A PEMBROKESHIRE country councillor says he faces ‘the most difficult decision I have had to make’ when it comes to setting this year’s council tax bill.

Pembrokeshire, like all local authorities, is having to make cuts and councillors must decide on whether to increase council tax by five per cent, eight per cent or 12.5 per cent as they look to try to balance the books.

Cllr Mike James, from St Dogmaels, said there is no easy answer.

“It is a very tough decision for me personally and I am sure it is the same for all other members of the council. It is the most difficult decision I have had to make in seven years I have been on the authority,” said Cllr James.

Cllr James said that by raising council tax by five per cent that would still mean cuts of 5.1 per cent to the education budget, while it would also have a ‘major effect’ on all other departments.

“Even a 12.5 per cent rise - which would equate to £110 a year or £2 a week on a Band D property – we are still looking at a cut of 1.5 per cent in the education budget,” said Cllr James.

“But I am also acutely aware of how such a big rise will impact on families already on the breadline and struggling to make ends meet.”

Cllr James said that Ceredigion County Council’s Band D rate was currently £263 a year more than Pembrokeshire’s and Carmarthenshire’s £286 a year more – before any increase this time around – and that Pembrokeshire was now paying for historically having the lowest rate in the country.

No decision has yet been made. The final budget will be brought to cabinet in February for a recommendation to full council at its March 8 meeting.