News

Welsh Government gives way on Council Tax

Published

6 years ago

January 24, 2018

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has told Pembrokeshire County Council that a proposed Council Tax rise is ‘a matter for local determination’.

The letter from the Local Government Minister suggests that the Welsh Government will not stand in the local authority’s way if it seeks to raise Council Tax above the 5% ceiling which the Welsh Government has ‘suggested’ should be the maximum increase.

The current administration has advanced three proposals for raising next year’s Council Tax: 5%, which it claims will result in massive service cuts and job losses; 8%, which will result in some cuts; and 12.5%, which will allow the local authority to tread water and fund commitments without significant cuts and redundancies.

In an interview with The Herald before Christmas, Cabinet Member for Finance Bob Kilmister said a dramatic rise was necessary Pembrokeshire’s huge funding gap. He blamed the gap on previous administrations’ pursuit of the totemic ‘lowest Council Tax in Wales’ policy.

The effect of that policy on Pembrokeshire’s public finances has been stark.

When Dyfed demerged in 1996 and counties drew up their own budgets, Council Tax levels for Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire were pegged at the same level. As a result of a deliberate policy of budgetary restraint (described to us by one councillor as ‘sado-monetarism’), Pembrokeshire’s Council Tax base is now over thirty percent behind both of west Wales’ other counties. And the effect of continuing restraint means that the gap is growing.

While holding down Council Tax was superficially attractive while there was – compared to now – plenty of money washing around the local government system, operating a lean service profile and tight budget has meant that while other councils are able to trim fat, Pembrokeshire faces cutting services down to the marrow.

This situation was foreseen by then Council Leader Jamie Adams and current Finance Director Jon Haswell several years ago. There was, however, no political will to make steps towards the increases in Tax needed to close the funding gap or to tangle with the Welsh Government on the issue.

Responding to the initial announcement that the County Council was contemplating a 12.5% increase in Council Tax, Cllr Jamie Adams was forthright in his criticism, saying: “We cannot be wedded to the idea that because we have provided a service in the past, we can or should continue to provide it now or in the future. You need to start with a complete overhaul of what we do and what we deliver as an authority.”

However, at a subsequent Council meeting on December 14, Cllr Adams and his administration came in for heavy fire from some members of the current Cabinet, while Cabinet Member for Finance was dryly dismissive of criticism of the Council’s plans.

At that December 14 meeting, Cllr Kilmister reminded councillors that the proposed budget was up for consultation and that they were welcome to make contributions whether individually or as a group.

The Herald understands that there is no unanimity within either the Conservative group or IPG, and certainly no current consensus around an alternative budget.

What is hanging over councillors is the thought of significant redundancies.

An 8% increase would need to be balanced by a 5% cut in the education budget, with a knock on effect on schools’ staffing.

At 5% those potential redundancies would be accompanied by over 100 further redundancies in year one alone with a knock-on effect on Pembrokeshire’s economy.

At 12.5%, there would be no redundancies and no cut in education.

Crime

Unanimous verdict in Ceredigion sexual assault case

Published

5 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A CEREDIGION man has been convicted to three years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in her own bed after the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

27-year-old Suroj Bk, from Llangrannog, was sentenced this week following a week-long trial at Swansea Crown Court (May 1).

On 7 October 2023, Dyfed-Powys Police received a report that Bk entered the victim’s home and sexually assaulted her while she lay in her bed.

When the victim realised what was happening, she kicked Bk out of her bed and called the police.

Upon receiving the report, officers quickly attended the victim’s home and conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area using police dogs and scenes of crime officers.

Evidence gathered from scene, together with extensive local enquiries, led officers to arrest Suroj Bk the next day (8 October).

While Bk was in custody, detectives, crime scene investigators, and digital forensic officers worked tirelessly to uncover the evidence that ultimately placed Suroj Bk at the scene.

After hearing the evidence, the jury took less than two hours to agree a unanimous guilty verdict.

The detective in charge of the case has praised the victim for her ‘tremendous courage’ in reporting the assault to police.

“Incidents of this nature are thankfully very rare within Ceredigion, and I’d like to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident, and that the identification and arrest of suspect was done quickly and efficiently,” said Detective Inspector Sam Gregory.

“The victim in this case demonstrated tremendous courage in reporting to police, and while this investigation was not straightforward in its nature, it was through the expertise and tenacity of forensic officers, working together with the investigation team, and the victim, that led to this successful prosecution.

“I hope the sentence given to Suroj Bk sends a clear and strong message that Dyfed-Powys Police takes reports of sexual offences seriously.

“We will listen to you, and we will work tirelessly to get justice.”

On Wednesday, 1 May 2024, Saroj Bk was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and a five-year restraining order, and he will be on the sex offenders register for life.

If you have been a victim of a crime such as this, report it to Dyfed-Powys Police either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

In an emergency, always call 999.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

News

Body recovered confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, say police

Published

5 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS police have said today that the body found on Wednesday, May 1, has been confirmed to be Luke Stephenson, who was reported missing from the Pembroke Dock area on April 14.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We will continue to support the family and will assist with issuing a tribute publicly if the family wish to do so.”

In a statement, his family said: “Luke was a joyful and funny young man and always wanted to help others. He was a loving son, brother, grandson and uncle, and will be forever missed.
“We have lost a huge part of our family, and our loss is shared by his many friends who also loved him dearly.
“We would like to thank the local community for the overwhelming support we have received.”

Business

Port of Milford Haven now official ‘a great place to work’

Published

7 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PORT of Milford Haven has been officially accredited as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organisation. As the first Port Authority in Britain to secure this Certification™, it is a significant achievement.

“We are very proud to be Great Place to Work-Certified™,” said Vidette Swales, HR Director at the Port of Milford Haven. “It means so much that our employees have reported a consistently positive experience with their colleagues, their leaders and their jobs. Offering a positive employee experience is not only beneficial for the people who work with us but is also key for our continued business success.”

Tom Sawyer, CEO at the Port of Milford Haven added: “Our team is operating the UK’s leading energy port, and it is of the utmost importance that we do that safely, responsibly and effectively. We’re striving for excellence and aim to provide a world class service to our customers as well as supporting sustainable coastal communities for the prosperity of future generations. Our employees are clearly at the centre of this which is why I’m delighted that they feel supported in their role. I’m especially proud that this Certification™ demonstrates our core values of Safety, Excellence, Collaboration and Sustainability so perfectly.”

“We congratulate the Port of Milford Haven on achieving their Certification™,” said Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place to Work® UK. “Organisations which put the employee experience at the heart of their business gain their employees’ trust and, in turn, are truly able to build a great workplace culture that delivers outstanding business results.”