News

Ceredigion County Council budget approved for 2024-2025

Published

2 years ago

March 3, 2024

THE 2024-2025 budget for Ceredigion County Council has been approved in a Council meeting held on Thursday, 29 February 2024.

Like all Local Authorities across Wales, Ceredigion County Council continues to face severe financial pressures, where maintaining Council services is proving extremely challenging.

The estimated revenue pressures being faced by the Council for 2024-2025 total some £18m, equivalent to a Ceredigion specific inflation factor of 10%. After allowing for a 2.9% core funding increase from Welsh Government, a budget shortfall of £14m has needed to be found from a combination of budget reductions and Council Tax increase considerations.

Ceredigion County Council’s Budget for 2024-2025 has been set at £193.572m. This results in a Council Tax increase for County Council Services of 10.0%, with a further 1.1% Council Tax increase being required to fully fund a 12% increase in the Fire levy set by Mid and West Wales Fire Authority. The combined 11.1% increase equates to an increase of £172.45 for a Band D property.

75% of the Council’s Budget is now being spent on Through Age Social Care and Wellbeing Services, Schools and Lifelong Learning and Highways and Environmental Services. After allowing for other fixed costs (for example – the Fire Authority Levy and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme), there remains only 14% for all other Council Services. Follow this link to see an infographic titled ‘A snapshot of Ceredigion services’, which summarises our main financial costs: www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/news/2024/council-budget-approved-for-2024-2025/

Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of Ceredigion County Council, said: “This has been a difficult budget setting process in what has been a less than adequate settlement from the Welsh Government, below the 3.1% promised. These are not decisions that we want to have to make but are necessary in order to protect frontline services where possible. The outlook for future years is poor and we will have to undertake a fundamental review of the purpose of the Council. In the meantime, we continue to lobby Welsh Government to ensure that Ceredigion gets a fair budget in future years. I am grateful for all the collaboration that has taken place to present this budget, as well as the work between the Council and town and community councils as they take on additional responsibilities.”

Support may be available through our Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Scheme. Find out more information and if you are eligible here: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction

You can also call Clic Customer Services on 01545 570881 or e-mail [email protected] for help and advice.

Education

Milford Haven School issues heatwave update as temperatures soar

Published

35 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN SCHOOL has thanked pupils and staff for the way they have supported one another during the current heatwave.

The school said cooperation and care across the school community had been greatly appreciated.

With tomorrow (Jun 25) forecast to be the hottest day of the current spell, pupils are being asked to come prepared by bringing plenty of water, wearing sunscreen, and staying as protected from the sun as possible.

Pupils will also be permitted to wear their PE kit to help keep cool.

The school said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and take all necessary steps to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff.

Business

Main Street Music to close retail shop as owner focuses on handmade guitars

Published

41 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A POPULAR Pembrokeshire music shop is changing the way it operates, with Main Street Music confirming it will no longer trade as a retail shop from September 1.

The business said there will be an immediate 15% sale on all stock, but stressed that Main Street Music is not disappearing completely.

The owner said the decision had been made “with a heavy heart”, adding that the shop’s closure as a retail outlet would be a loss for Pembrokeshire as the county’s last professional guitar dealership.

He said his long-term passion had always been making musical instruments, something he had done since his teenage years, later receiving scholarships and a fellowship for his studies.

After college, he was given the opportunity to buy the business at the age of 24.

He said: “I have had an amazing time running this shop, giving it everything I’ve got, met some wonderful people and sold some incredible guitars.”

Although the business itself remains successful, he said tighter retail margins, dealership pressures and rising costs had made it difficult to grow in a way that would allow him to employ others and spend more time in the workshop.

The shop will eventually reopen as an appointment-only workshop and showroom for handmade guitars and repairs.

Current repair work will continue on a case-by-case basis by appointment only.

Main Street Music thanked customers for their support over recent years, saying the owner was proud of where the shop had been taken.

Caption:

Main Street Music will close as a retail shop from September 1, but will continue as an appointment-only workshop and showroom for handmade guitars and repairs.

News

Crackwell Street set to reopen after five-month closure

Published

1 hour ago

June 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

ROADWORKS linked to structural repairs at Goscar House in Tenby are nearing completion, with Crackwell Street expected to reopen to through traffic today (Wednesday, June 24).

Scaffolding has now been removed from the property, with contractors carrying out a general clearance of the area.

The road has been closed for around five months while structural repair work has been taking place.

Local residents, businesses and visitors are expected to welcome the reopening, with Crackwell Street forming an important route through the town.

Pembrokeshire County Council has indicated that, all being well, the road will reopen later today.

Gareth Davies, of Gareth Davies Photography Tenby, said it was “good to see the removal of scaffolding today and general clearance on the property”.

He added that locals and visitors would be “so pleased” to see the road open once again.

Photo caption:

Clearance work: Contractors at Crackwell Street, Tenby, as scaffolding is removed from Goscar House (Pic: Gareth Davies).