Carmarthenshire County Council

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.

Carmarthenshire County Council

Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin
Logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1996
Preceded byCarmarthen District
Dinefwr Borough
Llanelli Borough
Dyfed County Council
Leadership
Louvain Roberts,
Independent
since 24 May 2023[1]
Darren Price,
Plaid Cymru
since 25 May 2022
Wendy Walters
since June 2019[2]
Structure
Seats75 councillors
Carmarthenshire County Council
Political groups
Administration
  Plaid Cymru (38)
Other Parties (37)
  Labour (23)
  Independent (14)
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, Carmarthen, SA31 1JP
Website
www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales

The council is based at County Hall in Carmarthen.

History

It is the second body of this name; the previous Carmarthenshire County Council was formed on 1 April 1889 by the Local Government Act 1888, taking over the local government functions of the Quarter Sessions. The first election to the original council was held in January 1889 and the majority of the seats were won by the Liberals.[3] This pattern continued 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 administrative counties of Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire. From 1974 until 1996 the area of the former administrative county of Carmarthenshire was split into the three districts of Carmarthen, Dinefwr, and Llanelli, with Dyfed County Council providing county-level services.[4]

Under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 these councils established in 1974 were all abolished, and Carmarthenshire County Council was re-established as a unitary authority for the area.[5]

Political control

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:[6]

Party in controlYears
No overall control1996–2022
Plaid Cymru2022–present

Leadership

The leaders of the council since 1996 have been:[7]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
Gerald Meyler[8] Labour1 Apr 1996May 1999
Meryl Gravell[9][10] IndependentMay 1999May 2012
Kevin Madge[11] LabourMay 2012May 2015
Emlyn Dole[12][13] Plaid CymruMay 20158 May 2022
Darren Price[14] Plaid Cymru25 May 2022

The council's chief executive since 2019 has been Wendy Walters.[15] She succeeded Mark James, who had held the post for 17 years.[16]

Composition

Following the 2022 election the composition of the council was:

Party Councillors
Plaid Cymru38
Labour23
Independent14
Total 75

Of the independent councillors, 11 sit together as the "Independent Group", the other three are unaffiliated to any group.[17] The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

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[18] 80 7 37 32[lower-alpha 1] 3 1
1999 74 13 28 32[lower-alpha 2] 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 controlled

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

Electoral divisions

The county is divided into 51 electoral wards returning 75 councillors.[19] 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[20]
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

Arms
Coat of arms of Carmarthenshire County Council
Notes
Granted on 28th 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)[21]
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
  1. "Council minutes, 24 May 2023". Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  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. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 4 October 2022
  5. "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 4 October 2022
  6. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  7. "Council minutes". Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  8. "Council's new leader". Carmarthen Journal. 15 November 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  9. "Meryl's 'first lady'". Carmarthen Journal. 26 May 1999. p. 26. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  10. "Carmarthenshire council leader Meryl Gravell steps down after 13 years". BBC News. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  11. "Carmarthenshire council leader Kevin Madge voted out". BBC News. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  12. "New coalition takes over Carmarthenshire council". BBC Wales News. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  13. Dalling, Robert (6 May 2022). "Leader of Carmarthenshire Council loses his seat". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  14. Youle, by Richard (6 July 2022). "Why town centres will have to be different, says council leader". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  15. "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.
  16. "Carmarthenshire chief executive Mark James to retire". BBC News. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  17. "Your councillors by party". Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  18. "Election Centre".
  19. "The County of Carmarthenshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021". Legislation.gov.uk. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  20. "Carmarthenshire Boundary review 2018" (PDF). Boundary and local Government Commission.
  21. "Wales". Civic Heraldry of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  1. Includes candidates elected as Independent Labour and/or Ratepayers Association.
  2. Includes candidates elected as Independent Labour and/or Ratepayers Association.
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