Carmarthenshire County Council

Carmarthenshire County Council

Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin
Carmarthenshire County Council ; Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Founded	1 April 1996
Preceded by	Carmarthen District; Dinefwr Borough; Llanelli Borough; Dyfed County Council
Leadership
Chair	Louvain Roberts, ; Independent ; since 24 May 2023
Leader	Darren Price, ; Plaid Cymru ; since 25 May 2022
Chief Executive	Wendy Walters ; since June 2019
Structure
Seats	75 councillors
Political groups	Administration Plaid Cymru (38)Other Parties (37) Labour (23) Independent (14)
Length of term	5 years
Elections
Voting system	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

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

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 control		Years
	No overall control	1996–2022
	Plaid Cymru	2022–present

Leadership

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

Councillor		From	To
Gerald Meyler^[8]	Labour	1 Apr 1996	May 1999
Meryl Gravell^[9]^[10]	Independent	May 1999	May 2012
Kevin Madge^[11]	Labour	May 2012	May 2015
Emlyn Dole^[12]^[13]	Plaid Cymru	May 2015	8 May 2022
Darren Price^[14]	Plaid Cymru	25 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 Cymru	38
	Labour	23
	Independent	14
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						Notes
Year	Seats	Plaid Cymru	Labour	Independent	Liberal Democrats	Conservative	Notes
1995^[18]	80	7	37	32^[a]	3	1
1999	74	13	28	32^[b]	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 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)^[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

^ "Council minutes, 24 May 2023". Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^ 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.
^ "County Councils. The Carmarthenshire Elections". Carmarthen Journal. 1 February 1889. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
^ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 4 October 2022
^ "Local Government (Wales) Act 1994", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1994 c. 19, retrieved 4 October 2022
^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
^ "Council minutes". Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
^ "Council's new leader". Carmarthen Journal. 15 November 1995. p. 20. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
^ "Meryl's 'first lady'". Carmarthen Journal. 26 May 1999. p. 26. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
^ "Carmarthenshire council leader Meryl Gravell steps down after 13 years". BBC News. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
^ "Carmarthenshire council leader Kevin Madge voted out". BBC News. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
^ "New coalition takes over Carmarthenshire council". BBC Wales News. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
^ Dalling, Robert (6 May 2022). "Leader of Carmarthenshire Council loses his seat". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
^ Youle, Richard (6 July 2022). "Why town centres will have to be different, says council leader". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
^ "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.
^ "Carmarthenshire chief executive Mark James to retire". BBC News. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
^ "Your councillors by party". Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^ "Election Centre".
^ "The County of Carmarthenshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021". Legislation.gov.uk. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
^ "Carmarthenshire Boundary review 2018" (PDF). Boundary and local Government Commission.
^ "Wales". Civic Heraldry of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2021.

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

[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.

[CJ_1-2-89_CC_results-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

[electionscentre-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.

[BBC_Wales_13-5-15-12] "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, 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".

[21] "The County of Carmarthenshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2021". Legislation.gov.uk. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2022.

[22] "Carmarthenshire Boundary review 2018" (PDF). Boundary and local Government Commission.

[23] "Wales". Civic Heraldry of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2021.

[19] Includes candidates elected as Independent Labour and/or Ratepayers Association.

[20] Includes candidates elected as Independent Labour and/or Ratepayers Association.

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