News
Pembrokeshire County Council approves Council Tax rise of 7.5%

THE COUNCIL has approved its budget for 2023-24.
The decision was taken at a meeting of Full Council yesterday (Thursday, 2nd March).
Council also approved a Council Tax rise of 7.5 per cent for 2023-24, equating to a rise of £1.80 per week for a Band D property. The proposal was put forward by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Alec Cormack.
An amendment of 5.5 per cent, proposed by Cllr Jamie Adams, was rejected.
The final Council Tax demand will include precepts from Town and Community Councils and Dyfed Powys Police.
Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance Cllr Alec Cormack said: “I believe the 7.5% Council Tax increase agreed was the best balance between limiting the rise to bills in the cost of living crisis and avoiding the most severe cuts to council services.
“Pembrokeshire will still have the lowest Council Tax in Wales in 2023/24, so we will see severe budget pressures in future years, particularly in adult social care, as we have one of the oldest populations in Wales.”
Council members also approved a recommendation that the Council Tax Premiums for Second Homes and Long Term Empty Properties are retained for 2023-24 at their existing levels.
They backed a recommendation that the Council Tax Premium for Second Homes be allocated for 2023-24, with Council minded to continue this use until 2027-28, to provide funding for the Affordable Housing programme, the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant, and elements of the Council’s budget relating to affordable housing and enhancing the sustainability of local communities.
Members also approved the indicative Capital Programme for 2023-24 to 2026-27 and the Capital Strategy 2023-24 to 2026-27.
News
Car crashes into house in St Davids

EMERGENCY services were called after a car crashed into a house on Nun Street in St Davids on Thursday (Apr 24).
Dyfed-Powys Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene at around 4:35pm following reports of a single-vehicle collision.
On arrival, they found that a car had collided with a residential property. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The road remained open while the vehicle was recovered.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police attended a report of a single-vehicle road traffic collision where a car collided with a property on Nun Street, St Davids, at around 4:35pm yesterday. No injuries were reported, and the road remained open while the vehicle was recovered.”
Community
Milford Haven and Neyland Police issue appeal for missing man

POLICE are appealing for information to help locate a 54-year-old man who has been reported missing from the Milford Haven area.
Neil is described as being around 6ft 2in tall with a shaved head. He has tattoos on his arms and one of his fingers, and sometimes wears glasses.
He was last seen on Friday afternoon (Apr 26) wearing a black Superdry hoodie, ripped jeans, and orange and black Nike Air trainers. Neil is believed to be on foot.
Anyone with information that could help is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police: | Online portal
| 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk
| Call 101, quoting reference 262 of April 26.
Community
Fire service delivers vital kit to Ukraine

Wales joins UK’s largest firefighting aid convoy
MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) has taken part in the UK’s largest ever convoy delivering vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, joining 17 other Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) from across the country.
The convoy, coordinated by FIRE AID and supported by the UK Government, left the UK in early April. It travelled through France, Germany and Poland, delivering over 30 fire service vehicles and more than 15,000 items of equipment to support Ukrainian firefighters on the front line of the ongoing war.
Since the Russian invasion in 2022, UK fire services have donated 119 vehicles and over 200,000 pieces of equipment to Ukraine. Each participating service ensured local needs were met before donating surplus kit.
Watch Manager Rob Kershaw represented MAWWFRS on the convoy. He said:
“It’s been a privilege to be part of this convoy and to represent both FIRE AID and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
We received invaluable support and assistance from fire and police services across every country we passed through. Their help in coordinating, escorting, and hosting the convoy was outstanding.”
Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas KFSM added:
“MAWWFRS is proud to support our colleagues in Ukraine by donating and delivering essential equipment.
The events in Ukraine have deeply affected the fire and rescue community, and this convoy is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to helping those still working under extreme conditions.”
The donated equipment will support firefighters in Ukraine who continue to operate in war zones to save lives and protect property—often at great personal risk. Since the conflict began, 100 Ukrainian firefighters have been killed and 431 injured. A total of 411 fire stations and 1,700 firefighting vehicles have been destroyed.
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