Labour’s Council Leader Keith Reynolds has pledged that Caerphilly County Borough Council will work hard to protect services, protect staff, and protect the vulnerable in the community, after his Cabinet approved budget proposals for 2016/17.
Under the budget, which includes cuts and savings totalling £11.1 million, council tax will rise by just 1%, significantly less than the 3.9% increase that was originally forecast.
The reduction in the tax hike was down to a better financial settlement from Welsh Government.
Cllr Reynolds said: “This is a fair, well thought out budget that puts local people first and protects frontline services.
“Caerphilly is navigating its way through these difficult financial times thanks to our strategic approach to budget management, and the support of a dedicated workforce who are all pulling together to make savings and deliver quality services.
“We are also proud to be in a position to offer the lowest council tax rise in Wales – which I’m sure will be welcomed by householders across the area.
“Our proposed 1% rise equates to a weekly increase of just 19p for a Band D property. We are aware that people out there are feeling the pinch at the moment and we have responded accordingly.”
The budget will now be put before a meeting of full council on Wednesday, February 24 for final approval.
The council has been keen to point out that of the £11.1m savings in the budget, more than £8.5m will have “no impact” on frontline services.
However Cllr Reynolds warned: “We are not out of the woods yet as there are still significant savings still to found over the next few years, but we are doing our best to limit the impact on our residents.”
Labour has recently criticised the Plaid Cymru group of Caerphilly County Borough Council for “scaremongering” at the level of cuts that could be implemented after next year’s local elections.
Cllr Colin Mann, Plaid Cymru group leader, has said there was a real threat to services such as libraries, youth and leisure if Labour retained control of the council in 2017.
However, Cllr Reynolds said: “Labour will always work hard to protect services for Caerphilly county borough’s most vulnerable residents, and we’ll do our very best to avoid redundancies among council staff.
“Cllr Mann and the Nationalists know that Tory Westminster cuts will hit Caerphilly Council, whichever party leads our council after next year’s elections. Instead of making up threats to council services, why doesn’t Cllr Mann tell us what council services they want to cut?
“Why won’t they tell Caerphilly residents what their alternative council budget would be?”
This extraordinary task of keeping public expenditure in check, and keeping any rise in the Council Tax to a minimum, really is a major achievment by Caerphilly Council, it is clearly the good houskeeping, good money management and good leadership by the Labour Party and the Council`s Labour Cabinet which is paying dividends for the ratepayers of the Borough.
The fact that it is a Labour leadership, which is passing on to householders in the Borough, a better than expected Welsh Assembly financial Settlement, this proves conclusively that Labour are the party of the Welsh People, supporting household wherever and whenever possible, and, given the determination of a London Tory Government to reduce settlements to the Welsh Assembly and consequently, all Welsh local Authorities, it is thanks to the contribution a Labour Welsh Assembly Government has brought about which has helped bring this small increase in Council Tax in Caerphilly,
You must be joking, there is only one reason for a 1% rise this year and that’s down to the fact there is a Welsh election coming up. Unlike Labour voters who suffer acute memory loss come voting day, I remember the 4 and 5% inflation bursting council tax increases of previous years.
My sarcasm radar is offline today. I assume you are joking. I do not think any person would praise Labour for:
– Officers pay that has cost over £1.5m after going through the courts.
– 4% and 5% council tax increases in previous years.
– Voting in favour of the LDP
– Sandwich tax