PEMBROKEHIRE taxpayers are to see their bills increase by 9.35 percent after “political tribalism was set aside,” but an alternative lower proposal by the Conservative group was defeated.

Today’s March 6 meeting of full council was to consider three potential increases in council tax, 9.85 percent previously recommended by Cabinet, a 9.35 percent rise proposed by the Independent group led by Cllr Huw Murphy, which was later supported by the ruling coalition, and a 7.5 percent rate proposed by the Conservative group.

The council was to decide the annual budget, which includes the council tax element, on February 20 but that meeting was deferred until March 6, in part awaiting the final Welsh government local government settlement, which saw the county gain a small amount of extra money, worth roughly an extra £500,000, reducing its funding gap to £26.9m.

At the March 6 meeting, Cabinet member for finance Cllr Joshua Beynon moved the Independent-proposed budget be adopted rather than the previous 9.85 percent council tax rise one, seconded by Independent group member Cllr Alan Dennison.

The 9.35 percent increase adds £141.25 to the average bill over last year’s rate.

The Conservatives’ alternate budget of 7.5 percent was proposed by group leader Cllr Di Clements, saying there was a need to make “tough choices” with “a limited pot,” adding last year’s council tax increase of 12.5 percent was “one of the highest in the UK,” with “a significant rise” again proposed this year.

The Conservative proposals included addressing deficits in council leisure services by partnering with a national leisure trust, along with increasing the education budget by £6.6 million in the next financial year.

Cllr Clements added: “The budget choices will get harder and harder, we believe we cannot keep doing the same thing, slicing services until there is nothing left, that is why we are looking at alternate ways of providing services.”

She was joined by group spokesman for finance Cllr Aled Thomas who said people were “sick and tired of the status quo,” adding: “Taxpayers shouldn’t be burdened with failures of this local authority, whether vanity projects or failures to make efficiency savings; it is the taxpayer that pays for this, we owe it to them to be responsible.”

Cllr Alec Cormack, the former Cabinet member for finance, said he sympathised and supported some elements of the Conservative proposals but felt some parts were “not fully developed,” with “a very serious risk that many  of these measures would not really deliver savings in 2025-’26,” adding: “I do not feel this really leads us to a balanced budget”.

After lengthy debate, the Conservative proposal was defeated by 45 votes to 13.

Leader Cllr Jon Harvey quoted from his speech when he was elected leader, saying he was happy to work on cross-party consensus politics, adding: “Cllr Huw Murphy shared a budget proposal, which we’re grateful for, not too dissimilar to the one proposed by Cabinet, considered to be a proposal we could jointly put forward, a pragmatic approach rather than an adversarial approach.”

He told members the 9.35 percent increase would lead to a county council part of the overall tax bill for the average Band D property would now be £1,651.97 in Pembrokeshire against Ceredigion’s £1,886.57 for the forthcoming financial year.

The final bill is calculated by adding the police precept, set at £360.68 for a Band D property, and individual town and community council precepts.

He warned there were still elements in the budget that were “a risk,” with challenging efficiency savings needed.

The 9.35 percent rise was backed by 46 members, with 13 against.

Speaking after the meeting, Independent group Leader Cllr Murphy said their supported proposal was “about doing what’s right by our most vulnerable, not doing what’s necessarily popular”.

He reiterated his party being “critical friends to the Administration” who would not “oppose for the sake of opposition,” welcoming the Cabinet support his party’s proposal, where “political tribalism was set aside for the good of our residents,” welcoming it as “progressive and mature politics on a very difficult subject, namely council tax”.

“In life it’s about making the difficult decisions not about making popular decisions that we are measured against.

“No tax rise is welcomed but today was a balance of offering the lowest council tax that was realistically possible versus the services we provide, much of it statutory.”

Cllr Aled Thomas of the Conservative group reacted to the vote, saying: “It’s disappointing that the Independent Group and Cabinet came together today to vote for the continued tax and spend mindset, at the expense of Pembrokeshire residents.

“The Conservative group proposed an ambitious budget with innovative ideas signalling change, and it was great to hear members across the chamber agree that change can’t come quick enough.

“Despite today’s result, the Welsh Conservative group will continue to fight for the best value for money for the hardworking Pembrokeshire taxpayers.”

‘Your needs and priorities at the forefront’

After the meeting Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance and Efficiencies Cllr Joshua Beynon, said: “I want to reassure residents that this budget has been set with your needs and priorities at the forefront.

“Pembrokeshire, like all local authorities, faces significant challenges and increasing demands on key service areas. But we are determined to navigate them in a way that safeguards our communities and ensures we continue to deliver for Pembrokeshire.”

Leader of the Council, Cllr Jon Harvey said: “Setting a balanced budget is a legal requirement and is the responsibility of Council, not Cabinet. When I was elected to the role of Leader last May, I made reference to the fact that I wished to build as much consensus as possible within the Chamber.

“This budget highlights that by working together to identify common aims and objectives, we can achieve an agreed outcome.

“As we are all too aware, the pressures across Welsh local government services are immense.

“In light of the challenges we’ve faced in recent years and continue to face, this budget will help us to avoid devastating, deeply unpopular cuts to services. It’s the only way we can protect the vital services our community relies on, while laying the groundwork for a sustainable, thriving future for Pembrokeshire.

In approving this budget we have sought to find a delicate balance between safeguarding our future and recognising the very real cost-of-living pressures faced by families in Pembrokeshire every single day.

“I became a Councillor to improve peoples lives, to help those in need and to support those who are struggling.

“Those of us that represent wards with high levels of social deprivation will only know too well how much our residents rely upon the services provided by the Council. This budget will support those in our communities that need our services most, whether this is our school children, vulnerable children and our elderly residents.

“Finally, I would like to thank the Finance Team and the Cabinet Member for Finance for all the hard work they have put in over many months on the budget proposals, to ensure we are best positioned to face the challenges ahead.”

Cllr Huw Murphy added: “On becoming Independent Group leader with Cllr Anji Tinley elected Deputy we released a statement that as a Group of Independent Councillors we would be critical friends to the Administration, and neither would we “oppose for the sake of opposition” and this can be clearly evidenced over the last 10 months within Council. 

“We also stated that the Independent Group would challenge decisions which might have a negative impact on residents and where possible present alternative options. The recent budget setting is a testament to the integrity of the Independent Group where on Feb 20^th we prevented a possible Council Tax of 9.85% by adjourning a meeting of Council to await a final financial settlement from WG.

“The Independent Group then prepared & submitted an alternative budget offering a lower Council Tax of 9.35% along with fewer cuts in services, which passed today (at Full Council). The decision of Cabinet in supporting the alternative budget rather than opposing it is to be welcomed where the (vast) majority of Councillors accepted the need to discharge their statutory duties where political tribalism was set aside for the good of our residents is welcomed as progressive and mature politics on a very difficult subject, namely Council Tax.

“No Tax rise is welcomed but today was a balance of offering a lower Council Tax whilst recognising the need to find appropriate reductions in certain service areas.

“Moving forward there is much work to be done within Pembrokeshire and further afield in Cardiff & London to secure adequate funding to provide services Pembrokeshire residents deserve. As a Group of Independent Councillors, we will continue to work hard for all Pembrokeshire residents in raising their concerns and holding the Administration to account.”