Vale council agrees 2.8% council tax rise

Councillors voted 24 to 21 per cent in favour of the rise – despite Plaid Cymru councillors proposing a zero per cent increase.

Speaking at a meeting last week Plaid Cymru councillor Ian Johnson said council tax rises under the Labour-led Llantwit First Independents coalition had amounted to a 21.5 per cent increase in five years.

He said Barry Town Council was not prepared to ask people to "go into their pockets when people in Barry are struggling to put food on the table".

He said: “We should not be taking money from our citizens if it’s not necessary for us to do so."

Conservative group leader Cllr John Thomas said his group believed the council tax increase was unacceptable.

Rhoose independent Cllr Adam Riley said: “These are difficult times for councils, but we also find that these are difficult times for the people of the Vale of Glamorgan. It lacks imagination and looks really bad like we treat the people of the Vale like a cash cow.”

Sully Independent councillor, Bob Penrose said his group would not support an increase.

Sully Independent councillor, Kevin Mahoney questioned why the administration wasn’t fighting for a fairer deal for Vale residents at Welsh Assembly level.

Vale council deputy leader, Lis Burnett defended the budget, saying said the authority would use the money to support education and social services.

She added: “This is a budget for the future- the future of our children and a dignified future for our most vulnerable.

“If we are going to build schools we need to have put money away in reserves first.”

Llantwit First Independents, Cllr Gwyn John said the council could not have a zero per cent rate and still balance the budget.

He said: “It would take this council right to the bowels of the earth by spending all your reserves. It can’t be done.”

Vale council leader Neil Moore said: “I am proud of what we have done as an authority – we are the best performing authority in Wales.”