Llanelli Rural (Welsh: Llanelli Gwledig) is a community in the southeast of Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Llanelli Rural
Community
Llanelli Rural is located in Carmarthenshire
Llanelli Rural
Llanelli Rural
Location within Carmarthenshire
Principal area
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
List of places
UK
Wales
Carmarthenshire

51°40′59″N 4°07′48″W / 51.683°N 4.130°W / 51.683; -4.130


Map of the community

Description

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Despite its name, Llanelli Rural covers large parts of the Llanelli urban area, including Bynea, Llwynhendy, Cefncaeau, Pemberton, Bryn, Cwmcarnhywel, Cwmbach, Cynheidre, Penygraig, Penceilogi, Dafen, Felinfoel, Swiss Valley, along with the villages of Pont-Henri, Pontiets, Pwll, and Five Roads, as well as a number of hamlets. The community surrounds Llanelli, except at the coast.

According to the 2001 census it had a population of 21,043,[1] increasing to 22,800 at the 2011 Census.[2]

Llanelli Rural is bordered by the communities of: Llanelli; Pembrey and Burry Port Town; Trimsaran; Llangyndeyrn; Pontyberem; Llannon; and Llangennech, all being in Carmarthenshire; and by: Gorseinon; Llwchwr; Gowerton; Llanrhidian Higher; and Llanrhidian Lower, all being in the City and County of Swansea.

Llanelli Rural Council

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Llanelli Rural Council

Cyngor Gwledig Llanelli
 
Type
Type
Leadership
Leader
Cllr. Susan Lewis, Labour
Deputy Leader
Cllr. Edward Skinner, Labour
Chair
Cllr. Susan Phillips, Plaid Cymru
Vice Chair
Cllr. Martin Davies, Plaid Cymru
Seats21
Meeting place
 
Vauxhall Buildings, Vauxhall, Llanelli
Website
www.llanelli-rural.gov.uk

Llanelli Rural Community Council governs the area at a community level. The council headquarters is located in Llanelli town centre.

In 2013/14 Llanelli Rural Council received £959,530 via the council tax precept, the highest of any community council in Wales.[3]

Current composition (after the May 2022 election)

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Group affiliation Members[4]
Labour 10
Plaid Cymru 4
  Independent
7
  Vacant
0
 Total
21

Following the previous full election on 4 May 2017 the council composition was:[5]

Group affiliation Members
Labour 13
Plaid Cymru 4
  Independent
4
 Total
21

Following the election in May 2022 the council elected Cllr. Susan Lewis as leader and Cllr. Edward Skinner as deputy leader.

Election history

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2017 election

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Ward Party Rural councillors elected - May 2017[5]
Bynea Labour Stephen Donoghue
Labour Michelle Donoghue
Plaid Cymru Ian Wooldridge
Dafen Independent Sharen Davies
Labour Tegwen Devichand
Labour Susan Lewis
Labour Andrew Rogers
Felinfoel Labour John Evans
Labour Bill Thomas
Glyn Independent Jim Jones
Independent Carol Rees
Hengoed Independent Sian Caiach
Plaid Cymru Martin Davies
Labour Bethan Williams
Plaid Cymru Jennifer Susan Phillips
Pemberton Labour Fozia Akhtar
Labour Jason Peter Hart
Labour Rafia Najmi
Labour Ella Simmons
Swiss Valley Independent Giles Morgan
Conservative Jordan Spencer Randall

2021 By-elections

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Councillors Mina Najmi and Ella Simmons left the council in 2020, leading to a by-election for their Pemberton ward seats on 6 May 2021.[6] The by-election saw Christopher Beer (Labour) and Samantha Nurse (Independent) elected.[7]

Following the death of Carol Rees in 2021, Alexander Evans (originally independent but joined Plaid Cymru soon after) was co-opted to serve as a member for the Glyn ward.

Although originally elected under a Labour ticket, Sharen Davies and Jason Hart left the party and became independent members in 2018 and 2021 respectively. Jordan Randall was originally elected as a Plaid Cymru candidate but moved to the Conservative party.

2022 election

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Ward Party Rural councillors elected - May 2022[8]
Bynea Labour Deryk Cundy
Labour Michelle Donoghue
Independent Simon Ford
Dafen Labour Rob Evans
Labour Sue Lewis
Labour Andrew Rogers
Labour Neil Stephens
Felinfoel Labour Nysia Evans
Labour Eve Evans
Glyn Plaid Cymru Alex Evans
Plaid Cymru Owen Williams
Hengoed Labour Edward Skinner
Plaid Cymru Susan Phillips
Labour Bethan Williams
Plaid Cymru Martin Davies
Pemberton Independent Sharen Davies
Independent Jason Peter Hart
Independent Samantha Nurse
Independent Andrew Stephens
Swiss Valley Independent Giles Morgan
Independent Stephen Bowen

Chairs of Council

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  • 2023/24 Susan Phillips
  • 2022/23 Gyles Morgan
  • 2021/22 Tegwen Devichand
  • 2019/21 Sharen Davies
  • 2018/19 Sian Caiach
  • 2017/18 John Evans
  • 2016/17 Stephen M Donoghue
  • 2015/16 Martin Davies
  • 2014/15 Lindy J Butler
  • 2013/14 Thomas J “Jim” Jones
  • 2012/13 Tegwen Devichand
  • 2011/12 Susan Lewis
  • 2010/11 Sharen Davies

References

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  1. ^ Census 2001 Statistics Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Community population 2011". Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  3. ^ Professor Michael Woods (2013). Developing a Comprehensive Understanding of Community and Town Councils in Wales (PDF). Aberystwyth University. pp. 6, 52. ISBN 978-1-4734-0874-6.
  4. ^ Council Members and Wards
  5. ^ a b Town and Community Council Election Results 2017, Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 18 December 2019
  6. ^ "Llanelli Rural Council seats could be decided by election in May". In Your Area. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Town and community council election results 2021". South Wales Guardian. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Election Results". Llanelli Online News. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
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