Dr Madeleine Havard re-elected as Chair as key committee positions are agreed

PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY has confirmed its Chair, Deputy Chair and key Development Management Committee roles following its Annual General Meeting.

Dr Madeleine Havard has been re-elected as Chair of the Authority, with Cllr Claire George continuing as Deputy Chair.

Cllr Dr Simon Hancock has also been re-elected as Chair of the Authority’s Development Management Committee, with John Hogg MBE confirmed as Deputy Chair of that committee.

The appointments were agreed by Members at a meeting of the National Park Authority held on Wednesday, June 24.

The Authority is made up of 18 Members. Twelve are county councillors appointed by Pembrokeshire County Council, while six are appointed by the Welsh Government.

Together, they oversee the work of the Authority and make decisions on matters affecting the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Dr Havard said: “It is an honour and a privilege to continue serving as Chair of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

“Our National Park is one of Wales’ most treasured landscapes, and the Authority has an important role in protecting it for future generations while supporting the communities who live and work here.

“I look forward to continuing to work with all Members, staff, partners and local communities as we respond to the opportunities and challenges facing the National Park.”

Cllr Dr Simon Hancock said he was pleased to continue as Chair of the Development Management Committee, which considers planning matters within the National Park.

He said: “The Committee’s work requires careful judgement, balancing the need to conserve and enhance this special landscape with the needs of local people.

“I look forward to continuing to work with fellow Members and officers in carrying out this responsibility.”

Members spend an average of two days a month on formal committee business, as well as representing the Park Authority at a range of formal and informal events.

These include Welsh Government-related meetings, workshops and seminars, formal launches, and presentations by the Authority and partner organisations.

The current Members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority are: Cllr Maureen Bowen, Cllr Di Clements, Ms Fiona Day, Cllr Claire George, Dr Madeleine Havard, Ms Helen Gwenllian, Mr John Hogg MBE, Sarah Hoss, Cllr Dr Simon Hancock MBE, Cllr Mike James, Mr Gwynn Angell Jones, Cllr Huw Murphy, Cllr Bethan Price, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, Cllr Anji Tinley, Cllr Vanessa Thomas, Cllr Chris Williams BEM and Cllr Michael Williams.

Caption:

Dr Madeleine Havard, Cllr Claire George, Cllr Dr Simon Hancock and John Hogg MBE have been confirmed in key leadership roles following Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s Annual General Meeting.

CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL failed to properly assess the Welsh-language impact of plans to close Ysgol Llansteffan before moving to publish a statutory closure notice, the Welsh Language Commissioner has found.

The adjudication follows a complaint by Cymdeithas yr Iaith over the council’s handling of the future of the Welsh-medium school, which is due to close formally on August 31, 2026.

In correspondence with Cymdeithas yr Iaith, the Commissioner said the council had accepted that its original Welsh Language Impact Assessment was insufficient.

The Commissioner did not uphold every part of the complaint. Cymdeithas had argued that there was insufficient capacity in other Welsh-medium schools in the Carmarthen town area, and that some pupils could be pushed out of Welsh-medium education. However, the Commissioner said it was not within her powers to investigate school-place data in that way.

But she did find that the council’s original assessment failed to deal “conscientiously” with the effect that closing the school would have on the community of Llansteffan.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith had argued that it was unreasonable for the council to describe the language impact of closing what it called the most important Welsh-medium institution in the village as “neutral”. The group said the decision ran counter to efforts to strengthen rural Welsh-speaking communities.

The Commissioner found that Carmarthenshire County Council had failed to comply with Welsh Language Standards 88, 89 and 90, which require public bodies to assess the impact of policy decisions on the Welsh language.

Her adjudication says the council later revised its Language Impact Assessment during the course of the investigation. However, the Commissioner made clear that such consideration should have formed part of the decision-making process from the outset.

The Commissioner said: “To comply with the standards, it is essential that consideration of Welsh language effects forms an integral part of the policy-making process from the outset, rather than being separate from the decision itself or addressed at the end of the process.”

She added that the council’s process flow chart should include a clear requirement for the Welsh-language effect of a proposed school closure to be considered from the very start.

The Commissioner does not have the statutory power to overturn the school closure decision itself. Her role is to determine whether the council complied with the Welsh Language Standards and to require future compliance.

Speaking on behalf of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Carmarthenshire, Ffred Ffransis said the decision confirmed that the council’s process had been flawed.

He said: “The simple truth of the matter is that the Cabinet of Carmarthenshire County Council in November 2025 took the decision to issue a Statutory Closure Notice for Ysgol Llansteffan based on a defective Language Impact Assessment.

“The fact that they took later steps to amend and mitigate does not compensate for the harm done by this injustice to the pupils and the local community.

“We have already been informed that one young family has put their house on the market to move to an area which has a school.

“We shall be drawing the attention of the Chief Executive Officer, Wendy Walters, to the lack of a strategic approach across departments.

“There is an application to build affordable homes in the village, but attempts to revive the community by attracting young families are being undermined by the closure of the school by another council department.”

The council’s Cabinet decided on November 17, 2025, to issue a closure notice for Ysgol Llansteffan using the shortened process available for schools with fewer than ten pupils. Cymdeithas says the number of pupils had risen from eight to 17 during the process.

The full council later agreed to close the school after considering the objections report at the beginning of March 2026. Cymdeithas says councillors were not told at that meeting that a complaint had been made about the original Language Impact Assessment.

Parents have already had to register their children at other schools for the next academic year.

A legal challenge to the closure decision is understood to be due to be heard in August, shortly before the school’s formal closure date.

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is asking residents, property owners and stakeholders to have their say on the future level of Council Tax premiums for second homes and long-term empty properties.

The consultation will help shape the council’s approach for the 2027-28 financial year, with any agreed changes due to take effect from April 1, 2027.

Council Tax premiums are additional charges placed on top of standard Council Tax bills, which also include the precepts set by Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner and town and community councils.

The council says the consultation will gather views on what level the premiums should be set at in future, as well as how any income raised should be used to support local priorities in Pembrokeshire.

Cllr Jon Harvey, Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance and Efficiencies, said: “We want to hear from as many people as possible on this important issue.

“By taking part in the consultation, residents and stakeholders can help shape future decisions and ensure that a wide range of views are considered before any recommendations are made.

“Please have your say by the closing date of Monday, August 10, 2026.”

The consultation includes background information on Council Tax premiums, the current position in Pembrokeshire and the legal framework within which the authority must operate.

Residents can take part online through the Pembrokeshire County Council website.

Paper copies are also available by calling 01437 764551 or emailing [email protected].

A final decision on the options, including how any funding raised through the premiums will be used, is expected to be made by full council at its meeting on October 15, 2026.

Any decision agreed at that meeting will come into effect from April 1, 2027.