Pembroke Town Council has been setting its budget for 2025/26.

Additional demands are being placed on the Town and Community Councils across the county, in response to budget cuts at Pembrokeshire County Council.

In Pembroke, the cost to the taxpayer will equate to 38 pence extra per week for residents.

Sharing news of the budget setting process on its Facebook page this month, Pembroke Town Council posted: “Unfortunately, due to the cost of increases in energy (gas and electricity), National Insurance, wages, business rates, water etc we have had to increase our precept at the cost to the taxpayer of £19.90 per annum, equating to an extra 38 pence per week.

“Pembroke Town Council, pay a substantial amount (25K) to keep the Pembroke Library open (to avoid closure), and is now liable for all election costs, playparks, flower enhancement, and up keep of Mill Pond.

“We also pay £11k per year to keep the Blackhorse Toilets open (again to avoid closure) and provide the Christmas Lighting through Pembroke, and recently the responsibility of the Pembroke Allotments from Pembrokeshire County Council.”

The town council over the past 5 years, has taken money from Reserves, to enable to keep the Town Hall open for many events, at a cost of over £153,000 to repair roofs, and install a lift for mobility access.

“Unfortunately to keep these services running and avoid closure as mentioned above, the cost to the taxpayer will equate to 38 pence extra per week,” they added.

A better-than-expected settlement from the Welsh Government has lowered Pembrokeshire’s funding gap for the financial year by millions, but the county still faces a £28m challenge.

Final decisions on the Local Authority’s budget will be made by PCC’s full council at a meeting in February.