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Twm Owen

Twm Owen

South Wales Argus

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Reform video filmed in council chamber accusing councillor of 'lying' taken down

A VIDEO filmed in a council chamber in which two Reform councillors accused a cabinet member of “lying” has been taken down. The party political...

saturday 5

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Brexit and subsidy changes means new business uses needed for farm shed

A FORMER riding schools and stables in a countryside conservation area can be used for a range of different business types.  Brexit and knock-on...

09.01.2026 10

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

'Good' council department says it has delivered £104m boost to local economy

A COUNCIL’s planning service estimates it has contributed £104 million to the local economy and ranked itself as “good” for eight of 12...

08.01.2026 5

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Reform leader booted off council for failing to show up to meetings

A HIGH-PROFILE Reform UK councillor has been removed from a community council for failing to attend its meetings.  A vacancy has now been declared...

06.01.2026 9

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

'I don't wake up every morning wishing I was still an MP'

EIGHTEEN months since losing his place in government former Welsh secretary David Davies has said he didn’t realise at the time how “stressful”...

01.01.2026 4

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

See all the countries Gwent MP, and government minister, visited in a year

TORFAEN’S MP Nick Thomas-Symonds visited eleven countries in his first year in government at a cost of at least £7,000.  The Labour MP’s...

31.12.2025 5

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

From bowls clubs to walking groups - how this council plans to overhaul its services

SHIFTING council spending power to community groups isn’t a reworking of David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ a senior leader has said.  ...

30.12.2025 6

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

New rules on councillors attending meetings via video as a 'minority leave early'

COUNCILLORS attending meeting over video links have been accused of leaving them early and of not pulling their weight.  New rules requiring...

16.12.2025 5

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Kemi Badenoch refuses to say if Tories will back Reform after Senedd election

CONSERVATIVE leader Kemi Badenoch has refused to say whether her party could support Plaid Cymru or Reform UK to form the next Welsh Government.   ...

04.12.2025 3

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Former Tory election candidate and councillor quits party to join Reform UK

A FORMER Conservative Parliamentary candidate has become the second member of the party on a Gwent council to defect to Reform UK.  The...

03.12.2025 4

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

'Labour knows better' says councillor in row with Reform over climate change targets

REFORM UK has come under fire on climate change from cabinet members of the only Gwent authority the party is represented on.  Reform, which polls...

01.12.2025 4

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Kemi Badenoch questions support provided as she sees Storm Claudia flood damage

CONSERVATIVE leader Kemi Badenoch has visited flood hit Monmouth and questioned if enough support has been provided since the Storm Claudia deluge.  ...

29.11.2025 9

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Plan for improving education for children with additional needs is agreed

PLANS for improving education for children with additional needs and those unable to attend school have been agreed by councillors.  Monmouthshire...

25.11.2025 6

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Top councillor calls for council committee's unwieldy name to be shortened

LONG-WINDED names for committees have forced a top councillor’s patience to snap.  David Williams who as well as being the deputy presiding...

25.11.2025 5

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Gwent council reports near £3 million gap in budget for upcoming year

A GWENT council has a near £3 million gap in its budget for the forthcoming financial year.  Torfaen Borough Council is continuing to work on...

24.11.2025 30

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Town by town parking reviews to be held after 'expensive' county wide study

A REVIEW of car parking policies and charges will be carried out on a town by town basis after a council spent £28,000 on a county wide review.  ...

22.11.2025 3

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Residents urged to join talks over deal intended to change future of public services

RESIDENTS of two Gwent boroughs are being urged to get involved in talks about overhauling how their councils deliver services.  Blaenau Gwent and...

13.11.2025 4

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Council leader secures key spot on Labour list in bid to win Senedd seat

A GWENT council leader has won a selection battle to secure second place on a Labour candidate list for next year’s Senedd election.  Anthony...

07.11.2025 4

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Plan to cut town council's membership opposed by Labour councillor

A LABOUR councillor has broken ranks to vote against reducing the membership of his local town council. Cllr Liam Cowles said...

02.11.2025 7

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

New town and community councils framework agreed

A FRAMEWORK for working with local town and community councils has been agreed by a borough council’s cabinet.   The agreement is intended to...

21.10.2025 5

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Vote due on plans for 2,100 new homes across county

A CRUCIAL vote on a plan intended to set out where up to 2,100 new homes could be built is due to take place next week.   The replacement local...

20.10.2025 20

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

New challenge to planned mosque suggests searching historical papers in New York

THE latest challenge to plans to use a former Gwent library as a mosque has suggested researching historical papers in Scotland and New York.  A...

15.10.2025 7

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Developer shouldn't be expected to pay for bus stop improvements

A HOUSING association shouldn’t be made to pay for a bus stop a council should provide, councillors have been told.  A suggestion the council...

11.10.2025 8

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Pension fund for Gwent public sector workers considers stance on Gaza war links

A MULTI-BILLION pound Gwent pension fund will consider further advice after two local authorities demanded a review of investments linked to...

10.10.2025 20

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Legal challenge to mosque decision isn't going ahead council confirms

A THREATENED legal challenge to a decision to allow a former library to be used as a mosque won’t be going ahead.  A pre-action letter, on behalf...

09.10.2025 10

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Pay per views: Residents to be paid to give opinions on council changes

SELECTED residents are to be paid to give their view on a how a council overhauls its approach to delivering and supporting services.  Residents...

05.10.2025 4

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Council unveils 'new deal' to overhaul how it works with communities

A NEW ‘deal’ between a council and residents is intended to move power away from county hall and into communities.  That’s what a senior...

02.10.2025 10

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Tackling poverty and inequality will help improve poor health, councillors told

AN approach to addressing poverty, inequality and poor health adopted by public services across Gwent has been explained as avoiding focussing on just...

30.09.2025 9

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

'Tories never have a good word to say about our council' says Labour

CONSERVATIVE councillors have been accused of “talking down” a council they used to run and of “never having a good word” to say about it.  ...

28.09.2025 5

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Woman earning £30,000 a year can't afford a home in her hometown

MORE than half of the near 4,000 people on the housing waiting list in the most expensive area of Gwent are in work.  The figure was highlighted at...

27.09.2025 10

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Council is using What's App and social media to reach residents

A GWENT council is set to use What’s App to send messages about its services and plans straight to people’s phones. It also says the best way...

26.09.2025 6

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Families moving to Wales 'caught out by childcare costs'

FAMILIES have moved to Wales from England without realising they will lose entitlement to free childcare from nine months old, councillors have been...

26.09.2025 5

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Gwent pension investments in firms linked to Gaza war 'should be reviewed'

A MULTI-MILLION pound pension fund for public servants across Gwent will be asked to review investments linked to Israel’s war in Gaza.  A...

22.09.2025 7

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

County of Sanctuary plan 'not about increasing number of asylum seekers'

A PLAN to support asylum seekers and refugees backed by a Gwent council two years ago won’t increase their numbers, a top councillor has said.  ...

22.09.2025 3

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

'Really pleasing' for council to commit to paying Real Living Wage

A GWENT council’s leadership has committed to being accredited as a Real Living Wage employer.  Monmouthshire County Council has already been...

19.09.2025 20

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

'Shameful' Reform leader hits out at Gwent council's 'failure' to honour Charlie Kirk

THE leader of Reform UK’s first council group in Wales has hit out at councillors for failing to mark the killing of US political influencer...

17.09.2025 50

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Potential legal challenge at plan to use former library as county's first mosque

THREE councillors who failed in a bid to overturn a decision paving the way for a county’s first mosque could launch a legal challenge.  The two...

17.09.2025 7

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Council could consider investments and Gwent pensions linked to Gaza war

A GWENT council will be asked to review if any of its investments are held with firms linked to violations of international law due to Israel’s...

16.09.2025 8

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Decision which will provide pay boost for some minimum wage workers to be agreed

A COUNCIL is set to agree a policy that will see staff working for its contractors get a pay boost if they are only earning the legal minimum.  ...

14.09.2025 3

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Council backs partnership that hands out cash to sports initiatives across Gwent

A COUNCIL has backed a regional sports partnership at a “good time” coinciding with the Tour of Britain visiting South Wales.   The area...

09.09.2025 20

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Conservative select first four candidates for new Senedd seat

THE Welsh Conservatives have announced their first four candidates for Monmouthshire and Torfaen for next year’s expanded Senedd election.   ...

02.09.2025 7

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Council leader wants to represent super constituency in expanded Senedd

A GWENT council leader has been shortlisted as a candidate in a key seat for next year’s Senedd elections.   Councillor Anthony Hunt, who has led...

01.09.2025 4

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Six councillors to battle with council leader for shot at Senedd seat

A HIGH profile council leader is facing challenges from his own group and other senior councillors for a chance at winning a Senedd seat.   Anthony...

01.09.2025 5

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

By-election victory just weeks after county declared a 'Reform-free zone'

REFORM UK has won a by-election in a Welsh county that was declared “a Reform-free zone” just a fortnight ago.   The Conservatives had been...

11.08.2025 6

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Deadline looms for elections to fill town council vacancies

A DEADLINE is approaching to request by-elections to fill two vacancies on Magor with Undy Town Council.   Electors of the town’s West ward and...

05.08.2025 6

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Tories score hattrick of by-election wins but Reform also has reason to celebrate

THE Conservatives have completed a hattrick of by-election victories over Reform though Nigel Farage’s party has gained another community councillor...

03.08.2025 5

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Introducing Wales' new tourism tax hasn't been ruled out by this Gwent council

A GWENT council leader has refused to rule out introducing the Welsh Government’s new tourist tax when the powers become available to councils.   ...

02.08.2025 10

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Council area that was represented by Reform's new Senedd Member goes Conservative

THE Conservatives have defeated Reform UK in a by-election in the council area the party’s first Senedd Member Laura Anne Jones previously...

31.07.2025 10

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Round two in fight between Labour and Reform in Gwent council ward

A BY-ELECTION is taking place in part of a ward that elected the first Reform UK councillor in Wales.   The election is to fill a vacancy for the...

28.07.2025 4

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen

Concern council agreement to publish key decisions hasn't been delivered

THERE is uncertainty over implementation of a new rule intended to ensure councillors and the public are aware of decisions made by top council...

25.07.2025 7

South Wales Argus

Twm Owen