Council meetings in Haverfordwest will still be available to watch online as members agreed to keep the current system.

The contract for webcasting was extended for 12 months last year and the latest report shows that viewing figures range from a low of 21 – a licensing sub-committee in August 2017 – to a high of 1,423.

March’s full council was the most watched of any webcast in the last year with 940 watching live and 483 viewing an archive of the meeting that included approving a 12.5 per cent council tax rise.

The next highest watched was the recent consultation to radically change heath services launch by Hywel Dda University Health Board, webcast from the council chamber in Haverfordwest.

There 1,365 viewers of that meeting, 553 watching live and a 812 coming back to watch the archive of the meeting.

Full council tended to attract the highest viewing figures with 858 in December 2017, 603 in July and 619 in October.

Cabinet meetings were also highly watched with 480 in July 2017, 240 in November 307 in February 2018.

A report to full council on May 10 states that the current contract with Public I cost £18,057 for a software licence, remote support, operator web chat, 140 hours of live content, unlimited archive and full integration with Modern Gov. All equipment and infrastructure is owned outright by the Council.

Criticisms of the sound quality have been made in the past but this is said to have improved in the main chamber following a change of amplifier.

Cabinet member for transformation Clr. Neil Prior backed an officer recommendation that council “remain with the current supplier and renew for a three year term.”

Flexibility to review and recommend further options, including electronic voting would be included.

Other options examined included upgrading the who webcasting provision including new cameras and microphones along with allowing for providing electronic voting and camera automation which would cost around £80-£100,000.

An option to terminate the service was also considered.

“It would be lovely to have electronic voting and the latest cameras so member’s faces could be beamed in high definition across Pembrokeshire but in the current financial climate it’s difficult to justify £100,000 on something that works perfectly well,” added Clr. Prior.

Clr. Jacob Williams said sound quality was still an issue in committee rooms while Clr. John Davies pointed out people’s height caused sound issues if they were further away from the microphone.

Members voted to continue the existing contract.