Cabinet agrees 4.2% council tax rise recommendation (From Western Telegraph)

Cabinet agrees 4.2% council tax rise recommendation

2:02pm Monday 9th February 2009

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Council tax in Pembrokeshire is set to rise by 4.2% this year, the county cabinet agreed on Monday.

The cabinet met to discuss the £193.2m budget for 2009/2010 and accepted a recommendation that the Band D council tax rate should be £665.34.

That is an increase of £26.81 on 2008/2009, a rise of 4.2%.

The recommendation will now be voted upon at full council in due course.

The final bill that arrives on the doormat will also include the Dyfed-Powys Police precept and the precept from your local town or community council.

Leader, Cllr John Davies said: "It could be argued that this year was the year to somehow dive into the reserves and keep the tax increase to a very bare minimum.

"The fact remains that we have a responsibility to maintain services," added Cllr Davies, who explained that the tax increase was for the "long term good."

"We do have the lowest council tax in Wales by far and we also have some of the best services in Wales and that is an achievement.

"What we are looking at is a 4.2% increase in council tax, which some would argue is around the inflationary rate at the moment."

Cllr Davies argued that the effect of the increase would hit Pembrokeshire householders less than those who were faced by council tax increases in neighbouring counties.

He said that the Band D rate in Pembrokeshire would increase by just over £26 while the rate in Ceredigion would increase by £41.

None of the other cabinet members elected to speak on the subject and all voted in favour of the recommendation.

Cabinet also agreed to the recommendation that council house rents be increased by 5.9% from April 6th, pending a formal determination being issued by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The effect will be that the average weekly council house rent will rise from £55.94 to £59.24.

Guidelines from the Welsh Assembly suggested that the increase was needed to balance the council's housing accounts during the next financial year.

"Most of this is outside our control, so we find ourselves having to increase council house rent by 5%," said Cllr John Davies.

"However, a huge percentage of our tenants do not actually pay full rent, some don't pay rent at all.

"The fact remains that we as an authority wish to keep hold of our housing stock. We can do that by following the formula given to us by the Welsh Assembly."

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