3.9% council tax hike proposed

Ratepayers in Gwynedd face a 3.9% council tax hike but fewer cuts than originally feared.
As part of the annual settlement the authority will receive an additional 4.6% from Cardiff Bay – the sixth highest increase of Wales’ 22 councils with the extra £8m, crucially, covering inflation.
But to avoid proposed cuts deemed unacceptable by councillors, Gwynedd Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve the 2020/21 budget that includes a 3.9% council tax rise – generating £74m in income compared to the £187m it will receive as part of the block grant.
This, if passed, equates to an extra £54.09 a year, or £1.04 a week for the average “Band D” property, without taking into account any further hikes from community councils and the police authority.
£2m of cuts had originally been earmarked but it’s expected that any service cuts will now largely be reduced to around £1m of efficiency savings only, while those that would adversely affect the general population.
Among the most contentious of the the £2m of originally earmarked cuts was a plan to slash school spending, including a reduction of £463,900 by amending the pupil teacher ratio  – the formula that works out how many staff are required per pupil.
Meanwhile, the Care Scrutiny Committee had also raised concern over a proposed reduction of £30,000 in the grant to Women’s Aid and further cuts to the mental health budget and services for carers.
The report that will be presented to the cabinet on Tuesday states that officers expect the 3.9% hike will be lower than the Welsh average.
“The 2020/21 budget attempts to protect the services the council provides for the people of Gwynedd, and recommends a 3.9% Council Tax increase in order to achieve that aim this year,” it states.
“By selecting savings, we will be achieving them in those areas which will have the least effect upon our citizens, but this will be more challenging by 2021/22 and beyond should there be unfavourable grant settlements, as in previous years.”
The head of finance, responding to the report, described the proposed budget as “robust, sufficient, and achievable.”
The cabinet is expected to recommend a budget on Tuesday which will then be passed onto the full council for a final decision when it meets on March 5.

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter