
Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.
While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.
The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.
Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.
“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”
He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”
Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.
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