Council faces a 'sobering' 16.7% gap in funding

CONWY County Council could be starting at a 16.7% council tax increase when it attempts to set a balanced budget for 2026-27, warned a backbench councillor.

- RICHARD EVANS

Financial expert Councillor Gareth Jones warned the finance and resources overview and scrutiny committee of his estimate, which included costs yet to be factored in.

Head of finance Amanda Hughes told the chamber at the authority's Coed Pella HQ that she wasn't "doubting it would be in that kind of region."

Chairing the meeting, Councillor Cheryl Carlisle, together with Councillor Kay Redhead, reassured residents that 16.7% represented the likely gap the council needed to cover and not a proposal to increase council tax by that amount.

The debate followed a budget report for 2026-27 ahead of the council setting a budget in the new year.

Ms Hughes told councillors that the authority was expecting a 2.3% uplift in its Provisional Local Government Settlement, which would mean an additional £6m. But the council is facing a £20.6m funding gap - down from an earlier estimate of £22m.

This means Conwy County Council is facing an expected £14m shortfall - after three years of service cuts and council tax rises of nearly 10%.

While the authority could receive more funds from the Welsh Government, councillors heard it was among nine of 22 authorities set to receive the "floor" amount.