THE County Council budget for next year is set to be discussed at Cabinet next week, which includes a 5% increase in council tax.

Included in the agenda for the meeting on Monday, February 13 a medium term financial plan for the Authority as well as the council tax increase approved by council on March 10 last year.

This will see a Band D property’s council tax increase by £42.05 to a total of £883.15 a year.

A 50% premium on second homes is also due to be introduced.

The Band D council tax for a second home will be £1,324.72 and there will be an assurance that at least half of the revenue will be used for the provision of affordable homes and “consideration be given to the remainder to support local services”.

This could potentially see around £678,000 generated for affordable homes depending on the number of properties transferred from the council tax regime to National Non Domestic Rates.

A draft budget for 2017-18 and a Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2017-18 to 2020-21 will be discussed before it is finalised and approved at March’s Full Council meeting.

The draft budget has previously been considered by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee and a Members Seminar has been held.

The report states: “The Council will aim to bridge the £10.7m funding gap for 201-18 and the projected £45.3m funding gap for the MTFP 2017-18 to 2020-21 by delivering its Transformation Programme and Cost Reduction/Efficiency/Service Transformation Programme.”

Councillors have previously discussed “unfairness in the level of ‘per capita’ funding between Pembrokeshire County Council and its neighbouring authorities” and representations will continue to be made to Welsh Government about this.

Another issue to be raised in Cardiff is the lack of cap on the amount Mid and West Wales Fire Service can levy when the Council is having to make cuts.

“Welsh Government should consider making the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue and Pembrokeshire Coast national Park Authority precepting bodies,” states the report for Cabinet.

Pembrokeshire’s settlement from Welsh Government for 2017-18 is ranked the 16th worst settlement. Published in December last year the settlement is a reduction of 0.1% or £0.12million but when adjusted for transfers in and out of the settlement, the reduction is closer to 0.20million.

The Cabinet meeting will be held at County Hall at 10am.