View source for Llanelli Rural

{{Short description|Community in Carmarthenshire, Wales}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox UK place
| type = [[Community (Wales)|Community]]
| country = Wales
| coordinates = {{coord|51.683|-4.130|display=title|region:GB_scale:20000}}
| unitary_wales = [[Carmarthenshire]]
| module= [[File:Wales Carmarthenshire Community Llanelli Rural map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}
'''Llanelli Rural''' ({{langx|cy|Llanelli Gwledig}}) is a [[community (Wales)|community]] in the southeast of [[Carmarthenshire]], [[Wales]].

==Description==
Despite its name, Llanelli Rural covers large parts of the [[Llanelli]] urban area, including [[Bynea]], [[Llwynhendy]], [[Cefncaeau]], [[Pemberton, Wales|Pemberton]], [[Bryn, Llanelli|Bryn]], [[Cwmcarnhywel]], Cwmbach, [[Cynheidre]], [[Pen-y-graig, Carmarthenshire|Penygraig]], [[Penceilogi]], [[Dafen, Carmarthenshire|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,<ref name="footnote_1">[http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/eng/index.asp?locID=3976&docID=-1 Census 2001 Statistics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928093517/http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/eng/index.asp?locID=3976&docID=-1 |date=28 September 2007 }}</ref> increasing to 22,800 at the 2011 Census.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11125854&c=SA14+8AF&d=16&e=62&g=6492113&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1429007342163&enc=1|title=Community population 2011 |access-date=14 April 2015}}</ref>

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==
{{Infobox legislature
 | background_color   = 
 | text_color         = 
 | name               = Llanelli Rural Council
 | native_name        = Cyngor Gwledig Llanelli
 | native_name_lang   = Welsh
 | transcription_name = 
 | legislature        = 
 | coa_pic            = Llanellirural.png|thumb
 | coa_res            = 
 | coa_alt            =
 | foundation         = <!-- {{Start date|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> 
 | house_type         = Community council
 | body               = 
 | houses             = 
 | leader1_type       = Leader
 | leader1            = Cllr. Susan Lewis
 | party1             = Labour
 | election1          = 
 | leader2_type       = Deputy Leader
 | leader2            = Cllr. Edward Skinner
 | party2             = Labour
 | election2          = 
 | leader3_type       = Chair
 | leader3            = Cllr. Susan Lewis
 | party3             = Labour
 | election3          =  
 | leader4_type       = Vice Chair
 | leader4            = Cllr. Michelle Donoghue
 | party4             = Labour
 | election4          = 
 | members            = 21
 | house1             = 
 | house2             = 
 | structure1         = 
 | structure1_res     = 
 | structure1_alt     = 
 | structure2         = 
 | structure2_res     = 
 | structure2_alt     = 
 | political_groups1  = 
 | political_groups2  = 
 | committees1        = 
 | committees2        = 
 | joint_committees   = 
 | voting_system1     = 
 | voting_system2     = 
 | last_election1     = 
 | last_election2     = 
 | previous_election1 =
 | previous_election2 =
 | session_room       =Llanelli Rural Council offices, Llanelli - geograph.org.uk - 3333897.jpg 
 | session_res        = 
 | session_alt        = 
 | meeting_place      = Vauxhall Buildings, Vauxhall, Llanelli
 | website            = {{URL|https://www.llanelli-rural.gov.uk}}
 | footnotes          = 
 | motto              = 
}}

Llanelli Rural Community Council governs the area at a [[community council|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.<ref>{{cite book|author=Professor Michael Woods |url=https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/media/departmental/dges/research/newpoliticalgeographies/140120-developing-comprehensive-understanding-community-town-councils1-en.pdf |title=Developing a Comprehensive Understanding of Community and Town Councils in Wales |publisher=Aberystwyth University |year=2013 |pages=6, 52 |isbn=978-1-4734-0874-6 }}</ref>

===Current Composition (after the May 2022 election and 2025 by elections)===

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" | Group affiliation
! Members<ref name="Council Members and Wards">[https://www.llanelli-rural.gov.uk/your-council/members/ Council Members and Wards]</ref>
|-
|style="width: 4px" bgcolor={{party color|Welsh Labour}}|
| style="text-align: left;" scope="row" | [[Welsh Labour|{{party shortname|Welsh Labour}}]]
| 8
|-
|{{Party name with color|Plaid Cymru}}
| 6
|-
|style="background-color:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"| &nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] <br />
| 7
|-
|style="background-color:white"| &nbsp;
| Vacant <br />
| 0
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="1" | &nbsp;Total<br />
! 21
|}

Following the previous full election on 4 May 2017 the council composition was:<ref name="results 2017">[https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/media/1214056/community-_amended_results_final-2017.pdf Town and Community Council Election Results 2017], Carmarthenshire County Council. Retrieved 18 December 2019</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" | Group affiliation
! Members
|-
|style="width: 4px" bgcolor={{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|
| style="text-align: left;" scope="row" | [[Welsh Labour|{{party shortname|Welsh Labour}}]]
| 13
|-
|{{Party name with color|Plaid Cymru}}
| 4
|-
|style="background-color:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"| &nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] <br />
| 4
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="1" | &nbsp;Total<br />
! 21
|}

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

Following the 2 by elections in 2025 Cllr Alex Evans put forward a motion of 'no confidence' in the leader Cllr Susan Lewis in an effort to take control. The motion was lost in a council meeting and Cllr Lewis remains leader of Council with the support of members from all groups across the chamber.

===Election history===

====2017 election====

{| class="wikitable"
! Ward
!colspan=2 | Party
! Rural councillors elected - May 2017<ref name="results 2017" />
|-
|rowspan="3" |[[Bynea (electoral ward)|Bynea]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Stephen Donoghue
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Michelle Donoghue 
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Ian Wooldridge
|-
|rowspan="4" |[[Dafen (electoral ward)|Dafen]]
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
|Sharen Davies 
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Tegwen Devichand
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Susan Lewis
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Andrew Rogers
|-
|rowspan="2" |[[Felinfoel]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|John Evans
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Bill Thomas
|-
|rowspan="2" |[[Glyn, Carmarthenshire|Glyn]]
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
|Jim Jones
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
|Carol Rees
|-
|rowspan="4" |[[Hengoed (Carmarthenshire electoral ward)|Hengoed]]
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}} 
|Sian Caiach 
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Plaid Cymru}}
|Martin Davies
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Bethan Williams
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Plaid Cymru}}
|Jennifer Susan Phillips 
|-
|rowspan="4" |[[Pemberton, Carmarthenshire|Pemberton]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Fozia Akhtar
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Jason Peter Hart
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Rafia Najmi
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Ella Simmons
|-
|rowspan="2" |[[Swiss Valley, Carmarthenshire|Swiss Valley]]
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
|Giles Morgan
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative}}
|Jordan Spencer Randall
|}

====2021 By-elections====
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/llanelli-rural-council-seats-could-be-decided-by-election-in-may/ |title=Llanelli Rural Council seats could be decided by election in May |publisher=In Your Area| date=30 March 2021 |accessdate=13 May 2021 }}</ref> The by-election saw Christopher Beer (Labour) and Samantha Nurse (Independent) elected.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/news/19291168.town-community-council-election-results-2021/ |title=Town and community council election results 2021 |work=South Wales Guardian| date=10 May 2021 |accessdate=13 May 2021 }}</ref>

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. Ian Wooldridge also crossed from Plaid Cymru to Labour during his term of office.

====2022 election====

{| class="wikitable"
! Ward
!colspan=2 | Party
! Rural councillors elected - May 2022<ref name="results 2022">{{cite news|url=https://llanellionline.news/election-results/ |title=Election Results |work=Llanelli Online News |date=6 May 2022 |access-date=23 January 2023 }}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3" |[[Bynea (electoral ward)|Bynea]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Deryk Cundy
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Michelle Donoghue 
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
|Simon Ford

|-
|rowspan="4" |[[Dafen (electoral ward)|Dafen]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Rob Evans 
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Sue Lewis
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Andrew Rogers
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Neil Stephens

|-
|rowspan="2" |[[Felinfoel]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Nysia Evans
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Eve Evans

|-
|rowspan="2" |[[Glyn, Carmarthenshire|Glyn]]
| {{Party name with colour|Plaid Cymru}}
|Alex Evans
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Plaid Cymru}}
|Owen Williams

|-
|rowspan="4" |[[Hengoed (Carmarthenshire electoral ward)|Hengoed]]
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} 
|Edward Skinner
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Plaid Cymru}}
|Susan Phillips
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|Bethan Williams
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Plaid Cymru}}
|Martin Davies 

|-
|rowspan="4" |[[Pemberton, Carmarthenshire|Pemberton]]
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
|Sharen Davies
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
|Jason Peter Hart
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
|Samantha Nurse
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
|Andrew Stephens

|-
|rowspan="2" |[[Swiss Valley, Carmarthenshire|Swiss Valley]]
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
|Giles Morgan
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
|Stephen Bowen
|}

====2025 By-elections====
Following the sad passing of Neil Stephens (Labour) a by-election was held in the Dafen ward on March 27th which was won by Karl Morgan (Plaid Cymru)

Following the resignation of Bethan Williams (Labour) a by-election was held in the Hengoed ward on February 20th which was won by Jason Lovell (Plaid Cymru).

===Chairs of Council===

*2025/26 Susan Lewis
*2024/25 Martin Davies
*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 Butlern
*2013/14 Thomas J “Jim” Jones
*2012/13 Tegwen Devichand
*2011/12 Susan Lewis
*2010/11 Sharen Davies

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.llanelli-rural.gov.uk/ Llanelli Rural Council]
*[http://www.lrctraining.org.uk/ Llanelli Rural Council Training]

{{Communities of Carmarthenshire}}

[[Category:Communities in Carmarthenshire]]
[[Category:Llanelli Rural| ]]