People are being encouraged to get involved in Carmarthenshire County Council’s annual budget setting process, having a say on future spending and savings.

Individuals, businesses and organisations are urged to get involved in providing public feedback on the council’s draft budget before a final decision is made in March.

Current budget projections are based on a proposed council tax increase of 4.4 per cent (approximately £1.15 per week for the average Band D property).

To ensure a balanced budget, the council must deliver £11.7million of savings across the next three years.

Council tax raises approximately £105million a year and contributes to around a quarter of the total annual budget.

Councillors must also find a way to manage the increasing demand for certain services, such as social care, and inflationary pressures, including the rising cost of energy bills and increasing costs of paying the foundation living wage.

Cllr David Jenkins, cabinet member for resources, said: “Unfortunately Welsh Government’s funding to councils has not kept pace with rising costs and increasing demands for our services, which is creating a budget shortfall every year.

“The settlement figure we’ve recently received appears healthy on the face of it, but with the Covid-19 hardship fund expected to come to an end, the settlement will have to contribute to the extra costs that we continue to face as we respond to the pandemic.

“We will continue to do the best we possibly can, identifying savings proposals that will have minimal impact on frontline services, but difficult decisions will need to be made.

“We truly appreciate the financial hardship that people are facing, and now more than ever we encourage people to get involved in our budget setting process.

“The more people that respond the better, as we will have more feedback on which to base our decisions.”

The budget consultation has now opened allowing people to view the proposed draft budget and have their say.

People can share their views online at www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/consultations, by emailing consultation@carmarthenshire.gov.uk, leaving feedback on the council’s social media channels, or calling in to a council customer service Hwb in Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford town centres.

The budget consultation closes at 5pm on February 6, 2022.