COUNCIL tax in Pembrokeshire is expected to rise by 4.6 per cent, in proposals backed by senior councillors today.

At the February 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, in a report presented by Cabinet member for finance, Cllr Alistair Cameron, members considered options for setting the 2026/27 council budget; a council tax increase of 4.6 per cent, which equates to an increase of £75.99 for the council part of the overall council tax bill for the average Band D property, and 7.5 per cent, for an increase of £123.90.

Cllr Cameron, seconded by Cllr Rhys Sinnett, recommended members back the lower 4.6 per cent level.

Last year, Pembrokeshire’s council tax increased by 9.35 per cent, lower than a Cabinet recommendation of 9.85 per cent.

The overall council tax bill is made up of the county council element, the largest part, the Dyfed-Powys Police precept, and individual town or community council elements.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Cameron said the council’s funding gap had now increased by just over £1m for 2026-27, to £14.7m.

His report added the most significant cost pressure for the 2026-27 budget “continues to be within social care, with a projected total increase in pressure of £12m for 2026-27 representing 42 per cent of the total council service pressures for 2026-27”.

It added: “The funding gap of £14.7m, will need to be bridged through a combination of budget savings, increases in council tax, use of council tax premiums and use of reserves.

“The lower the Band D council tax increase, the higher the budget savings requirement will be, with the consequential adverse impact on the provision of council services,” with each per cent increase in council tax generating £0.908m income for the council.

Cllr Cameron said the proposed budget included funding for “front-line services” such as school improvement support, building maintenance, and highways maintenance support.

Where possible, discretionary fees and charges have been budgeted to increase by 3.8 per cent.

The lower 4.6 per cent council tax increase was supported by Leader Cllr Jon Harvey, who said: “Clearly we don’t want to put up council tax if we can clearly avoid that; the target was to keep the council tax rise at the lowest possible level we could do.”

He said the recent increase in the Welsh Government settlement for Welsh councils had “given a bit of leeway,” and the proposal would keep the council from having to make drastic ‘red-level’ budget savings, along with more funding for general services.

Members unanimously backed the 4.6 per cent increase.

Other recommendations backed by Cabinet include determining recommended future draft council tax levels, as part of the medium-term financial plan of five per cent for 2027-’28 and 7.5 per cent for 2028-’29.

The final decision on the council tax increase for the forthcoming financial year will be made by full council, the Cabinet decision taking the form of a recommendation, with the budget meeting currently listed for February 20.

A CALL to allow a seaside village garage used as a home without permission to continue doing so has been turned down.

In an application to Pembrokeshire coast National Park, Anthony Parfitt sought permission for a certificate of lawfulness for a former garage now domestic building at Oaklands, Portclew Road, Freshwater East, having purchased it back in 2016.

An application for a certificate of lawfulness allows an applicant to stay at a development or keep it if they can provide proof of occupancy over a prolonged period.

A supporting statement said: “The previous owner of the site lodged a planning application for a new house on the site in May 2013. With anticipation of approval of this application, and prior to placing the application, they made alterations to the existing garage, changing its use to domestic dwelling as they intended to live in the garage whilst the new house was built.

“The application was refused in July of 2013 and then again in 2014 (amended design), however the ‘garage’s now domestic status was not abandoned, and shows evidence of its ‘continuous use’ as a domestic unit, continuing right up to present day.

“This dwelling, known as Oaklands, has and has had all the facilities for day to day living ever since it was initially refurbished/changed use in 2013 by its previous owner, and at the point of first inspection by myself in May 2016, and still continues in its domestic use to this current day.”

In support of his application, Mr Parfitt provided documentation from previous residents confirming its “continuous use” without abandonment to any other use.

An officer report recommending refusal said there were “inconsistencies in the historical use of the garage” to discharge a 2012 planning condition for the site to be used for garage purposes only.

It said: “The planning enforcement team visited the property in September 2025 and the present use of the garage for residential use and its layout was confirmed. The applicant has confirmed that tenancies were gained by word of mouth and it does not appear that active steps were taken to advertise or market the garage for occupation via advertisement, listing with estate agents etc in between lets.”

It added: “Enquiries have been made with Pembrokeshire County Council, and it does not appear that council tax has been paid in respect of the occupation of the garage at any time.”

It said the timeline of evidence from different tenants included one related to the applicant, applicants who used the space for model making, as a woodworking and carpentry workshop, and the production of cigar box guitars, with one of the tenants using it as a residential basis before moving away, using the space as a workshop on his return.

In refusing the certificate of lawfulness it said there was “an overall lack of consistent evidence to demonstrate continuous occupation as a dwellinghouse,” in breach of the 2012 condition.

“It is not doubted that there have been periods of residential occupation, but it does seem likely that these have been sporadic and interspersed with periods of alternative use (potentially within the terms of the condition) as well as periods of non-use.”

Two senior Downing Street exits in 24 hours as Anas Sarwar breaks ranks, but ministers insist the Prime Minister is staying put

PRESSURE continued to mount on Keir Starmer today (Monday) after two of his closest advisers resigned within 24 hours and the leader of Scottish Labour publicly called on him to step down.

The rapid series of events has fuelled growing speculation about the Prime Minister’s authority inside his own party, with critics describing the situation in Downing Street as chaotic and poorly handled.

Starmer first lost his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who stepped aside after taking responsibility for recommending the controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.

Within hours, his director of communications, Tim Allan, also quit, saying a new team should take charge of the government’s messaging.

Two departures at that level in a single day are highly unusual and immediately prompted questions in Westminster about stability at the centre of government.

The crisis deepened further when Anas Sarwar broke ranks and urged Starmer to resign, arguing that the ongoing Mandelson controversy was becoming a damaging distraction and risked harming Labour’s prospects, particularly in Scotland.

Sarwar is the most senior Labour figure so far to publicly question the Prime Minister’s position.

A row that would not go away

The Mandelson appointment was initially seen as a difficult but containable judgement call. Supporters pointed to his experience and international contacts, while critics raised concerns about his past links to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

However, instead of fading, the story has dragged on for days, prompting criticism of how Downing Street has handled the fallout.

Several Labour MPs privately admit the issue is no longer the appointment itself but the perception that the government has been slow and defensive in responding.

One senior backbencher said: “It’s not the decision that hurts you. It’s looking like you’re not in control.”

Who is backing Starmer

Despite the noise, Starmer still retains public support from much of the Cabinet.

Allies say he remains focused on governing and has no intention of stepping down. Downing Street sources insist he is “getting on with the job” and dismiss talk of an imminent leadership challenge.

Senior ministers have urged colleagues to rally around the Prime Minister rather than fuel instability.

There is currently no formal mechanism under way to remove him, and no obvious successor waiting in the wings.

Political risk growing

Nevertheless, the optics are uncomfortable.

Two senior resignations in quick succession, combined with a public call to quit from within Labour’s own ranks, risk creating the impression of a government losing control of its message.

That perception matters.

Prime ministers are rarely forced out over a single decision. They fall when their own MPs begin to doubt that they can win the next election.

With Reform UK continuing to dominate headlines with simple, punchy messaging and Labour struggling to explain its record, some backbenchers fear that continued communication missteps could erode confidence further.

For now, Starmer remains in office.

But after the past 24 hours, questions about his leadership are no longer confined to the opposition benches.

They are coming from inside his own party.