A CONSERVATIVE Senedd member called out the Arts Council of Wales over the “offensive and disappointing” use of the C-word on its website.

Laura Anne Jones, the shadow culture secretary, asked Dafydd Rhys to read aloud a section of the Arts Council website about its support for three companies at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Handed a printout in the culture committee, the chief executive started reading a highlighted extract about a drag show then paused before spelling out the C-word letter by letter.

Ms Jones, who represents South Wales East, said: “You paused on one of the words and didn’t say the full word and I can understand why because as a woman … when I read that on the Arts Council website I found that quite offensive and disappointing to see that.

“This is where public money is going. I would suggest that if that word was difficult to say in a committee – I don’t think, perhaps, it’s appropriate for a website.”

South Wales East MS Delyth Jewell, who chairs the committee, intervened to try to steer the discussion back to the impact of cuts to arts and culture in Wales.

But Ms Jones said: “Absolutely it is though, it’s where that value for is coming from. Are we looking at giving the money to the right things … when words like that are used I’m not sure that’s really the projection that Wales wants to put over to the world.”

Ms Jones contrasted this with cuts to the Welsh National Opera: “I’m not sure all projects that perhaps you’re funding are that value for money, are appropriate.

“It just may be worth looking into them and seeing if that money could be redistributed.”

Mr Rhys responded: “I haven’t seen this particular project that you refer to, personally, so I’m not going to comment on the content of that.”

He told the committee projects that go to the Edinburgh festival are independently assessed.

Asked about arts venues closing earlier in the evidence session, Mr Rhys pointed to a lack of adequate funding combined with pressures on councils and universities.

Mr Rhys said the absence of a legal requirement on councils to provide arts centres and venues makes it an easier way to try to balance the books.

He told the committee the Arts Council, which received a 10.5% cut in the 2024/25 budget, would like to see Wales follow Ireland’s lead by bringing in a statutory responsibility.

Stressing that the Arts Council transfers 92% of its funding to the sector, Mr Rhys said the arm’s-length body lost 10 to 13 staff members through voluntary and compulsory redundancy.

He explained that the Arts Council employs about 80 people so it was a significant decrease.

Mr Rhys said: “If we were to face an additional cut … it would mean we would have to reconsider how much we can deliver.”

The former S4C broadcast director welcomed an extra £1m for the Arts Council, which safeguarded 38 jobs, but he warned that in-year grants are a sticking-plaster solution.

He told committee members: “They don’t answer the long-term demand to solve some of the problems that a lack of funding causes – what it does do … is it buys you more time.”

Mr Rhys, who was appointed in 2022, said staff are concerned about workload and the future of the wider sector which can impact morale and mental health.

The Arts Council called for an urgent review of funding for arts and culture in its written evidence, warning: The declining pattern from 2010 is not sustainable. It is a 40% cut.”

OPPOSITION members criticised a lack of targets in Eluned Morgan’s statement of priorities, accusing Wales’ new First Minister of empty rhetoric.

Rhun ap Iorwerth warned milestones, timescales and targets for delivery were “conspicuously absent” from Baroness Morgan’s statement of priorities last week.

The Plaid Cymru leader criticised the First Minister’s summer “listening exercise”, saying it identified problems in health, education and the economy already obvious to everyone.

He asked: “Where have Labour-led governments been for 25 years?”

He told the Senedd 20% of the population is waiting for treatment, key industries are shrinking, the economy lags other UK nations and education standards are slipping.

Leading a Plaid Cymru debate, he accused Labour of listing problems “without any real notion of new solutions” after a quarter of a century in power.

The Ynys Môn politician criticised the Welsh Government’s “pretty inexcusable” commitment to set out details of how the priorities will be delivered in “due course”.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “What is the purpose of having ambiguous priorities without any attempt to offer us a route towards delivery?

“The truth is empty rhetoric and a lack of direction … have led us into some sort of no-man’s land in so many different areas that are hugely important to the people of Wales.”

The former journalist also criticised a “totally ambiguous” plan for cross-border cooperation on health which was unveiled at Labour’s conference . “No detail whatsoever,” he warned.

Mark Isherwood said it is regrettable the Welsh Government could not identify people’s priorities without conducting a summer “listening exercise” despite 25 years in power.

The Conservative described the motion as “hypocritical at best” as he accused Plaid Cymru of “propping up” Labour since 1999 and backing “draconian” policies such as 20mph.

Mr Isherwood urged Welsh ministers to press the UK Government for HS2 consequential funding and go ahead with electrification of the north Wales main line.

He said: “The previous First Minister waxed lyrical during the general election campaign about the benefits that two Labour governments at each end of the M4 would bring.”

The North Wales representative also criticised “mammoth” NHS waiting lists, which reflect “very badly on the Welsh Government’s stewardship”.

Heledd Fychan warned fair funding was not among the First Minister’s priorities

Pointing to previous Labour demands, she urged ministers in Cardiff Bay to call on the new UK Government to cough up cash for coal-tip safety and rail infrastructure.

The Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales Central said: “The meek acceptance of the insufficient lot we receive from Westminster typifies the lack of drive at the heart of this government.”

Labour’s Jenny Rathbone said Eluned Morgan’s government has recognised the importance of improving NHS performance by putting “iechyd da” (good health) top of the priorities.

The Cardiff Central MS recognised frustration expressed in the UK general election, pointing out that Reform rather than Plaid Cymru finished second in 13 of 32 Welsh constituencies.

Julie James was appointed minister for delivery this month and said Welsh ministers will prioritise practical changes in the 18 months to the end of the Senedd term.

Ms James, who is responsible for internal oversight of the delivery of the priorities, pointed to examples of early progress in health, education, social housing, transport and the economy.

She said: “We will set out in due course more detail on how we will be delivering on those priorities and commit to providing regular updates to the Senedd on the progress.”

Ms James, who is also counsel general, Wales’ chief legal adviser, told the debating chamber or Siambr that there has been “palpable and real” change in Westminster.

Following the debate on September 25, Senedd members voted 41-10 against the Plaid Cymru motion. The Welsh Government’s amended version was agreed, 27-24.

PLANS to site solar panels on the roof of a former Pembrokeshire bonded stores town museum have been approved by Pembrokeshire County Council.

Daniel Sheen of Narberth Museum sought permission for the panels at the museum based at the Bonded Store, Church Street, Narberth.

The Bonded Stores, in the town’s conservation area, is currently a museum, bookshop and coffee shop.

A planning officer report said: “The solar panels are proposed to be located on the front principal elevation of a pitched roof, of the museum, which fronts the main road. The applicant has confirmed that the proposed solar panels will be 150mm proud of the roof. There are limited views of the roof slope from within the conservation area at street level and a number of other properties within the area that have installed solar panels on their roof slopes.

“It has been considered by the conservation officer that the scale and position of the solar panels would be acceptable to the character and appearance of the building, and setting of the conservation area.”

The application, which had drawn one letter of support, as well as the support of the town council, has been conditionally approved.