News

Average council tax bill will raise by up to £100

Published

3 years ago

March 6, 2023

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PEMBROKESHIRE ratepayers will see rises of up nearly £100 on average in council tax bills despite a defeated call for a lower rate.

A 7.5 per cent increase, subsidised in part by funds from the second homes council tax premium, was agreed by a full meeting of the county council on March 2.

A late counter-proposal of a 5.5 per cent increase, made by former council leader Jamie Adams was defeated by just six votes at the March 2 meeting.

Presenting the budget, Alec Cormack, Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance, said the 7.5 per cent rise represented a real-term cut in the money available, based on inflation running at a just over 10 per cent.

“If it were not for the cost-of-living crisis I would’ve been strongly recommending a 10 per cent increase,” he added.

Councillor Jamie Adams, in his proposal for a lower 5.5 per cent increase, saying: “I believe we, as a council need to reflect the situation facing our residents.”

The proposed lower council tax rate would have been funded by using more money from the council’s reserves, which has been described as “a sticking plaster” by nay-sayers.

Cllr Adams also hit out at contentious capital projects such as Haverfordwest’s transport interchange, suggesting costs could have been saved there.

Cllr Adams later said: “It’s been described as a ‘sticking plaster’. On behalf of your communities, I’m just asking for a little more help; what does a plaster do? It keeps a wound clean until it is healed.”

He was backed by Cllr Aled Thomas, who said: “If there’s ever been a 12 months when we need a ‘sticking plaster’ it is this one.”

Another backer was Cllr Reg Owens, who said the 5.5 per cent proposal would offer “a bit of relief” to the “working poor,” adding: “This isn’t a big help, but at least it shows we as councillors care.”

Cllr Cormack warned that using reserves as “a sticking plaster” for a lower council tax this year could lead to a “double-digit” council tax increase next year.

Council chair Pat Davies said she could not support Cllr Adams’ 5.5 proposal, saying historic low council tax rates in Pembrokeshire had “come back to haunt us.”

That view was echoed by Council Leader David Simpson, who said: “If you think 5.5 per cent is the answer, I’m afraid I will not be supporting it, 7.5 per cent if quite a good balance, we could’ve gone to 10 per cent,” adding: “We are in the position we are in today because we’ve had low council tax increases for many years.”

The 7.5 per cent increase in council tax was passed by 33 votes to 26.

The rise in council tax, set against a funding gap of £18.6m, will be coupled with budget savings of £8.055m and an estimated use of £1.6m of reserves.

It will see the base annual bill of the average Band D property rise by £93.69, to £1,342.86, before the police precept and town or community council bills are added.

Members also agreed to use funds from the second homes council tax premium, following a previous warning that ratepayers would be facing a 12.9 per cent increase if they were not used.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

10 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

10 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

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.