Britain's smallest city, St Davids, could be one step closer to becoming the UK's 2021 City of Culture on Monday, if Pembrokeshire County Council's cabinet follows a recommendation to register with the scheme by the end of this month.

The UK government City of Culture scheme launched in 2013, with Hull the county's current flagship city.

A report to cabinet by director of development, Dr Steven Jones, recommends St Davids as :

"A spiritual, historical and cultural centre of major significance in Wales…steeped in history and heritage with a remarkable asset base for its size, including for example a fine Cathedral, palace and a national gallery.

He adds that the city has successfully hosted large scale events in the past and that there would be a case for extending the boundaries to include other parts of north Pembrokeshire, possibly as far as Fishguard. However, the application would have to be "mindful of the risk of too broad a geographical approach".

He says that what St Davids lacks in size the county makes up for in substance, citing Pembrokeshire's successful track record in staging major events such as the Red Bull Cliff diving event, Ironman and the forthcoming P1 World Powerboat racing series at Milford Haven this summer.

The report states that there had been no formal meeting with St Davids City Council due to timescales. An update on their position will be provided verbally at Monday's cabinet meeting.

However the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and partners on the Pembrokeshire Public Service Board have been very supportive of the idea.

After the initial registering of interest at the end of February a Stage 1 bid could be submitted at the end of April, with presentations made in May. Shortlisted applicants would then make a full and final application by the end of September.

If cabinet supports the bid a detailed impact assessment would follow.

Cabinet is recommended to support the principle of a Stage 1 application and to complete registration, with the support of St Davids City Council, by the end of the month.

Dr Jones would then hold discussions with stakeholders to agree the geographical boundaries of the submission and on a lead organisation for the partnership submission.