Vale of Glamorgan to be hit by highest rise in council tax (From Penarth Times)

Vale of Glamorgan to be hit by highest rise in council tax

COUNCIL tax increases in the Vale of Glamorgan this year will be the highest in Wales.

Council tax for householders in the Vale will increase by 5.5%.

Newport is the only other local authority in Wales to make an increase of 5.5%.

In Cardiff the increase will be 4.24% while the average increase for Wales will be 4.38%.

For Band D, council tax in the Vale will increase from 715.77 to 755.14 a year.

This increase is twice the rate of inflation.

However, Vale council leader Jeff James said that despite the increase council tax bills in the Vale are still among the lowest of the 22 Welsh local authorities.

The band D average for Wales for 2006/07 will be 795.46.

Council tax increases in Wales will average 4.4% this year, the second lowest increase ever.

A Welsh Local Government Association Finance Spokesperson said: "This lower than anticipated increase, which compares with an increase in Assembly funding of 5.1%, is the result of councils working hard to deliver better services within tougher financial constraints.

"They have to strike the right balance between protecting public services and keeping council tax increases as low as possible."