A public consultation on Council Tax is closing at the end of today (Friday).

Pembrokeshire County Council launched a consultation on January 4 inviting the public to give their views on proposed increases to Council Tax for 2018-19 and the Council’s proposed budget.

It comes as the Authority faces a £16.4 million funding gap for 2018-19.

The three proposed rates of Council Tax increase are:

· 12.5%, which will generate an estimated £5.7 million

· 8% which will generate an estimated £3.6 million

· or 5% which will generate an estimated £2.2 million.

All the comments and views received during the consultation will be compiled into a report which will be presented to a meeting of full Council on Thursday, 8th March.

Cabinet has recommended a 12.5% rise – but the final decision rests with the 60 members of Council.

To take part in the consultation and find further information, please view www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/haveyoursay

The deadline for responses is 5pm today (Friday, 16th February).

At its meeting in December 2017, full Council agreed to consider three possible rates of increase for Council Tax to help meet the 2018–2019 funding gap. Cllr Bob Kilmister, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “Having delivered savings of £42.6m during the past four years, further cost reductions are becoming increasingly difficult to find without affecting core services like Education and Social Care.

“We have identified £10 million of proposed cost reductions, efficiencies and service transformations to be delivered within the financial year 2018–19.

“All options will result in some level of reduction in current service provision but the consultation will help to provide an understanding of what householders would find most acceptable.”