12.5% council tax rise looms amid £22m shortfall

PEOPLE living in Conwy face a potential 12.5% council tax rise next year amid a £22m budget black hole.

- By RICHARD EVANS Local Democracy Reporter [e-mail]

Conwy Council's finance and resources committee met at Coed Pella on Monday (September 1) where councillors debated the Business Planning Framework for setting the budget in 2026/27.

Councillors were warned that Conwy was only expecting a 2% increase in its local government settlement, the annual amount awarded to councils by Welsh Government.

This predicted amount, councillors heard, would result in a £22m shortfall, which could result in another council tax increase of 12.5% - following a 30% rise in just three years.

Another option would be to slash council services. Pressures affecting Conwy include teacher pay increases, which are set outside the council, inflation, and years of subsequent low annual settlements from Welsh Government.

Whilst most of the chamber seemed to blame either Welsh or central government for the shortfall, Old Colwyn councillor David Carr criticised the cabinet Conwy.

Cllr Carr claimed the council was “wasting” money on non-statutory services such as a communications strategy, which he remarked promoted “national tea day” and home-to-school transport. He also hit out at Conwy’s funding of quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organisations (QUANGOs), such as the North Wales Ambition Board.

Leader Cllr Charlie McCoubrey said 80% of Conwy’s budget was spent on social care and education, blaming Welsh Government’s funding formula, and told Cllr Carr to put forward solid proposals for savings.

“Residents have had a 30% (council tax) rise,” said Cllr Carr. “This is in a cost-of-living crisis for pensioners and for working families earning just above minimum wage - this is a disaster.

“We can’t carry on going to the council tax year on year on year on year and putting it up by substantial amounts. We've got to cut that nonessential spending.

“Let's actually listen to residents a little bit more because they are the ones that are paying the price.