News

Long-term strategy needed to increase diversity in local government

Published

7 years ago

April 4, 2019

TECHNOLOGY can be better used to increase diversity in local government, but the real challenge is changing people’s perception of elected members, according to the National Assembly’s Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee.

It found little progress had been made in encouraging more women to stand, or more people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual (LGBTQ) or people with disabilities.

The Committee believes better use of technology such as Skype could be one way of giving people more flexibility to contribute to council meetings alongside working or other responsibilities. It’s recommending three authorities trial the technology from rural, valley and urban areas.

Relaxing restrictions around attending council meetings and voting in person could reduce the pressures on councillors and help to attract more people to the role.

Longer term, a public awareness campaign should be undertaken to improve people’s understanding of the role of councillors and political education should be taught in schools so young people are properly equipped to vote when they are old enough to vote.

The Committee commended the approach taken at Swansea City Council where a cabinet position is shared between two members and believes consideration should be given to allowing non-executive members to do the same, meaning more than one candidate would be elected to share one seat in a ward.

Elected members should also be offered more support and training in managing a better work-life balance. The Committee was concerned to learn a care allowance designed to allow councillors to claim for childcare or other care costs was not widely taken up due to public perceptions around expenses and allowances and the fear of a backlash.

The Committee believes that action is needed to elect more women as councillors and, as this change is not happening naturally, recommended that the current provision that allows all-women shortlists be extended until 2050.

Chair of the Equality, Local Government and Community Committee, John Griffiths AM, said:
“Local government in Wales delivers a range of important services to our communities including education and social services. The more representative of the people they serve the better equipped our councillors are to carry out their duties and responsibilities.

“Unfortunately, women, black and minority ethnic communities, individuals with disabilities, LGBT people, the young and those with lower incomes are markedly under represented meaning their particular experience, views and concerns have too weak a voice.

“Later this year we expect the Local Government Bill to be introduced to the Assembly, providing an opportunity to address these issues.

“This committee inquiry will help inform that legislation and aid our scrutiny. We have sought to understand the importance of diversity, barriers that hold it back and examples of how they may be overcome.”

The Committee makes 22 recommendations in its report, including:

That the Welsh Government, in its forthcoming local government Bill, includes provisions to relax the restrictions on members’ remote attendance and voting at formal council meetings set out in the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 to enable local authorities to trial the use of video communication methods.

That the Welsh Government works with the Welsh Local Government Association to identify three local authority areas to participate in trialling the use of video communication methods to facilitate participation by remote attendance at council meetings.

The Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Government Association start work on a positive campaign to increase diversity among candidates standing for local government elections by summer 2019.The report will now be considered by the Welsh Government.

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

3 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

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.