Council tax is set to rise for Caerphilly County Borough residents by 2.35%.
Councillors will meet today (Tuesday) to discuss the local authority’s budget for the 2013/14 financial year before it is approved at a meeting of full council on February 27.
Cllr Harry Andrews, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s leader, said: “Caerphilly is one of the leading local councils in Wales and we believe this budget proposal will put us in a solid position to build on our success to date and continue to deliver improved services to our communities.”
The 2.35% increase will see an extra £21.06 a year for a Band D property.
Cllr Keith Reynolds, deputy leader of council, added: “Residents can rest assured that, thanks to the council’s sound financial planning, we are in a strong position especially compared to other local authorities who will need to make some very tough decisions in able to balance their budgets.
“Our robust Medium Term Financial Plan is paying dividends and we are currently at the helm of a very steady ship during these turbulent financial times.”
Earlier this month the Gwent Police and Crime Panel, headed by elected Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston, agreed to a 2.66% rise on the portion of council tax that pays for policing.
There appears to be little for the main parties in the Caerphilly Council to argue about in respect to this proposed increase to Council Tax for 2013/14.
Plaid Cymru had already `forecast`, in 2011/12 a possible rise of precisely this amount for 2013/14.
However, when Plaid Cymru were divested, by the electorate, of their stewardship of the Caerphilly council, they left a budget balance credit of £5,000,000( five million pounds) I would like to know how that money has been used, particularly, if it has NOT been set against what would have been a much bigger hike to council Tax this and next year but for it.? Where has this money gone?, or, is it still available to ` cushion` the `hit` this hike in Council takes on households up and down the Borough.
If this increase costs each average household £21.06 a year one has to add to that the average £5.90 increase on each household made by the New Crime and Police Commissioner, total increase to every single household in the borough of an average £26.96p. Perhaps we should be grateful that Community and Town Council have not increased their precepts, or have some of them done that? else, we would all be staring into a larger increase altogether.
This increase looks, reasonable, considerate, and harmonious with other Welsh Authorities who are considering their budgets. What`s there to argue about?.