CASH-STRAPPED Pembrokeshire County Council is seeking the public’s views on proposed changes to leisure, tourism and cultural services which could see savings of more than £700,000 a year.

The consultation, which started on Monday, August 15, runs to September 16.

The council has employed specialist firm, London-based Winckworth Sherwood, which has come up with five options for culture and leisure services, and two options for tourism.

Winckworth Sherwood favours the creation of a charitable trust to deliver culture and leisure services, including leisure centres, swimming pools, libraries, museums, archives, and support for the arts.

The trust would be independent from the council, which would only be able “to influence rather than control” it.

The charitable trust option would see annual projected savings of £637,000 on business rate relief, and £65,000 on VAT, with potentials for further savings, access to private finance, and for donations and income generation.

A board of trustees, including two county councillors as members, is proposed.

Alternatives include creating a co-operative organisation, owned by employees, with potential £65,000 VAT savings; a council-controlled trading company, with estimated savings of £628,000; and outsourcing to the private or voluntary sector, or maintaining services in-house.

It also proposes a separate subsidiary to manage tourism marketing services, by establishing a new non-charitable company.

The council states: “Between now and 2020 we estimate that we will need to reduce our spending by some £52.5 million. This is in addition to the millions that we have already saved in recent years. A series of changes made to leisure, cultural and tourism services over the last few years have contributed towards meeting overall budget pressures.

“All council services, including leisure, culture and tourism, are expected to continue to help us respond to the financial pressures we are facing.

“We are keen to find a way to operate these services more efficiently and to avoid the closure of facilities, wherever possible.

“We are proposing to deliver leisure, cultural and tourism services in a different way.

This means we are proposing to change the way that these services are managed and governed rather than directly changing the way customers will receive these services.”

The findings will be carefully considered by decision makers before any agreement on what action to take is reached.

Responses may be completed online here.

Public meetings are taking place throughout the county, at Crymych Leisure Centre on August 18, Tenby Leisure Centre on August 23, Milford Haven Leisure Centre, August 25, Fishguard Leisure Centre, September 1, Haverfordwest Leisure Centre, September 5, and Pembroke Dock Library, September 12, all between 6.30pm and 8pm.