PLANS for a new “in-house” council children’s care home near Milford Haven have been given the go-ahead by the county council itself.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, the local authority, through agent Oochitecture, sought permission for a change of use of a residential dwelling to a children’s home, along with associated works, at Sentry Cottage, Jordanston, near the Sentry Cross roundabout on the approach to Milford Haven.

An officer report recommending approval said of the two-storey, six-bed house some 1.3km east of Milford Haven: “Alterations and extensions are proposed to the dwelling including a single storey extension is proposed to the west elevation to create a larger office and storeroom, with a two storey extension to the east to provide a larger lounge and dining area and bedroom to the first floor. Externally a large parking area would be created to the east of the dwelling.”

It went on to say: “The application is for a new facility, although there is a suggestion within the submitted information that the dwelling has previously been used as a children’s care home although there is no planning history at the site to suggest this was formally approved.

“However, the use being sought under via this application would be located within an existing dwelling subject to extensions. The application contains detailed information outlining the need for the proposed development including detailed information about the loss of three existing places when the site stopped operating as a children’s home in February 2025.

“As such, supporting information confirms the site as an excellent opportunity to increase ‘in-house’ provision for Pembrokeshire County Council, allowing children from Pembrokeshire receive care closer to home. Information has also been provided to show the year-on-year increase of children requiring the type of care the proposal will offer.”

It further added: “The proposed single storey and two storey extensions would be of a scale that would appear subservient to the host dwelling and have an acceptable visual impact on the host dwelling, with the use of appropriate finish materials.”

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.

Election law means Labour hopeful’s name cannot be removed after nominations close

THE LABOUR candidate who withdrew from the Hakin county council by-election yesterday will still appear on ballot papers when voters go to the polls next month.

Nicola Harteveld announced she was stepping back from the race after nominations had already closed, meaning election officials are legally unable to remove her name from the ballot or allow Welsh Labour to nominate a replacement candidate.

Under UK election rules, once the deadline for nominations passes and candidates are formally confirmed, the ballot paper is fixed except in very limited circumstances, such as the death of a candidate. Withdrawal after that point does not change the ballot.

As a result, Harteveld will remain listed as the Welsh Labour candidate for the Hakin ward when voting takes place on Tuesday, March 17, even though she is no longer campaigning.

Potential confusion for voters

One elector in the ward told The Herald the situation could lead to uncertainty at the polling station.

“This will cause confusion, and technically means she could still be elected, when in reality she doesn’t want to be,” the resident said.

Any votes cast for Harteveld will still be counted in the election result, as there is no mechanism to invalidate votes for a candidate who has voluntarily withdrawn after the close of nominations.

If a withdrawn candidate were to receive the most votes, further procedural steps could be required, potentially including a fresh election depending on the circumstances at that stage.

Background to withdrawal

Harteveld stepped back from the contest after reporting verbal abuse directed towards her son, in a development that also led to political controversy after the First Minister visited the ward to support her campaign on the same day she did not attend and later confirmed her withdrawal.

Because nominations had already closed by that point, Labour was unable to field another candidate, leaving the party without an active campaign presence in the contest.

Election context

The Hakin by-election was called following the death of long-serving Independent councillor Mike Stoddart.

The remaining active candidates are:

Derrick Abbott (Independent)
Sam Booth (Wales Green Party)
Lee James Bridges (Independent)
Duncan Edwards (Independent)
Brian Taylor (Welsh Conservative)
Scott Thorley (Reform UK)
Sam Warden (Welsh Liberal Democrats)

Polling stations across the ward will be open from 7:00am to 10:00pm on March 17.

COUNCIL TAX in Pembrokeshire is to rise by 4.6 per cent, equivalent to an extra £76 for the average property.

At the February 20 special meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council members consider a previously Cabinet-backed recommendation for the setting of the 2026/27 council budget, with a council tax increase of 4.6 per cent, equating to an increase of £75.99 for the council part of the overall council tax bill for the average Band D property.

Last year, Pembrokeshire’s council tax increased by 9.35 per cent, lower than that year’s Cabinet recommendation of 9.85 per cent.

The overall council tax bill is made up of the county council element, the largest part, the Dyfed-Powys Police precept, and individual town or community council elements.

A report for councillors, presented by cabinet member for finance Cllr Alistair Cameron, recommending the 4.6 per cent rate, said a better-than-expected Welsh Government settlement for Pembrokeshire left a funding gap for 2026-27 of £14.7m for the overall budget.

It said: “The most significant cost pressure for the 2026-27 budget continues to be within Social Care, with a projected total increase in pressure of £12m for 2026-27 representing 42 per cent of the total council service pressures for 2026-27; and £30.5m across the remainder of the medium-term financial plan.”

It added: “Individual School balances continue to be a concern in the Medium Term with 47 of our 61 schools continuing to rely on their reserve balances to fund in year expenditure. This is not a sustainable position, with the current trajectory suggesting school balances will be in an aggregated deficit position by 2027-28.”

The budget included a year-on-year increase in the net budget for schools of £4.7m, Cllr Cameron said.

However, the budget pressure for individual school budgets was listed in the report at £6.7m, with some £2m of savings identified.

Members also heard an expected underspend in the current financial year’s budget, currently estimated at £4m, would be held in reserve to support any schools in difficulty.

Aside from the usual budget concerns it said a number of front-line services had been identified “which require investment to address fragile service levels and areas of concern” including: school improvement support for secondary schools causing concern; building maintenance to support the additional catch-up work required to corporate buildings; highways ‘beat gangs’ to support highway maintenance works; and additional highways gully maintenance.

Conservative Group leader Cllr Di Clements welcomed the “more realistic council tax increase” than previous years, stressing taxpayers needed “consistency from one year to the next,” adding: “I’m hoping that’s the end of very high council tax increases we’ve seen of late.”

Citing recent poor Estyn reports on some county schools, Cllr Clements asked for a “cast iron guarantee” that any surpluses from this year’s budget would be ring-fenced for any schools needing support.

Members backed the 4.6 per cent rise after a failed last-minute call for amendments to the budget made by Independent Group leader Cllr Huw Murphy – essentially aimed at reducing savings in the education budget – was defeated by 28 votes to 21, with one abstention.

The actual budget was backed by 34 votes to 16, with one abstention.