Council tax rates in Pembrokeshire have increased by nearly 100 per cent in less than a decade councillors heard.
For the 2026 to ’27 financial year, the county council part of council tax levels in the county rose by 4.6 per cent, equivalent to an extra £76 for the average Band D property, less than half last year’s increase.
The previous year saw Pembrokeshire’s council tax increased by 9.35 per cent, lower than that year’s Cabinet recommendation of 9.85 per cent.
The previous year to that saw a 12.5 per cent rise on top of previous 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.
The overall council tax bill is made up of the county council element, the largest part, the Dyfed-Powys Police precept, and individual town or community council elements.
In a submitted question heard at Pembrokeshire County Council’s May 14 meeting, Councillor Alan Dennison asked: “Since 2017, what percentage increase has occurred for a Band D property, and what benefits have the majority of council tax-payers experienced as a result of this increase in council tax?”
Responding, Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance Efficiencies Cllr Alistair Cameron said the level of council tax for a Band D average property had increased by 95.7 per cent in that time.
He said the benefits for the majority of taxpayers were the “ongoing provision and enhancement of essential services for some of the most vulnerable in our communities,” adding that funding in education had increased by 49 per cent and social care by 121 per cent.
Milford Haven North councillor Dennison, in a supplementary question, said feedback he received from constituents highlighted concerns at works needed on addressing “weeds reaching three feet in some areas of Milford Haven,” and an absence of dog waste bins, and “all the things associated” with the bill by council tax-payers.
“People that don’t have children don’t see the benefit of a 95 per cent increase,” he added.
Cllr Cameron responded by saying funding in the last budget had been allocated to such areas as street cleaning, adding of the areas previously highlighted by him: “The reality is a lot of the budget has to go in areas education and social care.”
Her said Pembrokeshire, with an ageing population, would see greater pressures as people got older, and it was “quite right” the council supported “the most vulnerable people”.
Alistair Cameron, in setting this year’s budget said: “The most significant cost pressure for the 2026-27 budget continues to be within social care, with a projected total increase in pressure of £12m for 2026-27 representing 42 per cent of the total council service pressures for 2026-27; and £30.5m across the remainder of the medium-term financial plan.”
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