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Lower town council increases in council tax than county or police

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PEMBROKESHIRE’S main town councils are expected to make a lower percentage increase in the demands of taxpayers than either the county council or the police.

Pembrokeshire County Council is expected to increase council tax by 7.5 per cent for 2023-24, subject to full council support on March 2.

The 7.5 per cent increase proposed, subsidised in part by funds from the second homes council tax premium, was agreed by the county council’s Cabinet on February 14.

It had considered three council tax options for 2023-24, set against a funding gap of £18.6m: an increase of five per cent, seven-and-a-half per cent and 10 per cent.

Members backed the 7.5 per cent increase, which would increase the annual bill of the average Band D property by £62.46, to £1,311.63.

Dyfed-Powys Police recently announced a 7.75 per cent rise in its precept for 2023-24, which will raise the average band D property precept by £22.49 per year, to £312.65.

The third element of the overall council tax bill is the town/community council element, with Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest and Tenby all setting a lower percentage increase than either of the other elements.

All the larger town councils in the county have been contacted asking what their rate for the coming year is.

The precept for Milford Haven has been set for 2023/2024 at £178,596 an increase from last year of 2.95 per cent, representing a cost to a Band D property of £32.86.

Pembroke Dock Town Council – which did not have any breakdown of individual figures for Band D properties available – will raise its precept by 1.5 per cent; from £209,560 to £212,706.

Haverfordwest Town Council stated: “We have agreed our precept at £388,444.00 for the 2023-2024 financial year which equates to £78.75 per Band D household.

“The 2022-2023 precept was set at £370,000 which equated to £74.91 per Band D household.”

This represents an increase of just over the five per cent mark.

Tenby Town Council agreed to dip into reserves to keep its increase at the six per cent mark.

Tenby Town council had previously resolved “to look to an increase of the Band D equivalent of not more than six per cent,” adding: “This would mean an increase of the Band D equivalent from last year’s £69.95 to £74.15.”

Members had previously heard that would generate a precept of £225,143.12 leaving a shortfall of £25,778.24.

It was recommended, and backed, that the council accept the budget as proposed and consider utilising £25,778.24 of un-earmarked reserves to set the precept at £225,143.12.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

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A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

  • Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
  • Common assault
  • Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

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Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

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Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • A second count of assault
  • Criminal damage
  • An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
  • A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

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Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

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Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • Intentional non-fatal strangulation
  • Common assault on a woman
  • Criminal damage in a domestic context
  • Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
  • Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.

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