COUNCIL Tax payers in Pembrokeshire look set to be hit with a 10 per cent rise this coming year, with the man responsible admitting residents are "paying more for less."

Cabinet’s final recommendations on the upcoming council budget have been put forward and include additional funds for school improvement, youth clubs and historic buildings.

Pembrokeshire County Council faces a £20.6millon funding gap in 2019/20 and its draft budget aims to bridge that with council tax rises and cost cutting.

On Monday, February 1,1 cabinet approved 15 recommendations for full council to consider later this month, including a council tax rise of £1.89 a week for a band D property, equivalent to a 10 per cent rise.

A public consultation on the proposals was held with more than 11,000 reached via Facebook but no one attended a Q&A session in Haverfordwest and only nine went to a drop in session, cabinet heard.

All overview and scrutiny committees have examined the budget over recent weeks.

The only committee to make an official recommendation to cabinet was the schools committee, which asked for sufficient funding – around £46,000 – to be made available to support and maintain youth club services for the next year while other sources of funding are explored.

Cabinet member for finance Cllr Bob  Kilmister, said; “These decisions are very hard and they will have a negative affect on many. There’s no doubt that residents are paying more for less, this is the same across the country.

“These proposals are necessary and we are doing the very best for the people of Pembrokeshire in very difficult circumstances,”

Changes to the draft budget discussed include moving £116,000 for the Citizens Advice Bureaux to the revenue budget and the recommendation to include unallocated budget to community youth groups.

Also discussed was that income generated from the council tax premium for empty properties be used for affordable housing though the enhancing Pembrokeshire fund.

Cabinet also agreed additional recommendations that more than £1.5million be allocated to the delegated schools budget, which includes Welsh Government funding for pay rises.

If further funding is made available for teacher pension increases this will be “passported” directly to schools, which will reduce all school deficits, and some may even have a surplus, added Cllr Kilmister.

More money will be given for school improvement he added, with the cabinet asked to fund four eduction projects – £100,000 for raising standards at key stage three and four; £300,000 for supporting significant improvements in secondary schools; £100,000 for IT and LSA equipment and supporting pupils eligible for free school meals will get £100,000 funding.

Cllr Kilmister asked that the cabinet recommended that work to close customer service centres was done, including identifying suitable alternatives, and that Tenby tourist information centre ceases to operate as a stand alone service in April.

Shared service options will be explored until October before a final decision is made but a stand alone centre was “not a sustainable model”.

The final addition was £57,000 for supporting historic buildings.

Cllr Neil Prior said: “Whilst it’s uncomfortable to be raising council tax it’s the right thing to do. It’s a painful and difficult message that I’m sure we will get some flak from.

“The brutal facts staring us in the face is we have to do something if we are going to continue to provide the services we do.”

The final decisions will be taken by full council on February 21.