Caerphilly Aims For Lowest Council Tax Increase In Wales Again This Year

Caerphilly county borough council has announced plans to introduce a 1% increase in Council Tax next year (2017/18). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This is the same as last year (2016/17) when Caerphilly had the lowest council tax increase of any local authority across Wales. The proposed rate would equate to an increase of just 19p per week for an average Band D property. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s Cabinet has also agreed a list of draft savings proposals for next year totalling £8.653million. The council is keen to stress that the vast majority of the proposed savings will have no direct impact on the public. They will mostly be ‘back room’ savings achieved through vacancy management, budget realignment and minor changes to service provision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The draft budget proposals will now be subject to a 6 week period of consultation before the final 2017/18 budget is agreed next February. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Keith Reynolds, Leader of the Council said, “It is a tribute to the way this council is run that we can put forward a set of budget proposals that have minimal impact on the pubic. This achievement reflects our effective budget management over recent years and the prudent approach we have taken to date.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m sure residents will welcome the news that our Council Tax increase has been limited to just 1% again this year. We know that times are difficult for many people, so we want to do our bit to ease any additional bourdon on our residents,” he added. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s budget consultation will take place over a 6 week period from Monday 5 December until Friday 14 January. The final budget for 2017/18 will be agreed at a meeting of Full Council on 22 February 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Details of the savings proposals along with a feedback form is available in our Caerphilly’s Budget Challenge section and this can be submitted online. Alternatively printed copies can be requested from the council’s Communications Unit on 01443 864354. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Completed printed copies of the survey can be dropped off at any CCBC library, leisure centre, customer service centre or housing offices. Alternatively they can be posted to:- ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

CCBC Communications Unit,
Penallta House,
Tredomen Business Park,
Hengoed,
CF82 7PG ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​