EDITORIAL BY COUNTY COUNCILLOR ALAN DENNISON

A RECENTLY published Herald article stated: “This is the first time in the council’s history that an administration has accepted a budget proposed by an opposition group.”

This milestone should encourage a shift away from the routine party political manoeuvres that often dominate council discussions. More importantly, it serves as a reminder to the Leader that listening should extend beyond the largest opposition group and council members—it should prioritise the residents of Pembrokeshire who fund these positions and expect quality services at a fair cost. The days of expecting ratepayers to finance unnecessary projects are coming to an end.

Budget criticism and optimism

While the budget has faced public criticism for failing to provide sufficient relief, leading to increased burdens on taxpayers and service reductions, much of this criticism is valid. The budget was crafted within a limited timeframe, but it does offer a sense of hope—the first in years where services are being restored, including those cut last year and those earmarked for cuts by the current administration. The details of these services are available in the accompanying documents, but the budget ensures their implementation with minimal risk.

This budget also marks the first phase in a long-term effort to strengthen the council’s financial standing. Moving forward, highly paid cabinet members will be expected to set annual objectives and provide monthly updates on their progress, particularly regarding departmental savings. Budgets must not be allowed to accumulate unchecked, as they have within social services, without accountability from the responsible cabinet member. Furthermore, the council must disclose full costs and revenues for the services it provides.

Future priorities and efficiency measures

For the 2025/26 financial year, priority should be given to Invest to Save initiatives, asset management, and reviewing loss-making services. The council can no longer afford unnecessary expenses, such as company car payments for senior positions, or the excessive number of high-paying roles. A job review should be conducted to streamline senior management as positions become vacant.

Exploring resource-sharing with other authorities is another avenue worth pursuing. For instance, the ambulance service could share vehicle maintenance facilities, reducing costs by pooling resources for preferential fuel rates and insurance. Additionally, offering pet cremation services at Narberth could create a new revenue stream. Numerous such opportunities await identification.

Closer collaboration with Hywel Dda University Health Board could lead to improvements in social services, while shared back-office functions—such as road sweepers, grit lorries, and highway maintenance—could reduce costs. Savings from these efficiencies should be ring-fenced to fund apprenticeships in mechanics, office administration, public protection, and other hard-to-fill positions.

A comparison with the Tory budget proposal

This budget and its savings proposals were developed by the Independent group. But how does it compare to the alternative budget proposed by the Tories? Cllr Thomas has condemned the accepted budget, referring to his “team”—though it remains unclear who is in this team that will supposedly rescue the county from financial difficulties. What does their budget contain? A collection of Fumbling Ifs & Buts, or FIBs for short.

Leisure services: the reality behind the proposal

The Tory budget proposes restructuring leisure services by transferring operations to a not-for-profit company, Freedom Leisure, owned by Wealden Leisure Ltd. Their chief officer earned £190,000 last year, with other directors receiving between £120,000 and £160,000. While the company claims to be non-profit, its approach to cost-cutting is clear—higher charges for pools, gyms, and halls, reduced heating in pools, scaled-back cleaning, and malfunctioning booking systems. Trustpilot, a respected review site, rates Freedom Leisure poorly, with 83% of reviews at one star, citing these exact cost-cutting measures. Do we really want to see Pembrokeshire’s leisure centres suffer the same fate? FIB number 1.

Selling council properties: a vague promise

The Tory budget includes plans to sell off council properties—but which ones? What are their values? How quickly can they be sold? These unknowns render this another FIB.

Housing and efficiency cuts

The proposal also plans to stop funding the Affordable Housing Reserve next year to support a headline council tax rate of 7.5%. Future reductions are subject to an annual review—another uncertain FIB.

Furthermore, the Tories suggest increasing the Chief Executive’s efficiency savings target by £200,000, raising it to £1.5 million. However, even they acknowledge this may not be achievable, planning to use reserves to cover any shortfall. A surefire FIB.

A proposed review of the regeneration department aims to save £250,000, but since this is not guaranteed, reserves will again be used as a backup. Another 100% FIB.

Scrapping the Enhancing Pembrokeshire grant scheme

One concrete element of the Tory budget is the complete removal of the Enhancing Pembrokeshire grant scheme, which funds community improvement projects. Unlike their other claims, this is not a FIB—but it does mean fewer opportunities for local communities to access funding.

The reality of Tory cuts

While the Tories claim to oppose service reductions, their budget includes more cuts than the Independent group’s proposal. These include:

• Eliminating social care assessment staff.
• Cutting revenue and benefits staff—the very people responsible for rent collection.
• Reducing equipment budgets for children with physical and sensory needs.
• Scaling back street cleaning, grass cutting, and litter bins, leading to more litter and overgrown public areas.
• Slashing early years education funding, undermining statutory obligations under the Childcare Act 2006.
• Closing Thornton Sports Hall for community use.

The choice for Pembrokeshire

The decision before the council is clear: a carefully costed budget from the Independent group, supported by the current administration, or a budget based on FIBs and deeper service cuts. Pembrokeshire’s future depends on making the right choice.

“Ukraine is fighting not just for its own freedom, but for the principles of democracy and justice that should unite us all”, says Herald Editor, Tom Sinclair

THERE are moments in history when leaders define themselves—not just by what they say, but by how they treat others. On Friday (Feb 28), in a shocking display of arrogance and ignorance, President Donald Trump showed the world precisely what kind of leader he is. In an extraordinary and disgraceful diplomatic blunder, Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to leave the White House, cutting short a meeting that was meant to strengthen ties between the two nations. Instead of supporting a country fighting for its survival, Trump chose to humiliate its leader.

This was not just a moment of political theatre; it was an insult to every Ukrainian citizen suffering under Russia’s brutal invasion, to every soldier defending their homeland, and to every nation that has stood up against tyranny.

For all his bluster about “making America great,” Trump’s latest act proves yet again that he does not understand the difference between strength and bullying. A strong leader stands by their allies. A weak leader turns their back when it’s convenient. A strong leader understands diplomacy. A weak leader throws a tantrum when things don’t go their way.

Trump’s dismissive attitude towards Ukraine is a betrayal of not just one nation but of democratic values themselves. Under his administration, the White House has become a revolving door of diplomatic disasters, with world leaders leaving insulted and America’s reputation in tatters. Instead of standing up to Vladimir Putin—the aggressor responsible for this war—Trump appears more interested in undermining Ukraine at every turn. His words and actions send a dangerous message: that the United States is no longer a reliable ally, and that dictators can act with impunity.

Unlike Trump and his administration, the people of Pembrokeshire have demonstrated true solidarity with Ukraine. When Russia launched its unprovoked invasion, our community stepped up. Five vans filled with essential supplies were sent directly to those in need, organised by The Pembrokeshire Herald and backed by the incredible generosity of local people. Our firefighters have sent vital equipment to help their Ukrainian counterparts. Across our county, individuals and businesses have raised money, collected aid, and stood in unwavering support of Ukraine’s right to defend itself.

We do this because we understand something Trump never will: that integrity, compassion, and standing up for what’s right matter more than self-serving political games. Pembrokeshire knows that Ukraine is fighting not just for its own freedom, but for the principles of democracy and justice that should unite us all.

History teaches us that bullies never win. Whether it’s on the playground or the world stage, those who use power to intimidate and belittle eventually face their reckoning. Trump’s pathetic treatment of Ukraine will not be forgotten. The world is watching, and America’s allies are taking note. The bonds between democratic nations will not be broken by one man’s petulance.

The Pembrokeshire Herald remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine. We stand with President Zelenskyy. We stand with the Ukrainian people. And we stand with all those who believe that democracy, freedom, and justice must prevail over the cowardice and corruption of those who would rather appease tyrants.

Trump’s disgraceful behaviour will be remembered for what it is: a moment of shame. But the bravery of Ukraine and the solidarity of those who support it will be remembered for what it represents: hope, resilience, and the undeniable truth that justice will triumph in the end.

Is AI ready to blow, or is that just the sheep talking?

WELL, my dear Pembrokeshire pals, the digital world is more fired up than a dragon on curry night, thanks to the arrival of DeepSeek R1, the Chinese AI that’s apparently set to give Silicon Valley a proper wake-up call. Imagine trying to tame a wild rugby match—it’s that level of chaos in the tech world right now.

DeepSeek R1 has all the brains of the best AI models but costs less to run than a sheepdog on leftovers. This clever little system can do everything from solving complex maths problems to writing software code—and it’s doing it on a budget so small, even Dai down the pub would raise an eyebrow.

Now, let’s make sense of the panic. Silicon Valley, home to all those American tech giants, has been happily chucking money at AI projects like a kid in an arcade. But along comes DeepSeek R1, built with brains and thriftiness, and suddenly, the Americans are as flustered as someone who’s just learned they’ve put the bara brith in the oven without any raisins.

There’s talk of this AI revolutionizing everything, but don’t go thinking it’ll do your Tesco shop for you just yet. These systems are powerful, yes, but they’re also unpredictable. Like a sheepdog that’s great with the flock but refuses to fetch the stick, AI can be brilliantly useful—until it’s not.

And here’s a tidbit for you tech-curious folks: the real excitement isn’t just about what this AI can do, but how it was built. DeepSeek’s team has shown you don’t need a dragon’s hoard to make magic happen—just a lot of smarts and a touch of daring. It’s a lesson for all of us: sometimes, it’s not about having more, but using what you’ve got wisely. (Although, let’s be honest, that approach doesn’t work for rugby teams. More muscle is always better there.)

So, should we be worried? Probably not. Should we be paying attention? Absolutely. Because whether we like it or not, AI is here to stay, and it’s shaping up to be as much a part of our lives as tea and Welsh cakes.

Until next time, remember: always back up your files and never trust a computer that doesn’t understand rugby scores.

Yours digitally,
Professor Barry Davis
(Geek, proud Welshman, and occasional biscuit dunker)