Council Tax precept to rise by 2.5%

CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has agreed its revenue budget following feedback from a public consultation.

Full Council agreed the budget put forward by the Executive Board, and although the opposition put forward an alternative budget, the Executive Board’s recommendations were adopted.

It means Council Tax in Carmarthenshire will increase by 2.5% – a level supported by the majority of people who responded to the public consultation.

For an average Band D property, this equates to a rise of £2.33 per month, or 54p per week.

Cllr David Jenkins, the council’s Executive Board Member for Resources, said the revenue budget reflects the views of people who responded to the consultation and keeps the Council Tax increase to the lowest possible level.

He explained how several savings proposals were cut from the original proposed budget following public feedback, with an extra £1.92million added to balance the books and protect vital services.

A proposal to cut the delegated schools budget was one of those changes. Now schools in Carmarthenshire will have the same amount of money to spend as this year – achieved by injecting £1.76million into the budget to bring the schools budget back to a cash neutral position.

To support the youth service, savings proposed for Carmarthen’s Quay Centre – where the service was previously provided – have been halved in response to concerns raised, therefore allowing a further £10,000 to be spent on services for young people in Carmarthen.

Proposals to transfer or close St Clears Leisure Centre have been withdrawn, owing to the weight of concern by the local community and county councillors.

Proposed cuts of £170,000 to voluntary sector grants have also been amended. Instead of the original proposals, a cut of £35,000 will be made in 2017/18, with future savings being phased in at £35,000 per annum thereafter.

The council had carried out extensive consultation with members of the public as part of the budget process, including an online survey, meetings with councillors and trade unions, and feedback from young people in schools through an Insight programme.