# Llanelli Rural

Llanelli Rural (Welsh: Llanelli Gwledig) is a 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, 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, increasing to 22,800 at the 2011 Census.
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

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.

### Current composition (after the May 2022 election)

| Group affiliation | Group affiliation | Members |
| | Labour | 10 |
| | Plaid Cymru | 4 |
| | Independent | 7 |
| | Vacant | 0 |
| Total | Total | 21 |
Following the previous full election on 4 May 2017 the council composition was:
| Group affiliation | Group affiliation | Members |
| | Labour | 13 |
| | Plaid Cymru | 4 |
| | Independent | 4 |
| Total | 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
#### 2017 election

| Ward | Party | Rural councillors elected - May 2017 |
| Bynea | Labour | Stephen Donoghue |
| Bynea | Labour | Michelle Donoghue |
| Bynea | Labour | Ian Wooldridge |
| Dafen | Independent | Sharen Davies |
| Dafen | Labour | Tegwen Devichand |
| Dafen | Labour | Susan Lewis |
| Dafen | Labour | Andrew Rogers |
| Felinfoel | Labour | John Evans |
| Felinfoel | Labour | Bill Thomas |
| Glyn | Independent | Jim Jones |
| Glyn | Independent | Carol Rees |
| Hengoed | Independent | Sian Caiach |
| Hengoed | Plaid Cymru | Martin Davies |
| Hengoed | Labour | Bethan Williams |
| Hengoed | Plaid Cymru | Jennifer Susan Phillips |
| Pemberton | Labour | Fozia Akhtar |
| Pemberton | Labour | Jason Peter Hart |
| Pemberton | Labour | Rafia Najmi |
| Pemberton | Labour | Ella Simmons |
| Swiss Valley | Independent | Giles Morgan |
| Swiss Valley | 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. The by-election saw Christopher Beer (Labour) and Samantha Nurse (Independent) elected.
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

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

### Chairs of Council

* 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