NEATH PORT TALBOT Council is looking at increasing council tax and some fees and charges this year, along with a number of service reductions that could help it save millions of pounds.
Like other councils across Wales, Neath Port Talbot is getting ready to face another difficult year with pay pressures, inflation and an increased demand on services.
The local authority unveiled a number of budget proposals in December as part of its plan to reduce a budget gap of around £20m in new cost pressures, which have led officials to describe it as “one of the most difficult financial situations in its history”.
Along with increases to council tax, officers and cabinet members in every directorate have been asked to find 2% savings on top of other budget measures in order to protect jobs and services.
While it is important to note these are draft proposals and are subject to change before a final decision is made in February – here are some of the charges Neath Port Talbot Council is looking at bringing in to balance this year’s budget.
Council tax
While nothing is set in stone, there could be an increase in council tax by as much as 10% for householders in the Neath Port Talbot area this year, which officers say could help the council raise an additional £6,770,000.
The report given to members in December said there will be a need to raise council tax in order to fund the increased costs of general council services, adding it could reach the 10% mark if there was no additional Welsh Government funding.
It read: “If there is no additional funding from the Welsh Government in the provisional local government settlement, council tax could increase by approximately 10% to close the current budget gap.”
General charges
Other strategies included a general uplift of 7.5% to fees and charges in the borough.
They could also look to introduce new fees for licensed premises across Neath Port Talbot, along with a review of registrar charges, increasing the cost of pest control services, and targeting additional income in the register office.
Leisure
Plans for Neath Port Talbot Council to bring its leisure services in house are also set to be delayed as part of the 2024-25 budget, due to the costs of bringing staff and a number of facilities, such as the Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Centre and Neath Sports Centre, said to be around £1.3m.
Members said this would now be delayed for at least another 12 months, while statutory services like adult social care, children’s services, and education were a considered a priority.
Elsewhere, there could be changes to the way Neath Canal is used for walkers and cyclists, as the authority looks to review licence agreements and public access rights with owners of the upper and lower sections of the canal.
Street lighting and energy
In order to tackle energy costs, which officers say have “increased significantly”, members may look at turning off or dimming a number of its street lights across Neath Port Talbot during the early hours, in order to save up to £285,000 each year.
Additionally, the council will look to use less energy in council-run buildings, with proposals to use more efficient lighting such as LED lights in the Neath Civic Centre and the Quays.
Council-run buildings
The number of council-run buildings in operation could be reduced as part of its cost-cutting programme for 2024-25. This could include the releasing of office space at Tregelles Court, and changed uses of the Annexe at Neath, the Quays and Port Talbot Civic Centre.
It could also mean a reduction in the council’s accommodation portfolio by selling and repurposing a number of buildings.
