DESPITE a slight increase in its settlement from Welsh Government, Pembrokeshire County Council’s draft budget funding gap has risen to £20million.

Before Christmas the council approved its draft budget for the next financial year but was still awaiting the final figures from Cardiff.

Cllr Bob Kilmister told the partnerships overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday (January 10) that the final amount from Welsh Government had increase by 0.2 per cent or £271,000.

The authority will receive around £162million for its service provision but a funding gap of £20.2million remains, an increase from the £19.6million identified last year.

This includes the costs of taking over domiciliary care services from Allied Healthcare after its collapse and a £1million contingency fund.

Cost efficiencies and reductions of £15.5million have previously been identified and council tax has been increased by almost 10 per cent.

This was still subject to change Cllr Kilmister said, adding “as it stand today that’s the projected funding gap.”

There is also a £30million capital increase for infrastructure and transformation across the country with Pembrokeshire receiving £1.3million.

The draft budget is currently being consulted on with the next Facebook Live session planned for next Wednesday (January 16) at 7pm and a drop-in session at Haverfordwest’s new library the following day, 2pm to 4pm.