Next, a look at the four very large councils covering central Wales and the west.
- Current Administration: Rainbow coalition (Independents, Labour, Plaid Cymru, Lib Dems).
- Current Leader: Cllr. David Simpson (Ind).
- Number of Seats (2022): 60 (n/c).
- Current Seat Distribution: Independents & Non-Affiliated (35), Conservative (11), Labour (7), Plaid Cymru (6), Liberal Democrats (1).
Previous Results:
- 1995 – Independent control.
- 1999 – Independent control.
- 2004 – Independent control.
- 2008 – Independent control.
- 2012 – Independent control.
- 2017 – No Overall Control.
It’s likely to be No Overall Control with Independents the largest group, if not a working majority if the right Independent group gets the right number of seats.
Nineteen councillors have already been elected unopposed – 12 of them Independents. The balance of power will depend on which type of Independent wins and how many.
The Conservatives have had the greatest success in winning seats from Independents in the last few elections, with Labour traditionally performing strongly in and around Milford Haven, Neyland and Pembroke Dock.
There are a couple of potentially interesting contests including a Plaid-Independent showdown in the new Manorbier & Penally ward (previously two separate wards; 1 Plaid, 1 Ind) and a similar contest in Milford West where two sitting Plaid and Independent councillors will be running against each other.
The new two-seat Pembroke Monkton & St Mary South ward could be competitive too, with Conservatives, Independents and Labour all eying it up.
