A RISE in council tax in Denbighshire is set to be rubber-stamped tomorrow when councillors discuss town and community council precept levels.
Although the council tax rate was agreed in January, councillors are tasked with making sure the matters are legally valid at tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) meeting at the authority’s Ruthin HQ.
As part of this process, the council must consider and accept the precept levels received from the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner as well as both town and community councils.
In setting the budget, the council has already accepted an agreed 8.2% increase in the local government settlement from Welsh Government, and a council tax increase of 3.8% has already been agreed.
Consequently, the average band D property council tax bill has increased from £1,479.16 to £1,535.35. But that’s before the police and community town council precepts, which have risen from £316.80 to £333.09 and £57.49 and £59.40 respectively.
This means the average band D property in Denbighshire council tax bill has increased from £1,853.45 to £1,927.84 in 2023/24, an actual 4.01% increase.
Community councils across Denbighshire have sent their precepts to the council to be agreed.
But the precept rise varies between town and community councils.
Some of the largest increases in precepts include Corwen, which is set to rise from £100,463 to £118,300, and St. Asaph, which is set to rise from £109,736 to £139,902.
Rhuddlan is also set to increase from £169,280 to £183,039.
Rhyl and Prestatyn’s precepts are set to increase from £552,383 to £555,954 and £494,622 to £497,299 respectively.
Denbigh’s precept is set to rise from £230,208 to £233,442.
Ruthin is proposed to rise from £160,132 to £164,775 and Llangollen from £149,900 to £155,677.
Speaking in January, leader Cllr Jason McLellan welcomed Denbighshire’s 8.2% increase in the local government settlement from Welsh Government easing the burden on council tax payers.
Denbighshire’s 8.2% increase compared to the Welsh national average of 7.9% – way above neighbours Conwy who only received a 7.3% increase in their total sum.
“I think they (Welsh Government) gave us a better settlement than we expected because they listened to the pressures of local government,” he said.
“They prioritised the pressures of local government, and that’s down to work by the Welsh Local Government Association who have worked tirelessly to lobby Welsh Government. I’ve seen the hard work that they’ve put in.”
