Council tax to rise by 12.5 per cent in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire County Council approved a council tax rise of 12.5 per cent for the upcoming financial year, in what is reported as the highest increase in Wales.

The increase means that Band D council tax levied by the County Council will be £993.54, which represents an increase of £2.11 a week or £110 a year.

David Simpson, council leader, said: “Despite this big increase, Pembrokeshire will still have the lowest council tax in Wales and indeed the third lowest in all of England and Wales. By voting through this rise, elected members have enabled the authority to close a critical £16 million funding gap and therefore protect from cuts essential services such as education and social care.

"If we had voted for either a five of eight per cent increase in council tax - which were also options – then those services would have been badly hit, consequently affecting the most vulnerable members of our society. I would remind our householders that Pembrokeshire remains one of the leanest and most productive local authorities in Wales and we actually currently deliver services at £14.8 million less than the Welsh Government say we should. I firmly believe that Council today has made the right decision. It allows us to continue with our transformation programme and to deliver services in the most cost-effective way.”