Local councillor criticises decision to increase council tax

The initial proposal was a 6.9% increase in council tax, but it was reduced by one per cent to 5.9%. 

The Council says that this decision was made after consultation with residents and increased funding from the Welsh Government. 

The proposal to increase council tax was strongly opposed by the Conservatives who called for a real terms freeze to council tax. 

However, the final decision came down to a vote in a meeting on March 10 and the results were 55% for and 45% against the proposal. 

‘Residents are being asked to pay more for less’ says a local councillor 

Leader of the Vale Conservative Council Group, Cllr George Carroll, on the proposed council tax rise, said:  

“This Labour administration is yet again imposing an inflation busting council tax rise on residents, while they’re removing litter bins from our communities and are considering new parking charges.  

Thanks to Labour mismanagement, residents are being asked to pay more for less.” 

Local councillor criticises council tax increase (Image: File) “Labour councillors must get a grip, improve productivity in the authority and stop milking council taxpayers.”

However, the council says there is significant financial pressure on social care, school finances and school transport. 

Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cllr Lis Burnett, previously said:

The reality is that our costs are increasing much faster than our funding.” 

A wallet (Image: Canva)

How will the money be spent? 

The Vale Council recently announced the new budget will prioritise investment in school care and education. 

Around 71% of a £331 million budget will go on schools and Social Services to meet growing demand in these areas. 

But money will also be spent on improving roads, repairing potholes and upgrading public spaces to offer residents better quality of life and more opportunities. 

More than 4.5 million has been allocated for highway enhancements, while the Council recently secured £20 million of Levelling Up money for the Barry Marina Project.

Vale of Glamorgan Council (Image: File)

How did your local councillor vote? 

Those who voted for the increase: 

• Cllr Catherine Iannucci-Williams 

• Cllr Susan Lloyd-Selby 

• Cllr Belinda Loveluck-Edwards 

• Cllr Julie Lynch-Wilson 

• Cllr Naomi Marshallsea 

• Cllr Michael Morgan 

• Cllr Jayne Norman 

• Cllr Sandra Perkes 

• Cllr Joanna Protheroe 

• Cllr Ruba Sivagnanam 

• Cllr Carys Stallard 

• Cllr Neil Thomas 

• Cllr Margaret Wilkinson 

• Cllr Eddie Williams 

• Cllr Julie Aviet 

• Cllr Gareth Ball 

• Cllr Rhiannon Birch 

• Cllr Bronwen Brooks 

• Cllr Ian Buckley 

• Cllr Pamela Drake 

• Cllr Wendy Gilligan 

• Cllr Emma Goodjohn 

• Cllr Evan Goodjohn 

• Cllr Sally Hanks 

Those who voted against the increase: 

• Cllr Dr Ian Johnson 

• Cllr Kevin Mahoney 

• Cllr Ian Perry 

• Cllr Rhys Thomas 

• Cllr Steffan William 

• Cllr Nicholas Wood 

• Cllr Anne Asbrey 

• Cllr Samantha Campbell 

• Cllr George Carroll 

• Cllr Christine Vave 

• Cllr Janice Charles 

• Cllr Amelia Collins 

• Cllr Marianne Cowpe 

• Cllr Vincent Driscoll 

• Cllr Anthony Ernest 

• Cllr Christopher Franks 

• Cllr Russell Godfrey 

• Cllr Stephen Haines 

• Cllr Nic Hodges 

• Cllr Mark Hooper