News
Sustainable services for the future
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’s draft budget for 2016/17 has been approved by the Cabinet.
Members met on Monday, January 11, to discuss the new budget which will see cost reductions of £13.8m and additional income from an increase in council tax.
Councillors spoke of a need to maintain services for the future and said there was a need to hold those services on a sustainable basis.
Council Leader Jamie Adams said: “I’ve not shied away from commenting that the receipt of the budget this year has highlighted the plight of rural authorities, and it is the case that rural authorities are finding themselves at the bottom of the pile in terms of funding outcomes from Welsh Government.
“There are residents in Pembrokeshire who are financially vulnerable and it is paramount that we keep them in our minds as we move through the budget process, the effect of the decisions we make in terms of the impact on the lives of those families.
“We have one of the most challenging budgets that the authority is ever likely to have.
“The 21st century schools programme is ambitious, but why shouldn’t it be, why shouldn’t we be ambitious for our young people, why shouldn’t we take risks in terms of our desire to provide them with the best of outcomes?. The 21st century schools programme is a risk as to the capability of the authority to deliver it but what an achievement we could deliver for the people of Pembrokeshire.
“Sustainability of services is key because there are some poison chalices in terms of grasping the nettles of some tricky elements of service delivery and I will place on record that this Cabinet will not back down, we will grasp that nettle and we will look at every matter of service delivery without fear or favour because it is absolutely right that we consider every element of cost within the authority.
“The Wales Audit Office (WAO) has challenged us to think longer term and to plan in a financial context in at least a five year cycle. Recognising also that some of the decisions we make are very brave but mean little when we can’t deliver them and we have to have the political will to drive through these savings otherwise we’ll be in a position where services in the future will be unsustainable.
“There is a strong view that Council tax is seen by the public as fair a way as any of bringing in additional finance to the authority and although there is an opportunity to increase council tax we will still be the lowest authority in Wales. I think it is prudent, on occasions, to consider rises in council tax to ensure that the services we provide in the future are held on a sustainable basis.”
Cabinet member for Transportation and Major Events, Cllr Rob Lewis said: “Over the last couple of years I think we have taken disproportionate reductions in our budget.
“I’m fairly comfortable that we can continue to deliver a good service and we do have a very good network so I hope the public bear with us because we will be attending to their concerns.”
Cabinet Member for Economy and Communities, Cllr Keith Lewis said: “One positive of this is that there is a small element within the capital budget for an industrial unit development in the north of the county and this will go a way towards creating the proper view that we are an authority that supports and encourages business.
“I look forward to seeing the Haverfordwest Masterplan and masterplans for all the other major towns which will allow us to identify specific areas that we can go for external funding and support those particular developments.”
Cabinet Member for Education and Safeguarding, Councillor Sue Perkins said: “The funding for post-16 provision in our secondary schools is controlled by Welsh Government and the specific grant funding allocation to Pembrokeshire for 2016/17 is still awaited, however there is likely to be a reduction between 3 to 7% and falling pupil numbers combined with reducing post-16 funding would represent a significant funding challenge to our secondary schools.
“Talking about Children’s services, these are some of our most vulnerable children in our county and whilst looking at making a reduction in the service, that always has to be at the forefront of our minds.
“We don’t know yet what the Families First grant is going to be; we don’t know if that is going to be reduced, if that is reduced it could have a huge impact on the services that we provide which is really serious because these are our very vulnerable children but we will make savings but only doing so when we know that our children are completely safe and we are providing the best service that we can.”
Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services and the Welsh Language, Councillor Huw George said: “There is only a certain amount of shaving you can do while saving before the whole service collapses. Our in-year savings have been cut because we haven’t got that political will and we can all be heroes by saying don’t look at this or that but if we do that all we are doing is saving up trouble for the following financial year.
“If we cut any more I’m afraid that the balance between saving and risk will be a risk upon public health. We appreciate that savings have to be made but when you have more regulation, more responsibility and fewer staff, somewhere you cross the line and that’s why I’m asking if we can look forward rather than this constant shaving.
“Let’s be brave so that we are on a sure footing as we move forward and I would support the leader when he says we look at everything and we investigate every avenue so that we can move forward with a challenging budget and come out at the other end with sustainable standard services for the people of Pembrokeshire.”
Crime
Pembrokeshire pensioner accused of 17 sexual offences against children
A 72-YEAR-OLD Pembrokeshire man has appeared before magistrates charged with 17 sexual offences against children under the age of 14.
The Crown Prosecution alleges that between May 2004 and April 2007 Robert Hughes of The Close, Spittal, sexually assaulted three girls on eight separate occasions, by touching. At the time of the alleged offences, the girls were aged under 13.
Hughes faces nine additional charges of gross indecency against four girls under the age of 14, allegedly committed between October 1998 and October 2004.
The Crown alleges that all offences took place in Haverfordwest,
Hughes denied all 17 charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday via a video link from his home.
Magistrates declined jurisdiction in the matter. Trial proceedings against Hughes will now commence at Swansea Crown Court on May 24.
Hughes was granted conditional bail, the conditions being that he does not contact the four complainants nor the Prosecution witnesses. He must also notify the police if he changes his address and must have no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18.
Crime
Former army officer admits driving on cannabis
A FORMER army officer has appeared before magistrates after being caught drug-driving just one week before being granted a medical prescription for cannabis.
Shane Blofield was stopped by police soon at 9am on November 7 as he drove his white Ford transit van on the A40 through Slebech.
A roadside drugs swipe proved positive and subsequent blood tests showed he had 5.8mcg of Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The specified legal limit is 2.
This week Blofield, of Clos Pluguen, Llandovery, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving above the specified drug limit when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.
“This is a former army officer who has served his country well and is the father to three young children,” said his counsel, Dr Bobby Shabir of the Kings Bench Chambers.
“My client has a prolapse as well as issues with his back, and as a result he requires medicinal cannabis for health reasons. A prescription for cannabis was sadly given to him a week after the incident, because at the time, he was oblivious to the fact that he could get it on prescription.”
Dr Shabbir presented the magistrates with three character references including one from his former employer and a work colleague. He informed magistrates that Blofield is currently unemployed.
After considering the mitigation, magistrates disqualified Shane Blofied from driving for 12 months. He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £32 surcharge.
Crime
Woman sentenced for urinating on pavement in Haverfordwest town centre
A 33-YEAR-OLD homeless woman has appeared before magistrates after squatting down in the centre of Haverfordwest to urinate in front of members of the public, including children.
Paramedics were called to Picton Place on the afternoon of March 11, following reports that a woman was lying unconscious in the street.
Upon arrival, they discovered Rebecca David.
“The paramedics recognised the female as the defendant as they had dealt with her previously,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
“She sat up shortly after they arrived and began swearing and shouting, telling the paramedics to f*** off. She then said ‘I need a piss’ and proceeded to walk down an alley near to the bus stop.”
The paramedics followed David, fearing for her personal safety, and requested the police to attend as a result of her aggressive nature.
“They then saw her squat down as she tried to urinate,” continued Abigail Jackson. “The officers turned around to try to prevent members of the public seeing what she was doing, as these included children.”
David pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive words and behaviour that was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
She was fined £40 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 court surcharge.
-
News7 days ago
Search for missing teenager Luke continues at Pembroke Dock
-
News5 days ago
Police issue update on the search for Luke, missing from Pembroke Dock
-
News7 days ago
Pembrokeshire hostel manager narrowly avoids jail sentence
-
Sport6 days ago
Herbrandston Clinch Promotion to Division One
-
News4 days ago
20mph U-turn: Some roads will return to 30mph following public outcry
-
Community4 days ago
Miracle pup finds her forever home after heart-wrenching journey
-
Crime7 days ago
Pembrokeshire car salesman caught driving on cocaine
-
Community1 day ago
County Hall to offer space for community banking