A LAST-MINUTE change to a council’s budget has seen a lower tax rise than expected.
Homeowners and tenants in the County of Conwy could face a 3.7% increase in their council tax bills, a reduction from the original 5% increase planned for since last year’s budget.
In a meeting to discuss the final settlement and draft budget for Conwy for 2011/12, Cabinet Members supported the proposal that Conwy County Borough Council’s council tax precept for a home in the average tax band would come to £850.59, an increase of £30.43.
The original draft budget included a commitment of £611,000 for a possible pay award to local government employees, but their pay has since been frozen and this resulted in an opportunity to reduce the budget by £468,000.
The proposal will go to a special meeting of the full council on Tuesday March 8.
Despite the proposed rise, Conwy would maintain the lowest D Band council tax rate in North Wales, remaining less than the Welsh authority average of £939.29, and fifth lowest throughout England and Wales - though other councils in Wales are yet to set their rates.
Cllr Janet Finch-Saunders, said she had been “pleasantly surprised” at the opportunity to cut the proposed rise, but the announced rise would still be contested by Conservatives in the council.
She said “Since the last budget day, we'd always been working to a 5% council tax rise - but as a group, we're still not happy with the 3.71%.”
Cllr Meirion Hughes, Cabinet Member for Finance, said “Officers and Members have been preparing this budget for more than 12 months.
He added: “We believe this is a robust budget for 2011/12, but we will continue to face significant financial challenges over the next few years.”
Emma Boon, campaign director for the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said “Councils should be looking at key ways to cut spending, rather than passing on the costs to the taxpayer. It's high time that councils admitted that asking for more money is not the solution.
“When you look at other councils in Wales freezing their council tax, it makes rises all the less acceptable.”