Pembrokeshire County Council is launching a consultation today (Friday) with suggestions on how it can bridge the funding gap over the next three years.

The County Council needs to identify at least £40million in savings between 2016 and 2019.

“We have already saved £25 million, but we need to continue to make reductions and efficiencies in all departments,” said Cllr Jamie Adams, Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council.

“This is as a result of continued cuts in government grant, increased employment costs, an increase in demand for adult social care, and inflationary pressures.”

Cllr Adams added: “It is likely that cost reductions and efficiencies will have an impact on services that will affect you, your family, business or community, so we strongly urge you to take part in the consultation.”

The consultation is entitled ‘Have your say on Council Budget Pressures 2016-2019’.

The document contains ideas for ways in which cost reductions and efficiencies could be made in 2016 – 2017, along with suggestions for ways in which services could be delivered differently in the longer term.

The deadline for responses is Monday 4th January 2016.

Some of the ideas include:

• increasing Council Tax by 5%

• increasing the cost of school meals and leisure charges

• reducing the frequency of some services such as grass cutting and highway maintenance

• increasing pupil teacher ratios in primary schools

• out-sourcing some services

• changes to some social care, housing and specialist school support services.

The ideas for savings for 2016 – 2017 add up to just under £9 million, which is around half of the £18million that is needed for the financial year.

Some of the suggestions in the document were put forward by people and organisations at ‘Pembrokeshire County Council is changing’ sessions in October. Others have been suggested by County Councillors and Council staff.

The information gathered during the consultation will be used to help inform the County Councillors when they decide on the budget for 2016 – 2017 in March.

It will also help Council managers to develop possible programmes for change over forthcoming years.

Cllr Jamie Adams added: “The Council is continuing to identify further cost reductions, including many back office efficiencies, as well as looking at the findings of work undertaken by management consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.”

How to take part in the consultation:

• Give your views via the Council’s website www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/haveyoursay

• Fill in a hard copy of the consultation. Hard copies will be available from libraries, customer service centres and leisure centres from Friday, 4th December onwards.

Alternately, you can phone the Contact Centre on 01437 764551 and ask them to post you a copy.

An ‘easier to read summary’ version has also been produced. This is available online or you can request a copy from the Contact Centre on 01437 764551.

You can also take part in Facebook and Twitter polls which will be running on Pembrokeshire County Council’s social media pages over the next few weeks.

The deadline for consultation responses is Monday 4th January 2016.