Councillors refuse to back proposed 4.5% tax increase

AN inflation-busting council tax hike of 4.5% has been dubbed “eye-watering” by councillors who have vowed not to support it.

The Conservative group on Bridgend council has said they will not back the rise proposed by the Labour administration. Plaid Cymru said residents will rightly think “the authority has some nerve asking for above inflation rises”.

And Independent member Jeff Tildesley – who is the authority’s longestserving councillor – claimed it is one of the largest ever increases to hit Bridgend county since local government reorganisation in 1996.

However, both he and the leader of the council’s main opposition, the Independent Alliance, said vital public services must be protected.

The 4.5% hike – an extra £1.16 a week for a Band D property – would generate an additional £213,000 for Bridgend County Borough Council, which it said will be used to offset the impact of budget cuts, which amount to £6m this year.

Councillor Aniel Pucella, Conservative councillor for Brackla, said the group will not support further rises after 20 years of increases.

“Local people are being charged more and more each year for the council to do less and less,” he said.

“The best way to boost the local economy is for people to keep more of the money that they work hard to earn. That’s why we simply can’t support Labour’s eye-watering 4.5% council tax increase.” Council leader Huw David said people need to understand that rises are not just affecting Bridgend, “with some areas facing increases that are as high as 12.5%”.

“Some councils, such as the Conservative-led Northamptonshire County Council, have been forced to cancel all new expenditure in order to avoid bankruptcy,” he said.

“While we are reluctant to impose any increase at all, the additional 4.5% does not come close to covering many of the reductions in funding that the council is being forced to budget for.

“However, our budget for the year ahead still enables us to provide essential investments such as new primary schools in Pencoed, Brynmenyn and the Garw, three new extra care facilities for older and vulnerable people in Ynysawdre and Maesteg, new flood defences in Porthcawl, a programme of new pavement and highway repairs around the county borough, and more.”

Independent Alliance Group leader Councillor Norah Clarke said that as the group members are independents, she has not asked them how they will vote.

She said: “Although we may not be happy with the level of increase in council tax as no-one likes to see increases, we still believe there are efficiencies to be made together with smarter working.

“However, it is only responsible that we do everything we can to protect public services. We have to protect those who are vulnerable and need support.”

Coun Tildesley, an Independent councillor serving Cornelly, said: “Social services and schools, the main basic core of duties, have to be maintained.” He added the council had already made a large amount of cuts and savings over the last few years, including to staffing, in order to save money.

On behalf of the Plaid Cymru group, Councillor Tim Thomas said: “After last summer’s incompetence over the recycling most residents are rightly going to be thinking the authority has some nerve asking for above inflation rises.

“However the cuts from central government are also meaning big challenges and none of us would be happy leaving essential services removed and people placed in vulnerable positions as a result. So we will listen to what the authority has to say but it’s fair to say we’re unconvinced that the balance between fairness to all residents and protecting essential services is yet made.”

Councillors will vote on the proposed increase at a meeting of full council later this month.