The leader of Pembrokeshire County Council is to take part in his first ever live Twitter question and answer session with the public.

It's part of the local authority's bid to involve the public in its debate on saving money in order to balance its budget.

The council needs to identify up to £25 million in savings by March 2016 and Clr. Jamie Adams wants to know what you think are the best ways for the authority to make the savings by joining him in the Twitter session on Monday, October 13, from 10 am - 12 noon.

In addition, Pembrokeshire's leading politicians are also going out on the road to hear suggestions from the public.

At a press briefing with Clr. Adams and chief finance officer Jon Haswell, on Friday, Clr. Adams explained that Pembrokeshire County Council, like other local authorities, needs to make savings in order to balance its budget in the wake of government spending cuts.

The council has already seen a drop in its Welsh Government Grant of 4.2 per cent for the 2014/15 financial year, with further cuts in funding of between 1.5 to 4.5 per cent now earmarked for 2015/16 and beyond.

In response to the original cuts, the local authority has already developed a cost reduction plan designed to save £20 million over a two-year period. Money has been saved by introducing fortnightly black bag collections and by increasing income from car parking and leisure services among other things.

However, the further reduction in Government Grant now means that the council has to find a further £5 million in savings, making a total of £25 million in all.

At Friday's briefing, the possibility of service cuts and compulsory redundancies could could not be ruled out, while measures being looked at in an attempt to make savings were said to include flexible and reduced working hours, grouping multiple services under one roof, asking the other agencies to contribute to running the county's 'flagship' leisure service, and encouraging community groups and the third sector to take over certain provision. 'Rationalisation' of the council's youth service and secondary schools was also an option.

But to help make these vital decisions, the council wants to hear what the public thinks first.

Clr. Adams, along with deputy leaders, Clrs. Rob Lewis and Huw George, and cabinet members Sue Perkins and Keith Lewis, are now attending a series of public drop-in sessions across the county to hear people's views about how these savings can be made.

The sessions are designed to give people the chance to voice their opinions about the council's own savings plans and also make their own suggestions for efficiency savings.

"We, like every other local authority, face an extremely challenging few years ahead in which as a council we will be forced to make some difficult decisions," said Clr. Adams.

"This is a chance for people to have their say about the decisions we plan to make and also put forward some cost cutting suggestions of their own.

"These are their services and we want people to have a full say in the decisions we make," he said.

No appointments are necessary for the sessions which will be held at the following places: Pembroke Dock: Tuesday, October 14, 5-7 pm, Gallery, Pembroke Dock Library; Haverfordwest: Thursday, October 16, 7-9 pm, Room 6, Pembrokeshire Archives, Prendergast; Tenby: Tuesday, October 21, 5-7 pm, Tenby Library; St. David's: Tuesday, October 21, 7-9 pm, St. David's Sports Hall; Crymych: Wednesday, October 22, 7-9 pm, Crymych Rugby Club; Narberth: Thursday, October 23, 7-9 pm, Conference Room, Bloomfield House Community Centre.

To join Monday's live Q&A session, follow the council on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/pembrokeshire">www.twitter.com/pembrokeshire (@Pembrokeshire) and join in the conversation using the #tag #pccsavings.