Caerphilly council tax set to rise (From Campaign Series)

Caerphilly council tax set to rise

4:49pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News

AFTER weeks of speculation, Caerphilly council’s ruling Labour group confirmed that it will propose that council tax rises by 2.35 per cent in this year’s budget.

Council leader Harry Andrews said the rise will allow it to safeguard “services that residents rely on”, honour its pledge to scrap bulk household waste collection charges and invest an extra £100,000 in youth service provisions.

While the proposal still has to be ratified by full council on February 27, Cllr Andrews said it would still be less than the average 2.83 per cent rise proposed by Welsh councils in 2013/14.

The issue has led to a number of exchanges between Labour and the opposition Plaid Cymru group over the last few weeks.

Plaid leader on the council, Colin Mann, pointed to the fact his party froze council tax for two years while it was in power and called for no rise.

“Families and individuals are struggling to make ends meet,” he said... “any rise is unwelcome at this time.”

But Labour deputy leader Keith Reynolds asked “which council services would Plaid Cymru cut to balance the books?”