Outrage over 25% increase in council tax bill (From Penarth Times)

Outrage over 25% increase in council tax bill

PENARTHIANS have been hit by huge increases in their council tax as bills dropped through letterboxes this week.

Bill Ellis, of Westbourne Road, said: "I must confess that since receiving notice of the re-banding of my property, I thought we would see big increases in council tax payments.

"My fears have been realised - but the increase is even greater than I had ever imagined.

"The increase in council tax for my home is 353 for the year - 25.2 percent more than last year, which is quite simply unacceptable.

"The budget update leaflet, which came with the demand, contained a foreword by council leader Jeffery James which said we would see excessive increase in council tax levels for some 48 percent of households, but that the Vale Council had nevertheless managed to contain the increase for 2005/2006 to 4.7 percent."

Mr Ellis added: "I am no mathematician, but if almost half of households in the Vale are going to suffer excessive increases, and those increases are similar in percentage terms to my own situation, then I find it extremely difficult to believe that the overall increase has been contained to 4.7 percent."

Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council Jeffrey James said: "The newsletter attached to this year's council tax bills was correct in its assertion that the council has contained increases to 4.7 percent.

"However, this relates to the increase within each band, and the overall increases for rebanded properties is actually much higher in some cases.

"The rebanding was undertaken by the Welsh Assembly and was not the responsibility of the council."

Penarth AM Lorraine Barrett said: "The Vale of Glamorgan Council is responsible for setting council tax and the police also set their own precept, as does the town council.

"The Welsh Assembly Government settlement for the Vale was a 5.5 percent increase, which was a decent settlement.