Pembrokeshire County Council

Cyngor Sir Penfro
Coat of arms or logo
Logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Thomas Tudor,
Labour
since 12 May 2023[1]
David Simpson,
Independent
since 25 May 2017
Will Bramble
since 31 March 2021[2]
Structure
Seats60 councillors
Political groups
  Independent (36)
  Conservative (10)
  Labour (10)
  Liberal Democrats (2)
  Plaid Cymru (2)
Length of term
5 years
Elections
First past the post
First election
4 May 1995
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
County Hall, Freemens Way, Haverfordwest, SA61 1TP
Website
www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Pembrokeshire County Council (Welsh: Cyngor Sir Penfro) is the local authority for the county of Pembrokeshire, one of the principal areas of Wales.

Political control

Since the 2017 election the council has been led by a coalition of some of the independent councillors, Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats, with the same coalition continuing following the 2022 election.[3]

The first election to the modern council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1996. Independent councillors have held over half the council's seats ever since 1996:

Party in controlYears
Independent1996–present

Different groupings have formed among the independent councillors at different times, sometimes forming administrations with councillors from political parties. Between 1996 and 2017 the leader of the council came from the "Independent Political Group" (later called the "Independent Plus Political Group"). That group's numbers were reduced from 33 to 13 at the May 2017 election. Its leader Jamie Adams blamed the poor performance at that election on the IPPG's close connections to the council's discredited former chief executive.[4][5]

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1996 have been:[6]

CouncillorPartyFromToNotes
Eric Harries[7] Independent1 Apr 19969 May 1999Leading "Independent Political Group"
Maurice Hughes[8] Independent20 May 199913 Jun 2004Leading "Independent Political Group"
John Davies[9] Independent29 Jun 200424 May 2012Leading "Independent Plus Political Group" (IPPG)
Jamie Adams[10] Independent24 May 201225 May 2017Leading IPPG
David Simpson Independent25 May 2017

Composition

Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2023,[11] the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors
Independent36
Conservative10
Labour10
Liberal Democrats2
Plaid Cymru2
Total 60

Of the independent councillors, 17 sit together as the "Independent Group" and the other 19 are not affiliated to any group. The leader of the council, David Simpson, is one of the non-affiliated independent councillors, and positions of responsibility in the council's cabinet are held by other non-affiliated independents and members of the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru groups.[12] At a confidence vote in May 2023, the Conservatives, Independent Group and two of the non-affiliated councillors (29 in total) voted that they did not have confidence in the leader, whilst Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the other 17 non-affiliated councillors (31 in total) voted that they did have confidence.[13] The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 60 councillors, representing 59 wards. The ward of Pembroke: Monkton and St Mary South elects two councillors, the rest elect one councillor.[14]

Year Seats Independent Labour Plaid Cymru Conservative Liberal Democrats Notes
1995[15] 60 41 13 3 0 3
1999 60 38 15 2 0 5
2004 60 40 12 5 0 3
2008 60 42 5 5 5 3
2012 60 42 9 5 3 1
2017 60 34 7 6 12 1
2022 60 35 10 2 11 2

Party with the most elected councillors in bold.

Premises

When created in 1996 the council inherited offices from the two predecessor authorities: Cambria House in Haverfordwest from Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council and Llanion Park in Pembroke Dock from South Pembrokeshire District Council, along with the former County Offices of Dyfed County Council on St Thomas's Green in Haverfordwest. The first meeting of the new authority was held at Shire Hall, Haverfordwest, which had been the meeting place of the pre-1974 Pembrokeshire County Council.[16] Subsequent meetings were held at Cambria House. It was decided shortly after the new council's creation to build a new headquarters adjoining Cambria House. The new building was named County Hall, with the first full council meeting in the new building being held in October 1999.[17] Cambria House was demolished shortly afterwards. The new County Hall was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 22 November 2001.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Council minutes, 12 May 2023". Pembrokeshire County Council. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Coles, Jon (31 March 2021). "Pembrokeshire County Council appoints Major General as new Chief Executive". Pembrokeshire Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "David Simpson elected new Leader of council". The Pembrokeshire Herald. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Porsche for council boss appalling, Leighton Andrews says". BBC News. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Jamie Adams: I wouldn't change how we handled Bryn Parry-Jones situation". Western Telegraph. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Council minutes". Pembrokeshire County Council. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Riley, Jack (13 April 2022). "Milford Haven councillor stands down after nearly 60 years". Western Telegraph. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "Pembrokeshire leader loses seat". BBC News. 11 June 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "County Council Leader wins top award". Tivyside Advertiser. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  10. ↑ ""Grave concerns" over troubled Pembrokeshire Council's child safeguarding issues". Wales Online. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  11. ↑ "Conservative councillor alleged to have made slave comments withdraws from Tory party". Western Telegraph. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  12. ↑ "Your councillors by party". Pembrokeshire County Council. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Council minutes, 18 May 2023". Pembrokeshire County Council. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  14. ↑ Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament. The County of Pembrokeshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021 as made, from legislation.gov.uk.
  15. ↑ "Welsh unitary councils". 2 June 2015.
  16. ↑ "Council minutes, 1 April 1996" (PDF). Pembrokeshire County Council. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  17. ↑ "Council minutes, 28 October 1999" (PDF). Pembrokeshire County Council. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "Royals open £10m county hall". BBC News. 22 November 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
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