THE IPG and Cabinet have jointly proposed a budget for Pembrokeshire County Council, including a reduced Council Tax rise, on which councillors will vote at next week’s Full Council meeting.

The budget cuts 0.5% from a proposed 9.85% Council Tax increase and includes key concessions from the budget originally proposed by the County Council’s Cabinet.

The budget was originally scheduled to be set at a meeting on February 20. At that meeting, the Independent Group moved a Notice without Motion to delay consideration of the budget until the final financial settlement from the Welsh Government (WG) was confirmed. The move aimed to prevent the implementation of a 9.85% Council Tax rise for 2025/26.

On February 21, the Welsh Government confirmed a 0.25% increase in its financial settlement for Pembrokeshire. That decision added around £540,000 to the Council’s budget for next year.

After considering the revised settlement, the IPG drafted an alternative budget to the one proposed by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Josh Beynon. In an unprecedented move, the Cabinet considered the alternative proposal and decided to endorse it. This marks the first time in the Council’s history that an administration has accepted a budget proposed by one of the opposition groups.

Key takeaways of the proposed budget:

• A Council Tax rise of 9.35% instead of 9.85%
• A proposed 3.5% cut in education reduced to 2.9%
• Proposals for four-weekly bin collections abandoned, with three-weekly collections to remain
• The Enhancing Pembrokeshire Fund retained
• Additional funds for street cleaning maintained, rather than removed as originally proposed
• Additional funding allocated for public toilets

Speaking to The Herald, a member of the IPG said the decision to agree on a budget with the Cabinet was “the socially responsible thing to do,” as the Group acknowledged that services had to be protected without incurring further debt, which would necessitate future cuts and higher tax increases.

IPG Leader Cllr Huw Murphy told this newspaper: “Cabinet requested sight of the Independent Group’s proposals, and we agreed to that step.

“It’s important to remember that councillors have a legal duty to set a budget. Therefore, in the best interest of Pembrokeshire’s residents, we agreed to allow the Cabinet to see our proposals.

“In light of the additional funding received from the Welsh Government, the Cabinet accepted the Independent Group’s proposals without the need to present a budget of their own on March 6.

“It is highly unusual for an opposition budget proposal to be accepted by any administration, but it indicates the delicate balance of power within PCC and the reality that offering a significant reduction in Council Tax carries inherent risks to both the authority and residents in terms of the loss of services many consider essential.”

However, Cllr Murphy added: “As the largest opposition group, the Independent Group will continue holding the Cabinet to account. Doing so on February 20 led to this budget.”

Cllr Murphy continued: “Any Council Tax rise is not good news for residents. However, the Independent Group’s proposals mean a slight decrease in the proposed Council Tax rise while offering options to retain services under threat.

“Fundamentally, the lack of funding from both London and Cardiff is the root cause of financial pressures on Welsh local authorities, which have risen exponentially. Furthermore, the UK, with vanishingly small economic growth alongside a need to increase defence spending to confront existential threats abroad, will see reduced funds available for local authorities.”

Huw Murphy concluded: “As Independent councillors, we speak free from the pressures of party loyalty on any subject where the best interest of residents is our core objective—not winning or saving a Senedd or House of Commons seat.”

The Conservative Group, which proposed its own budget, reacted furiously to the apparent deal between the largest opposition group and the Cabinet.

The Herald understands a flurry of messages expressing exasperation, disappointment, and anger have flooded councillors’ phones, with one Conservative Group member questioning whether the Independent Group still counted as the opposition.

The Conservatives said their proposals would increase school budgets by £6.6 million and offer an innovative solution to the Council’s future leisure provision.

With the publication of the Council agenda, their hopes of passing their budget appear dashed.

Cllr Aled Thomas, the Conservative Group spokesperson on Finance, was relatively restrained, though his frustration was evident when he told The Herald:

“It’s clear from the proposals on the table that the Independent Group and the Labour-leaning administration are happy to work together to see the continued managed decline of the Council rather than work hard for the people of Pembrokeshire.

“Every day, this council asks for more money from residents and provides them with less in return. That mindset has to stop, and a change is clearly needed.

“What’s even more disappointing is that around 2.5% of this year’s Council Tax increase will go straight to Rachel Reeves’s coffers in Westminster as a result of National Insurance increases and won’t be spent on Pembrokeshire services.”

PEMBROKESHIRE’S beloved Curiosity Kitchen is set to close at the end of March, as owner Beverley Newman makes the difficult decision to step back from the business.

In an emotional statement, Newman expressed gratitude to her loyal customers, many of whom have described her venture as a hidden gem.

“I’ve always said that my best days were those spent with my most positive, supportive customers—the people who made this journey worthwhile,” she wrote. “Time and time again, I’ve been told that there’s nothing like my place in Pembrokeshire, that it belongs somewhere like Cardiff or even London.”

However, despite the admiration for her work, she acknowledged that keeping the business going was no longer sustainable.

“To continue would mean treating this as a passion project rather than a viable business,” she explained. “With bills to pay and my own future to consider, I have to make the difficult but necessary decision to step back—for now.”

Newman, who has run Curiosity Kitchen with a focus on creative, high-quality bakes, reassured customers that this was not a farewell, but rather a “strategic pause.” She expressed a desire to travel and gain fresh inspiration before potentially returning with new ideas and a different venture in the future.

“This isn’t failure. It’s simply a detour,” she said.

The announcement has prompted an outpouring of support from customers saddened by the closure but eager to see what the future holds for Newman.

In response to messages from well-wishers, she hinted that her distinctive flavours could soon be available at another Pembrokeshire venue.

Curiosity Kitchen is expected to close by the end of March.

AFTER more than 15 years at Dragon LNG, Karen Wood, the company’s External Relations and Social Performance Manager, is leaving her role, marking the end of an era in the company’s extensive community engagement efforts. Her departure, effective today (Feb 28), concludes a journey that began in September 2009, during which she played a key role in fostering corporate social responsibility initiatives across Pembrokeshire.

Reflecting on her time at Dragon LNG, Karen highlighted the overwhelming support she has received from colleagues, educators, policymakers, and community leaders, describing it as “incredibly humbling.” She expressed gratitude for the collaborations and friendships built over the years and shared a special memory that encapsulated the impact of her work.

Emily’s story: A legacy of opportunity

One of Karen’s proudest achievements is the Dragon Darwin Experience, an initiative aimed at inspiring and educating young people in Pembrokeshire. Among the many success stories from the programme, she recalled Emily’s Story, a tale that continues to resonate within the community.

Emily was the first girl to take part in the Dragon Darwin Experience workshop in 2005, held at Pembrokeshire College under the leadership of then-principal Glyn Jones. Years later, in 2017, Karen commissioned Emily’s Story to support Dragon LNG’s application for the prestigious UBS UK Award for Education at the UK Business in the Community Responsible Business Awards. Competing against corporate giants such as British Land Rover, Greggs, Toyota UK, RBS, Hogan Lovells, and Amazon UK & Ireland, Dragon LNG made it to the final round, facing a grilling from an eight-person panel that included representatives from UBS, Goldman Sachs, Rothschild & Co, and Amazon UK.

On July 4, 2017, at the Royal Albert Hall, Dragon LNG achieved a milestone moment—winning the award, becoming the only Welsh company to do so that year. While Emily was unable to attend the ceremony due to volunteering overseas, her journey exemplified the long-lasting impact of the programme. The award recognised Dragon LNG as a leader in corporate responsibility, demonstrating how business can drive positive social change.

“Your organisation is a powerful example of the difference business can make to address some of society’s biggest issues,” read a congratulatory message from Business in the Community.

Karen also revealed that an update to Emily’s Story was commissioned last year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Dragon Darwin Experience, ensuring the legacy continues to inspire future generations.

Closing a chapter, looking ahead

As Karen bids farewell to Dragon LNG, she leaves behind a strong legacy of educational and community engagement initiatives that have touched countless lives. While this chapter in her career closes, she remains optimistic about the future and looks forward to seeing the ongoing positive impact of the programmes she helped establish.

“While this particular book is closing, I know the stories, lasting friendships, and connections we’ve built will endure far beyond my final day. I hope our paths will cross again, and I’ll be cheering you on as you continue to achieve great things,” Karen said in her farewell message.

Her departure signals a new phase for Dragon LNG and its community programmes, raising questions about what comes next for the company’s engagement initiatives. However, one thing remains clear—Karen’s contributions have left an indelible mark on Pembrokeshire, ensuring that the seeds of opportunity she helped plant will continue to grow for years to come.