Conservatives on the Vale of Glamorgan Council have slammed the inflation busting 4.9% council tax rise residents now face, after the Labour-Vale Independent coalition’s motion was approved by a majority of councillors.
Leader of the Vale Conservatives, Cllr Vincent Bailey, called the rise a “massive blow to hard pressed residents”, and criticised other parties for refusing to back his proposed 1.8% rise in line with inflation.
Cllr Bailey proposed an amendment to the revenue budget at last week’s meeting of Full Council, which called for the use of an additional £2.2million from reserves, (allowing for a council tax rise of just 1.8% - the current rate of inflation.)
However, the amendment was rejected, after Labour and Vale Independent councillors voted against.
The 4.9% council tax rise has now been formally ratified following a council meeting on Monday March 9th.
Cllr Bailey slammed the decision, which now means yet another Labour tax rise that will put more pressure on hardworking families.
The hike comes despite the council having received an extra £6.6 million this year from Welsh Government - more than enough to freeze council tax entirely.
Cllr Bailey said,
“This is a hammer blow for hard pressed residents, and there’s simply no justification for it whatsoever.
“In recent years the Vale has been under-funded by Welsh Government, but this year saw an additional £6.6 million - enough to keep council tax in line with inflation, and to support under pressure services.
“We cannot allow massive hikes in council tax to become the norm, and whilst there are times that the public can accept paying a little more, we don’t believe that the current context justifies a hike of 4.9%.”
Cllr Bailey explained his proposal to peg council tax in line with inflation:
“As a one-off, I proposed using some of this extra money to ease the pressure on hard pressed council taxpayers.
“This would have resulted in a small council tax rise of 1.8% at the rate of inflation.
“Unfortunately, this was blocked by Labour and Vale Independent Group - all of whom were elected as Conservatives, promising to keep council tax fair.
“They have betrayed their local communities, and their spineless support of Labour’s council tax hike will be punished at the ballot box in two years time.”