Carmarthenshire County Council

Local government of Carmarthenshire, Wales

Carmarthenshire County Council

Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin

Type
Type|

Unicameral

Leadership

Leader

Darren Price,
Plaid Cymru
since 25 May 2022

Chairperson

Handel Davies,
Plaid Cymru
since 22 May 2024[1]

Chief Executive

Wendy Walters
since June 2019[2]

Structure
Seats| 75 councillors

Political groups

Administration (37)
Plaid Cymru (37)
Other parties (38)
Labour (20)
Independent (17)
Reform (1)

Length of term

| 5 years
Elections

Voting system

| First past the post

Last election

| 5 May 2022

Next election

| 6 May 2027
Meeting place
County Hall, Carmarthen, SA31 1JP
Website
www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales

Carmarthenshire County Council (Welsh: Cyngor Sir Gâr or Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin) is the local authority for the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales. It provides a range of services including education, planning, transport, social services and public safety. The council is one of twenty-two unitary authorities that came into existence on 1 April 1996 under the provisions of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. It took over local government functions previously provided by the three district councils of Carmarthen, Dinefwr, and Llanelli, as well as the county-level services in the area from Dyfed County Council, all of which councils were abolished at the same time.

The council is based at County Hall in Carmarthen.

## History

[edit]

There have been two bodies called Carmarthenshire County Council. The first existed from 1889 until 1974, and the current one was created in 1996.

Carmarthen Guildhall: Council's first meeting place

Elected county councils were created in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, taking over certain functions which had previously been administered by unelected magistrates at each county's quarter sessions. The first election was held in January 1889 and the majority of the seats were won by the Liberals.[3]

At a preliminary meeting in March 1889 the councillors debated where the new council should meet, with some advocating that meetings should rotate between Carmarthen, Llandeilo and Llanelli, others arguing that meetings should be held solely in Carmarthen. It was resolved by 30 votes to 29 to meet only in Carmarthen.[4] The council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1889, on which day it held its first official meeting at Carmarthen Guildhall (then also known as the Shire Hall).[5]

By 1895 the council had adopted the pattern of holding meetings in rotation at Carmarthen, Llandeilo and Llanelli, and the council's clerk was based in Llandovery.[6] Construction of a new County Hall started in 1939 but, due to the Second World War, was not completed until 1955.[7]

The Liberals continued to dominate the council until the 1920s, from which time most rural seats were held by independents, while the Labour Party dominated the industrial part of the county.

The original Carmarthenshire County Council was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972, with the area becoming part of the county of Dyfed, which also covered the former counties of Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire.[8] From 1974 until 1996 the area of the former county of Carmarthenshire was split into the three districts of Carmarthen, Dinefwr, and Llanelli, with Dyfed County Council providing county-level services.[9]

In 1996 the councils established in 1974 were all abolished under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, and Carmarthenshire County Council was re-established as a unitary authority for the area.[10]

## Political control

[edit]

The council has been under no overall control since May 2024.[11]

The first election to the re-established council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been held by the following parties:[12]

Party in control | Years

|

| No overall control | 1996–2022
| Plaid Cymru | 2022–2024
| No overall control | 2024–present

### Leadership

[edit]

The leaders of the council since 1996 have been:[13]

Councillor | Party | From | To

|
|
|

Gerald Meyler[14] |  | Labour | 1 Apr 1996 | May 1999
Meryl Gravell[15][16] |  | Independent | May 1999 | May 2012
Kevin Madge[17] |  | Labour | May 2012 | May 2015
Emlyn Dole[18][19] |  | Plaid Cymru | May 2015 | 8 May 2022
Darren Price[20] |  | Plaid Cymru | 25 May 2022 |

The council's chief executive since 2019 has been Wendy Walters.[21] She succeeded Mark James, who had held the post for 17 years.[22]

### Composition

[edit]

Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of the council was:[23]

Party  | Councillors

|

| Plaid Cymru | 37
| Labour | 20
| Independent | 18
Total  | 75

Of the independent councillors, 12 sit together as the "Independent Group" and the other six are unaffiliated to any group.[24] The next election is due in 2027.

## Elections

[edit]

Elections take place every five years. The last election was held on 5 May 2022.

Year  | Seats  | Plaid Cymru | Labour | Independent | Liberal Democrats | Conservative | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |
1995[25] | 80  | 7  | 37 | 32[a] | 3  | 1  |
1999 | 74  | 13  | 28  | 32[a] | 1  | 0  |
2004 | 74  | 16  | 25  | 33 | 0  | 1  |
2008 | 74  | 31 | 12  | 30  | 1  | 0  |
2012 | 74  | 28 | 23  | 23  | 0  | 0  |
2017 | 74  | 36 | 22  | 16  | 0  | 0  |
2022 | 75  | 38 | 23  | 14  | 0  | 0  | Plaid Cymru majority control
|  |  |  |  |  |  |

Party with the most elected councillors in bold. Coalition agreements in Notes column.

## Electoral divisions

[edit]

The county is divided into 51 electoral wards returning 75 councillors.[26] In July 2021 Welsh Government accepted a number of ward change proposals by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales, the changes gave a better parity of representation. Thirty-four wards remained unchanged.

Most of these wards are coterminous with communities. Most communities in Carmarthenshire have a community council. For each ward, councillors are elected to sit on Carmarthenshire County Council. The following table lists council wards, community councils and associated geographical areas. Communities with their own community council are marked with a *.

| Ward  | Communities  | Councillors Returned  | Former district council  | Electorate 2022[27]

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Abergwili | Abergwili*, Llanllawddog*  | 1  | Carmarthen | 1,960
2  | Ammanford | Ammanford Town* (Iscennen, Pontamman and Pantyffynnon wards)  | 2  | Dinefwr | 4194
3  | Betws | Betws*  | 1  | Dinefwr | 1,896
4  | Bigyn | Llanelli Town* (Bigyn ward)  | 3  | Llanelli | 4,986
5  | Burry Port | Pembrey and Burry Port Town (Burry Port ward)  | 2  | Llanelli | 3,440
6  | Bynea | Llanelli Rural* (Bynea ward)  | 2  | Llanelli | 3,229
7  | Carmarthen Town North and South | Carmarthen Town* (North and South wards)  | 3  | Carmarthen | 6,822
8  | Carmarthen Town West | Carmarthen Town* (Carmarthen Town West ward)  | 2  | Carmarthen | 3,767
9  | Cenarth and Llangeler | Cenarth*, Llangeler* and Newcastle Emlyn*  | 2  | Carmarthen | 4,539
10  | Cilycwm | Cil-y-cwm*, Llansadwrn*, Llanwrda*, Cynwyl Gaeo* and Llanycrwys*  | 1  | Dinefwr,
Carmarthen | 2,244
11  | Cwarter Bach | Cwarter Bach*  | 1  | Dinefwr | 2,232
12  | Cynwyl Elfed | Cynwyl Elfed*, Bronwydd* and Llanpumsaint*  | 1  | Carmarthen | 2,028
13  | Dafen and Felinfoel | Llanelli Rural* (Dafen and Felinfoel ward)  | 2  | Llanelli | 4,064
14  | Elli | Llanelli Town* (Elli ward)  | 1  | Llanelli |
15  | Garnant | Cwmamman* (Pistillwyd and Twyn wards)  | 1  | Dinefwr | 1,627
16  | Glanamman | Cwmamman* (Grenig and Tircoed wards)  | 1  | Dinefwr | 1,879
17  | Glanymor | Llanelli Town* (Glanymor ward)  | 2  | Llanelli | 4,649
18  | Glyn | Llanelli Rural* (Glyn ward)  | 1  | Llanelli | 1,758
19  | Gorslas | Gorslas*  | 2  | Dinefwr | 3,788
20  | Hendy | Llanedi* (Hendy ward)  | 1  | Llanelli | 2,364
21  | Hengoed | Llanelli Rural* (Hengoed ward)  | 2  | Llanelli | 3,270
22  | Kidwelly and St. Ishmael | Kidwelly Town* and St Ishmael*  | 2  | Llanelli | 4,080
23  | Laugharne Township | Laugharne Township*, Eglwyscummin, Llanddowror* and Pendine*  | 1  | Carmarthen | 2,231
24  | Llanboidy | Llanboidy*, Cilymaenllwyd* and Llangynin*  | 1  | Carmarthen | 1,744
25  | Llanddarog | Llanddarog* and Llanarthney | 1  | Carmarthen | 1,710
26  | Llandeilo | Llandeilo Town* and Dyffryn Cennen*  | 1  | Dinefwr | 2,148
27  | Llandovery | Llandovery Town* and Llanfair-ar-y-bryn*  | 1  | Dinefwr | 2,121
28  | Llandybie | Llandybie* (Llandybie and Heolddu wards)  | 2  | Dinefwr | 3,334
29  | Llanegwad | Llanegwad*, Llanfihangel Rhos-y-Corn* and Llanfynydd*  | 1  | Dinefwr,
Carmarthen | 2,079
30  | Llanfihangel Aberbythych | Llanfihangel Aberbythych* and Llangathen*  | 1  | Dinefwr | 1,549
31  | Llanfihangel-ar-Arth | Llanfihangel-ar-Arth* and Llanllwni*  | 1  | Carmarthen | 2,282
32  | Llangadog | Llangadog*, Llanddeusant* and Myddfai*  | 1  | Dinefwr | 1,646
33  | Llangennech | Llangennech*  | 2  | Llanelli | 4,122
34  | Llangunnor | Llangunnor*  | 1  | Carmarthen | 2,194
35  | Llangyndeyrn | Llangyndeyrn* and Llandyfaelog*  | 2  | Carmarthen | 4,073
36  | Llannon | Llannon*  | 2  | Llanelli | 4,263
37  | Llanybydder | Llanybydder* and Pencarreg*  | 1  | Carmarthen | 2,137
38  | Lliedi | Llanelli Town* (Lliedi ward)  | 2  | Llanelli | 4,009
39  | Llwynhendy | Llanelli Rural* (Pemberton ward)  | 2  | Llanelli | 3,297
40  | Manordeilo and Salem | Manordeilo and Salem*, Llansawel* and Talley*  | 1  | Dinefwr | 2,216
41  | Pembrey | Pembrey and Burry Port Town* (Pembrey ward)  | 2  | Llanelli | 3,544
42  | Pen-y-groes | Llandybie (Penygroes ward)  | 1  | Dinefwr | 2,363
43  | Pontyberem | Pontyberem*  | 1  | Llanelli | 2,229
44  | Saron | Llandybie* (Saron Ward)  | 2  | Dinefwr | 3,405
45  | St Clears and Llansteffan | St Clears Town* Llansteffan*, Llangain* and Llangynog*  | 2  | Carmarthen | 4,321
46  | Swiss Valley  | Llanelli Rural* (Swiss Valley ward)  | 1  | Llanelli | 2,199
47  | Trelech | Abernant*, Llanwinio*, Meidrim*, Newchurch and Merthyr* and Trelech*  | 1  | Carmarthen | 2,374
48  | Trimsaran | Trimsaran*  | 1  | Llanelli | 1,968
49  | Tycroes | Llanedi* (Tycroes and Llanedi wards)  | 1  | Llanelli | 2,182
50  | Tyisha | Llanelli* (Tyisha ward)  | 2  | Llanelli |
51  | Whitland | Whitland Town* and Henllanfallteg | 1  | Carmarthen | 1,841

## Premises

[edit]

The council meets and has its main offices at County Hall in Carmarthen, which had been completed in 1955 for the original Carmarthenshire County Council, and served as the headquarters of Dyfed County Council between 1974 and 1996.[28] The council has customer service centres in Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli.[29]

## Arms

[edit]

Coat of arms of Carmarthenshire County Council  |

Notes
Granted on 28 August 1935.
Crest
On a wreath of the colours a dragon passant Gules gorged with a collar flory counterflory and resting the dexter foreclaw on a harp Or.
Escutcheon
Quarterly indented Or and Gules in the first and fourth quarters a dragon rampant and in the second and third quarters a lion rampant all counterchanged.
Supporters
On the dexter side a dragon Gules gorged with a collar flory counterflory attached thereto a chain reflexed over the back Or and on the sinister side a sea horse Argent the piscine parts Proper gorged with a collar flory counterflory attached thereto a chain reflexed over the back Or. Granted 1997.
Motto
Rhyddid Gwerin Ffyniant Gwlad (The Freedom Of The People Is The Prosperity Of The Country)[30]
Badge
Within an elliptical cable Azure knotted in base issuing out of a bailey of five towers a garb Or banded Vert. Granted 1997.

|

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Evans, Paul (25 May 2024). "Cllr Handel Davies elected as new Carmarthenshire County Council Chair". Tenby Observer. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
2. ^ Harries, Robert (2 May 2019). "Welsh council appoints first ever female chief executive - but she will earn £30k less than previous boss". Wales Online. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
3. ^ "County Councils. The Carmarthenshire Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 1 February 1889. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
4. ^ "Carmarthenshire County Council". South Wales Daily News. Swansea. 21 March 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
5. ^ "County Councils: Carmarthenshire". Carmarthen Journal. 5 April 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
6. ^ Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire and South Wales. 1895. p. 17. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
7. ^ "County Hall, Carmarthen". Historypoints.org. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
8. ^ "Dyfed County Council Records". Archives Hub. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
9. ^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 4 October 2022
10. ^ "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 4 October 2022
11. ^ Shipton, Martin (13 May 2024). "Plaid Cymru councillor quits the party and rips into its National Executive Committee". Nation Cymru. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
12. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
13. ^ "Council minutes". Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
14. ^ "Council's new leader". Carmarthen Journal. 15 November 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
15. ^ "Meryl's 'first lady'". Carmarthen Journal. 26 May 1999. p. 26. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
16. ^ "Carmarthenshire council leader Meryl Gravell steps down after 13 years". BBC News. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
17. ^ "Carmarthenshire council leader Kevin Madge voted out". BBC News. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
18. ^ "New coalition takes over Carmarthenshire council". BBC Wales News. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
19. ^ Dalling, Robert (6 May 2022). "Leader of Carmarthenshire Council loses his seat". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
20. ^ Youle, Richard (6 July 2022). "Why town centres will have to be different, says council leader". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
21. ^ "Welsh council appoints first ever female chief executive - but she will earn £30k less than previous boss". Wales on Line. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
22. ^ "Carmarthenshire chief executive Mark James to retire". BBC News. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
23. ^ "Carmarthenshire". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
24. ^ "Your councillors by party". Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
25. ^ "Election Centre".
26. ^ "The County of Carmarthenshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021". Legislation.gov.uk. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
27. ^ "Carmarthenshire Boundary review 2018" (PDF). Boundary and local Government Commission.
28. ^ "Carmarthen County Hall". Coflein. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
29. ^ "Contact us: visit". Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
30. ^ "Wales". Civic Heraldry of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2021.

1. ^ a b Includes candidates elected as Independent Labour and/or Ratepayers Association.

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