Independent councillors warn of job losses, safeguarding risks and declining public services

INDEPENDENT councillors have criticised Pembrokeshire County Council’s newly agreed 2026/27 budget, warning that £2m of cuts to education could lead to the loss of around 50 teaching and support posts.

The Independent Group says it opposed the budget because now is not the time to implement what Cabinet has described as “efficiency savings”, particularly after three Pembrokeshire schools were recently placed into special measures with safeguarding concerns identified.

Group members said they had contacted teaching unions and received what they described as a clear response that education funding should not be reduced in the current climate.

Public service pressures raised

The councillors also highlighted what they say are growing pressures on frontline council services, including Contact Centre response times and staffing shortages.

Following the budget meeting, Cllr Huw Murphy reported witnessing a member of the public at County Hall attempting to pay rent, only to find the payment counter closed because of staffing issues. As reception does not accept cash payments, the individual — who had travelled from North Pembrokeshire — was unable to complete the transaction.

The Independent Group believes some of the council’s projected £4m underspend, or its £2m contingency allocation, should instead be used to protect education funding and strengthen front-desk and Contact Centre staffing to improve public access to services.

Political tensions over vote

The budget passed with support from councillors across the chamber who were present, with one abstention.

Independent members have criticised what they describe as a lack of meaningful political opposition, arguing that councillors from multiple parties ultimately supported Cabinet proposals.

They also noted the absence of several Conservative councillors during what is widely regarded as the most important council meeting of the year, including Conservative Group Chief Whip Aled Thomas and councillors David Howlett and Jonathan Grimes.

Accountability pledge

The Independent Group says it will continue to scrutinise council decisions and press for improvements, particularly where safeguarding concerns have been identified in recent Estyn inspections.

They say they remain committed to representing Pembrokeshire residents independently of party political influence while holding decision-makers to account for the impact of the 2026/27 budget.

FISHGUARD and Goodwick Town Council has held two site meetings with transport officials to address pedestrian safety and longstanding traffic congestion problems in the area.

The first meeting took place with the South Wales Trunk Road Agency (SWTRA) in central Fishguard, where councillors reviewed existing pedestrian crossings and explored options for additional crossing points.

A second meeting was held in Lower Town Fishguard involving local representatives including Paul Davies MS and Ben Lake MP, alongside SWTRA and Welsh Government officials. Discussions focused on ongoing congestion and safety concerns on the narrow route through Lower Town and across the bridge.

The timing of the visit highlighted the issue, with the meeting reportedly delayed after a lorry became stuck in the area.

The Town Council said the discussions were productive, with Welsh Government representatives confirming that new traffic monitoring cameras will be introduced. The cameras are intended to gather detailed data on the length and width of vehicles travelling through the route.

Officials are also considering the possible introduction of priority access arrangements on the bridge as part of efforts to improve traffic flow and safety.

The long-discussed possibility of a separate pedestrian footbridge remains under consideration. However, the Town Council acknowledged that the proposal faces significant challenges, including flooding risks, environmental constraints, planning issues and costs.

Councillors shared findings from a recent local survey during the meeting and said they hope to collect pedestrian footfall data on the bridge, which will also be provided to Welsh Government to support future decision-making.

AN OPPOSITION councillor has asked the Plaid Cymru-Independent administration for an inquiry into its costly Debenhams redevelopment project at a key budget meeting.

Cllr Kevin Madge, of Labour in Carmarthenshire, said it was needed to “restore public confidence.” He also wanted to know when work would start on long-awaited new Ysgol Heol Goffa special school.

It came during a debate about the council’s five-year capital budget. This is money for things like new schools, care homes, refuse lorries, and town centre  regeneration schemes.

Local authorities have to approve a five-year capital budget and a majority of councillors went on to approve Carmarthenshire’s £149.7m programme with £68m of that pencilled in for 2026-27.

It doesn’t include underspends on existing projects which are now estimated, according to a budget report, at around £71m.

The five-year programme includes a phased £16.7m relocation of Llanelli indoor market to the former Woolworths building in nearby Vaughan Street and a £2m demolition of the car park above the market.

Cllr Alun Lenny, cabinet member for resources, said this move had been agreed “step by step” with market traders.

There’s £13.6m for a new council care home in Cwmgwili in 2026-27 with £7m to be carried over from the current financial year.

Meanwhile £5.2m is allocated to the ongoing extension of Ysgol Bryngwyn, Llanelli, £3.5m for refuse vehicles, and £3.7m for the Debenhams revamp in Carmarthen.

The council stepped in when Debenhams went into administration in 2021 and work is well under way on a new council, leisure, and health hub – to be called Atriwm – at the empty St Catherine’s Walk Shopping Centre store in Carmarthen.

But costs have risen considerably and it emerged last month that a structural defect had been identified that hadn’t been picked up during inspections and surveys. It’s forecast the conversion will cost £41m with £28.2m coming from the UK and Welsh Governments and £12.8m from the council.

Cllr Lenny said: “It will be a fantastic resource for the town and its rural hinterland.”

Cllr Madge called for an independent inquiry into the scheme. His party, he said, had “tremendous concerns over governance and project control” and wanted to know what ongoing maintenance costs would be.

He said: “An independent review of this project is now warranted to ensure transparency and restore public confidence.”

Cllr Lenny said the council had a choice in 2021 to step in or “wash our hands of it” and opted for the former. He thanked residents for putting up with the works-related traffic lights. He has previously asked for a full report for councillors and the public about the structural defect.

Cllr Lenny also referred to a report by a retail analyst firm called MRI Software which said Carmarthen town centre had experienced a 19% footfall surge in 2025 compared to the previous year – a rise second only to Ballycastle in Northern Ireland.

Cllr Madge also asked when a new Ysgol Goffa special school would finally be built in Llanelli. It follows years of preparations and delays. Cllr Lenny said a schedule of accommodation for the new 150-place school had been completed and that designs were being finalised.

Planning permission and Welsh Government backing would be needed. The council, he said, remained in constant communication with Ysgol Heol Goffa.

Cllr Madge also wondered when new schools in Ammanford, Llanybydder, and Llandeilo would be built.

Among the projects included in the programme for next year are £4.85m for roads including drainage work, £2.2m to complete the 15-mile Towy Valley cycle path, a £1.2m demolition of the former Llanelli leisure centre, £1.2m for mobile classrooms at Carway Community Primrary School, Kidwelly, following its closure due to a structural issue, a £1m Burry Port harbour investment, £1m for a children’s residential home, and £200,000 for flood mitigation works.

The capital budget will be funded by government grants, the sale of council assets, and borrowing and reserves.

Cllr Madge said Labour supported some but not all of the proposed budget and that it wouldn’t be voting for it in its current format.

Cllr Lenny said no alternative budget or amendments had been put forward by Labour and, reeling off several of the projects mentioned above, he said: “If you vote against the budget you vote against the lot.”