POSITIVELy LIBERAL

On Friday 10 May, Pembrokeshire County Council will choose a new Leader. The current Leader, Councillor David Simpson, is standing down after ably leading the Council through a very challenging period including the pandemic, lockdown, cost of living crisis and the council’s own financial challenges. David will continue to serve as a councillor for Lampeter Velfrey.

There are two candidates for Leader: Di Clements from the Conservative Group and Jon Harvey who is not aligned to a political group. I am supporting Jon Harvey, whom I believe is best able to lead the Council during this difficult time and unite councillors to serve the people of Pembrokeshire.

The council cannot hide from the serious financial challenges it faces at a time when many are reeling from the cost of living crisis due to rising prices. This includes having to pay for a large rise in the number of children coming into residential care (up from 18 to 32 in the first 3 quarters of 2023-24), more elderly residents needing care and a rise in homelessness. Vulnerable children, elderly residents and homeless people all need support (and are legally entitled to it) and this has led to over £10 million additional costs during 2023-4.

Action is being taken to provide more local accommodation for children in care and more social housing. However, as the population in Pembrokeshire continues to age, we face more pressure to provide decent social care within the county. We cannot realistically expect the council taxpayer to shoulder the burden of ever increasing social care costs and the UK Government needs to step in with realistic arrangements to fund adult social care. Every political party needs to address this at the General Election.

During this difficult time there has been increased public scrutiny of some of the council’s capital spending projects, particularly in Haverfordwest where most of the capital funding comes from the UK Government’s Levelling Up funds and from the Welsh Government.

The council needs to carefully look at every area of spending. It will need to provide for vulnerable children who need residential care, elderly residents who need social care and people who are homeless. This has to be the priority for the newly elected Council Leader and all

councillors.