Ammanford deputy mayor tops Labour’s Senedd list for Carmarthenshire

Higgins brings legal and union background to the top of the list

Labour members in the new “super constituency” of Sir Gaerfyrddin, covering the Westminster seats of Caerfyrddin and Llanelli, have backed Higgins to head the party’s closed list under the expanded Senedd arrangements.

A fluent Welsh speaker, Higgins told members he wanted to “represent Sir Gaerfyrddin to make a difference on the ground, ensuring national policies deliver for our communities.” He pointed to his experience as a Citizens Advice lawyer during austerity and later as a manager for a health trade union representing members across Wales during the pandemic.

Currently deputy mayor of Ammanford, Higgins also sits on Ammanford Town Council and Lliedi Community Council. He has lived in Tycroes all his life, trained as a barrister, and worked for Citizens Advice Cymru before joining an NHS trade union as a policy officer. Away from politics he plays rugby for Tycroes RFC 2nds and is active in local groups including Tycroes Local Aid.

Teacher from Burry Port takes second place

Second on Labour’s list is Dawn Evans, a teacher from Burry Port. In her pitch she described herself as “a proud Welsh speaking woman, rooted in Carmarthenshire,” and spoke of her personal experience when her son Iwan was left with lifelong disabilities following ambulance delays.

“That experience shaped me,” she said. “I promised myself that if I ever had a chance to improve health and care services for others, I would.”

County councillor and consultant joins the slate

Third on the list is Martyn Palfreman, Labour County Councillor for the Hengoed ward. He is also a consultant specialising in improvement across social care, health and public services, with a career background in practice development and service transformation.

Llanelli architect and town council leader makes his bid

Fourth is David Darkin, an architect and leader of Llanelli Town Council, who launched his bid for the Senedd list in July. He has combined his professional expertise with civic leadership, and has been active in local politics and community design.

Advisor to Lee Waters MS takes fifth spot

Fifth is Lewis Eldred Davies, Labour County Councillor for Kidwelly & St Ishmael. He works as an advisor to Lee Waters MS, the controversial former transport minister who is not standing again at the next election.

Llanelli councillor and mental health campaigner completes the list

Sixth on the list is Andre McPherson, Labour County Councillor for Tyisha ward and a member of Llanelli Town Council. A qualified personal trainer, he also chairs the Board of Trustees for MIND’s Llanelli branch, supporting mental health services in the community.

Electoral outlook

While Higgins heads the slate, Labour’s prospects in Carmarthenshire are far from certain. Our previous poll reporting suggested the party is in line for just one seat in this constituency, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK both gaining ground as Labour’s support edges back.

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Labour confirmed its candidate line‑up for the neighbouring “super constituency”.

David Darkin launches Senedd bid for Carmarthenshire
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Latest polling shows Labour under pressure in Carmarthenshire and across Wales.

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Ammanford Town Council faces eviction as Town Hall set for housing redevelopment

The council was ordered to vacate the building by June 30 to make way for a proposed development of eight energy-efficient homes. The Town Hall, long considered a civic landmark, has been deemed “no longer suitable for purpose” by the county council, which plans to retain the building’s character while converting it into a mix of one- to four-bedroom homes.

Deputy Mayor Calum Higgins expressed frustration over the forced relocation, stating, “We are now in the process of negotiating new premises which will be at the cost of the Ammanford taxpayer—something we wanted to avoid.” He added that the preferred option would have been a dual-use facility combining housing and community space.

The eviction has sparked significant backlash from town councillors and residents alike. Councillor Anthony Jones condemned the move, calling it “a complete lack of respect and support” from the county council. He criticized the lack of transparency and engagement, noting that only one Member of the Senedd responded to the council’s appeals for support.

Despite claims by the county council that discussions with the Town Council have been ongoing since early 2024, town officials argue that they were not adequately consulted. They have since called for ministerial intervention and a formal review of the process.

Cllr Linda Evans, Deputy Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, defended the redevelopment plans, citing a “significant demand for housing in Ammanford and across Wales.” She emphasized that the project would help regenerate the town centre while preserving the Town Hall’s architectural heritage.

The council’s relocation has also reignited public scrutiny over its financial management. In April, the Town Council was forced to issue a public statement denying rumours that £800,000 had gone missing from its accounts. The council clarified that the funds were allocated to earmarked reserves and capital projects, and that all financial decisions were properly documented and audited.

The timing of the financial controversy has only added to the tension surrounding the eviction. Critics argue that the council’s focus should be on securing a new base of operations and maintaining essential services, rather than defending its financial integrity.

As of early July, the Town Council has yet to identify a suitable new location. A formal request has been submitted to Carmarthenshire County Council for an extension to the vacate deadline, but no response has been confirmed.

With the Town Hall’s future now tied to housing development and the council’s operational base in limbo, the situation remains a flashpoint in Ammanford’s local politics. Whether the Town Council can “fight its corner,” as Cllr Jones vowed, remains to be seen.

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Town council seeks to reassure residents £800k has ‘not gone missing’

Ammanford Town Council has looked to reassure residents about its finances and financial practices after being criticised by Wales’ Auditor General for “serious failures in governance and financial management” over a period of 10 years.

The town council has responded saying that the previous administration “failed to ensure that correct accounting procedures were followed and failed to continuously monitor the Council’s finances”.

It added that from this year, its finances “are now robust, transparent, and properly managed”.

Ammanford Town Council said, in a statement following its council meeting on 28 April: “Ammanford Town Council wishes to update residents on the findings of the aforementioned Audit Wales report, published on our website and social media platforms. Residents are understandably extremely concerned; we therefore wish to provide some important clarification.

“Previous concerns raised about financial accountability were due to the lack of completed audits between the financial year’s 2015-16 and 2023-24. During December 2018-2019, the Council were made aware of many issues and focused on completing the 2015-16 and 2017-18 audits, however this work was not finalised as required by the permanent Clerk appointed in December 2019 and the Council as a whole.

“We want to reassure the public that £800,000 has not ‘gone missing.’ The previous administration failed to ensure that correct accounting procedures were followed and failed to continuously monitor the Council’s finances.

“Audit Wales have worked with Ammanford Town Council to finalise the earlier years of account and Interim Officers, appointed by the current Members, have ensured completion of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 years of account. This information can be found on our website.

“In the Full Council meeting of the 28th April 2025, the Council received a detailed end-of-year report (2024-25) from the Council’s Responsible Financial Officer, showing all funds from this financial year have been accounted for and financial procedures are now robust, transparent, and properly managed.

“The current Ammanford Town Council, along with its dedicated officers, are fully committed to serving the people of Ammanford with the highest standards of care and responsibility. Every penny gathered through the local precept is used to enhance our community, and we are determined to ensure that public funds are managed effectively and for the benefit of all.”

#Ammanford #AmmanfordTownCouncil #AuditWales #AuditorGeneral

Auditor General criticises Town Council for decade-long financial mismanagement

In a damning new report, Adrian Crompton, the Auditor General for Wales says “the Council has not maintained proper and complete accounting records” and has been “unable to provide contractual documentation or supporting documentation to evidence that it has followed its standing orders and financial regulations.”

Mr Crompton adds that “adequate information has not been provided to Councillors regarding the approval of payments made” and he has been “unable to confirm whether the payments were made were done so under proper authority.”

“In addition to presenting the accounts for a given year, the Annual Return requires the Council to make a formal declaration in relation to the arrangements it has in place for its governance and financial management. This is referred to as the Annual Governance Statement.

“I consider it important to note that the standards required to be disclosed by the Annual Governance Statement are the minimum standards that the electors of Ammanford Town Council should expect to be upheld.

“I draw attention to the fact that the Council has, by its own admission, failed to meet these standards and has provided negative responses to many of the aspects of proper governance covered by the Annual Governance Statement.

“What is clear to me is that since 2016, even though its failings and deficiencies have been brought to its attention by both internal and external audit, the Council’s past officers and its members have failed to ensure that it has established proper standards of financial management and governance.

“In failing to properly address the issues raised in the Public Interest Report and internal audit reports, Council members have not sufficiently recognised or acted upon issues in relation to the adequacy of their governance arrangements.”

Mr Crompton says that “although it has failed to meet the statutory timetable for each year, the Council has now prepared accounts up to and including the 2023-24 financial year but needs to publish the accounts online.

“Although the 2021-22 accounts do not appear to have been approved and 2022-23 and 2023-24 accounts were late, all outstanding accounts have now been submitted for audit.”

He added that “a lack of clarity of the terms of engagement for [a firm of accountants] may have led to a significant increase in the cost of services provided to the Council”.

He went on to say that “significant deficiencies in the Council’s accounting records mean that I am unable to conclude on whether or not the accounts for 2018-19 to 2021-22 properly present the Council’s income and expenditure” and that “the Council has significantly changed its accounting system twice since 2018-19.”

Mr Crompton says that his audit has “identified several significant weaknesses and omissions in the Council’s records” and that “the Council has insufficient records to support expenditure and is unable to demonstrate that payments have been approved.

“Contract record keeping and thus contract management is poor.”

He added that “the lack of available records and the uncertainties around the expenditure incurred by the Council means I am unable to conclude on whether or not the accounts for 2018-19 to 2021-22 properly present the Council’s income and expenditure.”

In his report, Mr Crompton has made three recommendations to Ammanford Town Council to improve its financial management and governance arrangements.

That the Council should review and maintain a contract register for all contractual obligations and communicate this to the Council members.

The Council should ensure all contracts are awarded in line with its Standing Orders and Financial Regulations and maintain adequate accounting records demonstrating compliance

The Council should ensure it uses official communication channels for Council business.

Swansea Bay News has contacted Ammanford Town Council for comment on the Auditor General’s report.

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