With Pembrokeshire Council set to finalise its budget this month, one local county councillor has shared his frustration that residents will continue to face paying more for ‘fewer services’ - stating that the current approach of the Local Authority ‘salami-slicing’ services year on year is unsustainable.

The funding gap for 2025-26 is estimated to be £34.1million, with potential for it to increase further.

County Councillor for St Florence and St Mary Out Liberty (New Hedges) Cllr Rhys Jordan, has said that he will continue to oppose double-digit Council Tax increases for Pembrokeshire residents.

“Sadly, the settlement from Welsh Government has been deeply disappointing, meaning once again it will fall to council taxpayers to make up the shortfall. This means residents will continue to face paying more for fewer services,” remarked Cllr Jordan.

“I’ve been vocal in my belief that, as a small council, we should focus on providing statutory services—like social care, education, and housing—exceptionally well, rather than spreading ourselves too thin trying to deliver a wide range of services poorly.

“I will continue to oppose double-digit council tax increases, as I have consistently done since being entrusted to represent you.

Welsh Conservative, Cllr Jordan, who is also Chair of Schools and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee and Vice-Chair of the Partnerships Panel at PCC, continued: “It’s clear that Pembrokeshire County Council needs reform. The current approach of salami-slicing services year on year is unsustainable.

“As more services are scaled back, town and community councils will be asked to do more.

“We need to be ready for this shift and ensure our communities are equipped to step up when needed.”

In a draft budget report before the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, presented by Cabinet member for finance Cllr Joshua Beynon, members heard a projected funding gap for the next financial year of £34.1m had now been reduced to £28.1m as Pembrokeshire received a higher than expected Aggregate External Finance (AEF) settlement increase of 3.6% from Welsh Government – amounting to just over £8.1m – against a predicted 2%; the average across the 22 local authorities being 4.3%.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Beynon said: “It’s not a fun time to be in local government, it’s about what we can cut, making really difficult decisions; in that [online council] budget modeller there are some unpalatable things we could do, it is more and more difficult for us to get these savings, years and years of reduced budgets mean we are finding it difficult.”

The funding gap figures are based around a 11.14% council tax increase in the next financial year.

A spokesperson for PCC said: “The impact of some of the proposals for budget savings will be felt internally within the Council. However, there are a number of proposals that will potentially impact on the way that services are received by the public.”

The Budget will be set by Council at its meeting on Thursday, February 20.