Parties at odds over plan for 6.25% council tax hike

Senior councillors in Caerphilly are expected to push ahead with proposals for a 6.25% council tax increase in next year’s budget.

Cllr Jamie Pritchard, who leads the Labour administration, said that even with the increase Caerphilly would remain one of the cheapest areas of Wales for council tax bills.

He argued residents would be worse off if the local authority instead relied on service cuts to balance the books, and said the council plans to invest in tidying up the county borough.

“If core services are slashed just to cut council tax, then I’m afraid the people of the county borough will pay the price with reduced services,” he said.

Other party group leaders have urged the council to rethink plans for a 6.25% council tax increase.

Cllr Pritchard accepted removing policies such as the “cleaner and greener” project – worth £4 million over the next two years – or extra money to support carers would make it possible to cut council tax bills further.

“But what is the point in slashing to the bone, which impacts those most in need?” he added.

“The public demands better public services, which need to be paid for, so in no way am I going to remove our commitment to delivering investment in cleaning up our communities or supporting our most vulnerable people after many years of painful decisions.”

Cllr Carol Andrews, the cabinet member for education, added Caerphilly had abandoned last year’s proposals to cut school transport and crossing patrols, and has a “commitment to supporting children across the county borough”.

The cabinet members were speaking ahead of a meeting scheduled for Tuesday February 24 – when they and their cabinet colleagues are expected to back the budget proposals.

All councillors will have the opportunity to debate and vote on the measures later that day.

Cllr Charlotte Bishop, who leads the Plaid Cymru group, said budget decisions “should always be about people, not percentages”.

“Rather than repeatedly turning to residents for more money, the council should be focusing on how we invest smarter in our communities – growing local revenue and reducing long-term costs through community-led projects that benefit everyone,” she said.

Cllr Bishop said she expected residents would want “well-run services, but they also want a council that works differently, thinks creatively and looks beyond simply raising council tax year after year”.

“We believe better outcomes come from better planning, not bigger bills,” she said. “Preventative spending, partnership working and supporting local initiatives can ease pressure on services while strengthening neighbourhoods at the same time. That approach protects the most vulnerable without placing the full burden on taxpayers during a cost-of-living crisis.”

Cllr Nigel Dix, who leads the council’s independents, said the 6.25% increase was higher than other Welsh local authorities were proposing in their budgets.

“If other councils can still provide services then we have to ask if Caerphilly is running the council efficiently,” he said. “Others can run their councils by levying a lower tax increase.”