News

Budget proposes 3.4% increase in council tax

Published

12 years ago

January 23, 2014

THERE will be a small rise in council tax as the Council looks to cut some services and maintain others.

At the County Council Cabinet meeting on Monday, January 13, councillors were presented with a lengthy report which outlined the strategies put in place for the coming years.

Councillor Jamie Adams said: “It is appropriate that we review the provision of our services”.

A loss of funding from the Welsh Government has meant that the council has to reduce its costs by £20million over the next two years. Although it was agreed that there are some risks going forward, councillors were confident that the plans would succeed. The council will be looking to cut some of its services and at the meeting it was agreed that an increase in council tax was necessary to help fund the more vital services. The proposals will see cuts in services of almost £13 million in the next year, although the council has said schools and social care budgets will be protected.

Councillor Jamie Adams said: “When setting council tax for next year, cabinet members were mindful of the financial difficulties currently being faced by people in the county.

“As a result we have aimed to keep the increase in council tax as low as possible,” he said.

He continued: “Despite the increase in council tax, it will still be the lowest in Wales. It is about providing good value for the people of Pembrokeshire. The proposed increase works out at less than an extra 50p per week”.

Councillor Ken Rowlands added: “The public should look at the figures rather than the percentages”.Councillor David Pugh added that it was “a very balanced approach to the budget”.

News

Hakin motorist banned after driving 14 times over drug limit

Published

9 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A HAKIN motorist has been banned from driving for three years after being caught behind the wheel with cocaine and benzoylecgonine in his system.

Mark Briskham, 53, of Waterloo Square, Wellington Road, Hakin, was stopped by police on January 5 as he drove a Ford Kuga along Steynton Road, near Milford Haven.

Blood tests carried out at the police station showed he had 800mcg of benzoylecgonine in his system. The legal limit is 50mcg.

He also had 64mcg of cocaine in his system. The legal limit is 10mcg.

Briskham pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for three years, taking into account a previous drug-drive conviction from 2020.

He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.cr

Crime

Begelly man remanded over alleged May Day assault

Published

9 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged May Day assault against a woman in Begelly.

Tomas Baker, 34, of Ty Dee, New Road, Begelly, is accused of assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, at an undisclosed location in Begelly on May 1.

Baker appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week by video link from Swansea Prison.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His trial will take place at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on June 22.

Crime

Waterston man denies child rape and sexual assault charges

Published

10 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WATERSTON man has appeared before magistrates charged with 13 sexual offences against children, including three allegations of raping a girl under the age of 13.

Chaisee Price, 25, of Biggins Hill, Waterston, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

He faces three charges of raping a girl under 13, eight charges of sexually assaulting girls aged between five and eight, and two charges of intentionally inciting girls under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2019.

Price denied all charges.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and the case will now proceed to Swansea Crown Court on July 10.

Price was released on conditional bail.

The conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 6:00pm and 6:00am, no contact with the prosecution witness, no unsupervised contact with children under 18, and a requirement to surrender his passport to police.