CODE OF CONDUCT complaints to the Ombudsman against Pembrokeshire councillors have declined from previous years to date, from a peak of 42 in 2022-23 down to seven so far this year, members of the standards committee heard.

A complaints/concerns log was established back in 2022, the latest statistics including complaints made between January to May 2026.

A report for members at the May 12 Standards Committee meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council said: “Complaint volumes have fluctuated across the reporting periods, with the highest levels recorded in 2022-2023,” the report said, adding: “This was followed by a notable reduction in 2023-2024, a partial increase during 2024-2025 and a significant decline in the most recent period. The data for January to May 2026 indicates a continuation of this downward trend, with only a small number of complaints recorded to date.

“While this period covers fewer months than previous reporting years, the reduced volume nonetheless represents a marked contrast to earlier years.”

Statistics from previous years showed county and town and community council level complaints mostly dealt with by informal resolution or ombudsman investigation of: May 2022- April 23, 42; May 2023-April 24, 23; May 2024-April 25, 30; and 10 in May 2025-December 25.

There were 121 complaints received over the period May 2022 to May ‘26; 40 of them harassment, bullying or false accusations, 22 social media-related, 18 meeting behaviour, and 14 altercations with members of the public.

Of the latest complaints received since January, there were six harassment, three social media, two altercation, and one meeting behaviour, with seven complaints referred to the Ombudsman to date.

The report said, across all reporting periods, complaints relating to harassment, bullying and conduct at meetings remain the most common categories, although their frequency has reduced over time.

It added: “Complaints relating to town and community councils continue to account for most cases overall, however very few such complaints have been recorded since January 2026. Taken together, the data suggests a stabilisation of complaint numbers following earlier peaks, with the January to May 2026 position indicating a particularly low level of recorded concerns.”

Seven complaints referred to the Ombudsman highlighted in the report since the start of this year were: an alleged bullying and harassment claim at community council level, currently being investigated; a county council level claim of failure to treat others with respect; discriminatory conduct based on political affiliation, no further action taken; town council level bullying and harassment, disqualified for three years; and a town council level claim of making unsubstantiated or misleading statements, failure to uphold equality principles, conduct bringing the office into disrepute, no further action taken.

It also included three claims currently in the assessment stage: town council level bullying, intimidation, and threatening behaviour; a county level bringing the office or authority into disrepute; and a community council level claim of lack of openness and transparency, improper decision‑making, failure to act with integrity and accountability, and failure to provide accurate records.

All three dated to March.

Committee members agreed to note the report.

PEMBROKE’S Monkton ward will soon have a new town councillor after its previous representative secured a seat in the Senedd as one of six new members for the Ceredigion Penfro seat.

A notice of casual vacancy for the Monkton ward of Pembroke Town Council was publicised yesterday, May 11.

If no written request is made to the county council’s returning officer, the town council may fill the vacant seat by co-option.

The seat was made vacant following now-former town councillor Reform’s Susan Claire Archibald becoming a Senedd member for the new Ceredigion Penfro Senedd ward, one of two Reform candidates to do so.

At the Senedd count on May 8, the former councillor spoke on behalf of herself, fellow Reform winner Paul Marr, and the party’s supporters, saying the supporters would need “new shoes,” given Ceredigion Penfro’s “ginormous constituency”.

She added: “Paul and I are obviously very excited to get to work to representing our constituency of Ceredigion and Penfro.”

The six Senedd members for the new Ceredigion Penfro ward, which saw three Plaid seats, two Reform and one Welsh Conservatives gained, are: Elin Jones, Kerry Ferguson, and Anna Nicholl Plaid Cymru; Susan Claire Archibald and Paul Marr Reform; Welsh Conservatives Paul Windsor Davies.

A formal request for an election to fill the vacant Monkton seat may be made to: Returning Officer, Pembrokeshire County Council, Electoral Services, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP.

The town council itself saw, last weekend, the inauguration of Councillor Jonathan Grimes, also joint county councillor for Pembroke Monkton and St Mary South, as the 647th Mayor of Pembroke.

Accompanied by his wife, Councillor Deborah Willcocks, a civic lunch was held at the town hall, Main Street, successfully raising £350 in support of his chosen charity, Sandy Bear.

The weekend also saw a service at St Mary’s Church, where the Bishop of St Davids offered a blessing for the newly installed bells.

YOUNG competitors at this year’s Eisteddfod yr Urdd will be competing for a Chair and Crown rooted deeply in the landscape, history and coastline of Ynys Môn.

The Chair and Crown for Eisteddfod yr Urdd Ynys Môn 2026 were unveiled on Tuesday evening (May 12) at a special event at Oriel Môn, Llangefni.

This year’s Chair has been made by carpenter Siôn Edwards, from Llanfaelog, working from a design concept by architect Rhiannon Williams, of DEWIS Architecture. It is sponsored by the Anglesey Agricultural Society.

The Crown has been created by jeweller Myfanwy Jones, originally from Llanfairpwll, with sponsorship from local estates, lettings and management agency Eiddo Cyf.

A chair inspired by rivers

The Chair’s design takes inspiration from the theme “from the rivers to the sea”, as well as the windmills of Anglesey.

Siôn Edwards, a former Design and Technology teacher who now works as a self-employed carpenter, said the theme immediately appealed to him.

He said: “Fishing is one of my main hobbies, and I also set up the Cefni Conservation Group a few years ago to improve the condition of our island’s rivers, so I was very enthusiastic when I heard ‘from the rivers to the sea’.”

The Chair has been made from locally sourced sustainable ash, found after a lengthy search at Cwm Cynfal, near Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Its exposed joints are both a design feature and a practical choice, allowing the Chair to be repaired in future if needed.

The piece also contains a link to Anglesey’s maritime past. The wedges in the Chair have been made using wood from an old RNLI lifeboat, Thomas Lingham the 4th, which left Rhosneigr in 1924 and may have been involved in the D-Day landings.

Siôn said: “A small part of the amazing story of Rhosneigr’s lifeboat now lives on in the Chair too.”

Crown reflects island beaches

The Crown has been designed by Myfanwy Jones, who studied Jewellery Design at Central Saint Martins in London before spending fifteen years living and working in the capital.

She returned to Ynys Môn in 2022 and said it was a special opportunity to create the Urdd Crown.

She said: “It’s lovely being back home, and what an amazing opportunity to create the Crown for the Eisteddfod this year – I’ve never designed a crown before.”

Before beginning the design, Myfanwy asked people on Instagram what came to mind when they thought of Ynys Môn. The most popular answer was beaches.

The finished Crown is made from brass and includes two opal stones, small jade stones and soft green velvet inside, echoing the colours of Anglesey’s coastline.

Myfanwy said: “It will be great to go to the Maes in my local area, and to see who takes home the Crown.”

‘Ynys Môn is ingrained’

Llio Maddocks, Director of the Arts at Urdd Gobaith Cymru, said: “Ynys Môn is ingrained into the Chair and the Crown of the Urdd this year; their connection to the island can be seen and felt in every little detail, from the designs and materials to the stories and history that live within these beautiful objects.

“We can’t wait for the Eisteddfod in the hope that we will see two winners take home this year’s Chair and Crown. We would like to thank the talented artists, committees and sponsors for their tireless work and generous support.”

Eisteddfod yr Urdd Ynys Môn 2026 will be held at the Anglesey Show Ground from Saturday, May 23, to Friday, May 29.

The Chairing ceremony will take place on the Thursday, sponsored by the Ivor and Aeres Evans Trust. The Crowning ceremony will be held on the Friday, with support from the James Pantyfedwen Foundation.