News

Council Tax bills in Pembrokeshire could rise by nearly 21%

Published

3 months ago

February 7, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCIL TAX in Pembrokeshire could rise by nearly 21 per cent, adding nearly £300 to the average bill.
Members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, meeting on February 12, are asked to recommend one of three options for a council tax increase, ranging 16.31 per cent, 18.94 per cent, and an eye-watering 20.98 per cent increase.

These increases would increase the annual council tax rate by £219.02, £254.34, and £281.73 respectively to the average Band D property.

Pembrokeshire is currently facing a projected funding gap of £31.9m, partly due to a lower-than-expected Provisional Local Government Settlement.

That figure has increased from £27.1m in December, and £28.4m in January, when it was described as “by far the highest funding gap in our history,” by Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance Cllr Alec Cormack.

Pembrokeshire currently has the lowest basic Band D Council Tax in Wales, at £1,342.86 a year for 2023-’24, compared to Ceredigion’s £1,553.60 and Carmarthenshire’s £1,490.97, despite having increases of 12.5 per cent, 9.92 per cent, five per cent, 3.75 per cent, five per cent and 7.5 per cent since 2018-19.

The latest proposed increases would see the basic part of those bills rise to £1,561.98, £1597.30, and £1,624.69 respectively.

The final council tax bill for residents would be higher than this as town and community council precepts and the police precept would be added; with second home-owners and empty property owners facing even higher bills as both have a premium rate.

The premium rate on second homes for the next financial year is 200 per cent, effectively a treble rate, with a more complicated approach on empty properties of 100 per cent after 24 months, 200 per cent after 36 months, and 300 per cent after five years.

It is proposed to use of 85 per cent of the second homes premiums and 100 per cent of empty properties to fund the budget.

In a report before Cabinet members, the three general council tax options are outlined, with warnings that challenging cuts to council expenditure would still have to be made, even with these huge increases.

It says it would take a Band D Council Tax increase of an astronomical 42.4 per cent to bridge the projected funding gap without the use of council tax premiums, any budget savings or use of reserves.

The highest rate, 20.98 per cent, would require £9.3m of budget savings, and £0.2m of reserves, the report adding: “This will be challenging with high level of impact to service delivery, including, but not limited to, the loss of 19.3 non-school staff (including contact centre staff), one per cent reduction of school budgets (26.0 school staff) closure of two older persons day centres, reduced library opening hours and an increase in a number of fees and charges.”

The 18.94 per cent option would require £10.9m of budget savings, and £0.6m of reserves.
“This will result in more significant impact to service delivery, including, but not limited to, the savings above plus a reduction of routine highway maintenance, closure of two learning disability Day Centres, closure of St David’s waste and recycling centre, reduction in music and sport Pembrokeshire budgets, reduction of the events budget, review of Holly House provision and the loss of a further 13.4 non-school staff and 0.2 school staff.”

The lesser increase, 16.31 per cent, would require £12.8m of budget savings, and the use of £0.6m of reserves.

“This will result in more significant impact to service delivery, to include, but not limited to, the savings above plus a further one per cent reduction in school budgets (to two per cent) further reduction in highway and bridge maintenance, move to four weekly residual waste collection, complete closure of all adult care older person’s day centres and further reduction of 15.3 support service staff.”

The report said any lower council tax increases would have a “very significant impact, including statutory failure in some service areas, and so is not considered to be a financially sustainable option”.

One small glimmer of hope in the council budget is an announcement today, February 7, is a £25m consequential allocation for Welsh local authorities, which the Cabinet report hopes could ease financial pressure to the tune of some £1m.

The extra funding will form part of the Welsh Government’s Final Budget proposals, which will be published on February 27.

The final decision on the council tax level will be made by full council when it sets the annual budget on March 7.

Neighbouring Ceredigion is being recommended to increase its council tax by 13.9 per cent, with the final decision there made on February 29.

News

Ruling against language campaigner over English-only parking notice

Published

8 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A COURT in Aberystwyth has this week (May 13) ruled against the language campaigner Toni Schiavone and has allowed parking company One Parking Solution to claim costs in an extended legal dispute over an English-only parking notice. However, Toni Schiavone said he will continue to refuse to pay until he receives a copy of the notice from the parking company in Welsh.

According to the judge, there was no legal basis to force the parking company to provide a Welsh language service. Language campaigners insist that this demonstrates a “serious flaw” in the legislation that protects the rights of Welsh speakers.

Toni Schiavone received the original charge in September 2020 for parking in a private car park in Llangrannog, but refused to pay as he did not receive the charge in Welsh or bilingually, despite sending the company two letters as well as calling them.

The first two cases were thrown out over technical issues, but at a hearing on 26 January this year, One Parking Solution won an appeal to continue to prosecute Mr Schiavone, after the judge ruled that there were no grounds to throw out the first two cases of the court.

Speaking during today’s court proceedings, Toni Schiavone said: “The Welsh language is an official and equal language in Wales and we as Welsh speakers have rights according to the law, and in principle, that should be respected. The request for a Parking Charge Notice in Welsh or bilingually is reasonable and practical. It would have cost around £60 to translate.

“This case could have been resolved very easily and very quickly by providing a Welsh or bilingual Parking Charge Notice. Does not doing so show prejudice against the Welsh language? In my opinion, it does.”

Mr Schiavone told the court that the claimant had behaved threateningly, sending him a letter claiming £10,156.70 in legal expenses a day before his hearing in January as well as another letter with additional costs of over £4,000 two days before today’s case. According to research by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, translating the fine into Welsh would have cost only £60.

The judge Lowri Williams said that Toni had behaved in an “honest, principled” manner during the case, and had shown an “unwavering dedication to the Welsh language and the cause for the language.”

However, she said during her verdict that there was nothing in the 1967 Welsh Language Act, the 1993 Welsh Language Act, or the 2011 Welsh Language Measure to compel the parking company to provide a Welsh language service.

She therefore ordered that Toni pay the £100 charge, as well as £70 for administrative costs, £11.90 interest and £85 for the court fee within 21 days.

After explaining her ruling and order, Toni Schiavone said “I understand, but I refuse to pay.” His statement was met by applause from his supporters in the public gallery.

Following the case, Siân Howys, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Rights Group, said: “Today’s judgment shows that – despite the Welsh Government’s claim – the Welsh language does not have equal status in Wales. The judge has done her work thoroughly and found that there is nothing in the legislation that ensures that Toni’s right to use his own language in his own country is respected.

“It is clear, therefore, that the Welsh Government needs to correct the serious flaw in the legislation in order to ensure that the people of Wales can use the Welsh language in all aspects of their lives.”

News

Cllr Jon Harvey elected Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

8 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CLLR JON HARVEY has been elected as the new Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council.

Cllr Harvey, who represents the Pembroke St Mary North ward, was elected as Leader at the Annual General Meeting of Council held on Friday May 10.

A Town Planner by profession, Cllr Harvey spent 12 years in various Planning Officer roles in Local Government before moving into the private sector and a career at senior level planning, housebuilding and development.

More recently, he was the Head of Development at a Swansea-based Housing Association.

With a love of music and theatre, Cllr Harvey has managed an indie rock band, promoted a number of gigs locally and has staged managed plays including at the Edinburgh fringe.

Married with four grown-up children, Cllr Harvey served as the Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing Delivery under former Leader Cllr David Simpson.

Cllr Harvey, who is not affiliated to any group, was first elected to Council in September 2018.
He said: “I am deeply honoured to stand before you today as your new Leader and the responsibility is not one I take lightly.

“I pledge to lead with passion, dedication, integrity, transparency and compassion.

“I am convinced that if we all work together with common purpose and work towards common goals we can make a real difference to the lives of those residents that we serve.”

Cllr Harvey will name his Cabinet in the coming days.

News

New Chairman takes the chains at Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

8 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE NEW Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council is Cllr Steve Alderman.

Cllr Alderman, previously the Authority’s Vice-Chairman, was installed at the Annual Meeting of Council at County Hall in Haverfordwest held on Friday, 10^th May.

Cllr Alderman, who represents Hundleton, takes over from Cllr Tom Tudor.

Cllr Alderman is well respected in the farming community as a lifelong farmer, working with his family until retiring in 2019.

Cllr Alderman has also been Pembrokeshire NFU County chairman as well as a representative on the Welsh NFU Council and numerous other rural and economic development bodies in the area.

Outgoing Council Leader Cllr David Simpson proposed a vote of thanks to Cllr Tudor who also gave an overview of his busy year as Chairman.

Pictured: Standing, left to right are: Will Bramble, Chief Executive; Cllr Thomas Tudor, former Chairman; Cllr David Simpson, former Leader. Seated front left to right are: Cllr Simon Hancock, Presiding Member; Cllr Jon Harvey, Leader; Cllr Steve Alderman, Chairman; Cllr Maureen Bowen, Vice Chair; Mrs Chris Simpson, wife of Cllr David Simpson.

Cllr Alderman was nominated by Cllr Tim Evans and seconded by Cllr Pat Davies.

Cllr Alderman, who was first elected in 2019, is not affiliated to any group on the Council.

Upon taking the chains, Cllr Alderman said: “I am extremely proud to be made Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council and I aim to represent this Council to the very best of my ability.

“I hope my experience as Council appointed member of the National Park, as well as the various Overview and Scrutiny Committees I am involved in, will stand me in good stead for this important year ahead.”

At the same meeting Cllr Maureen Bowen was elected the new Vice Chairman of Council.

Cllr Bowen, who represents Pembroke Dock Bush and is a member of the Labour Group, joined the Council in 2022.