Wednesday
24
April
Calls for 3.75 per cent Council Tax rise were rejected
02/03/2020 @ 12:25
A proposal to bring the Council Tax down to 3.75 per-cent was rejected by councillors.
Newtown's Mayor, Cllr David Selby, was among the councillors who called for the reduction as part of budget savings.
At Powys County Council’s (PCC) Full Council meeting the Liberal Democrat and Green group put forward an amendment to the budget proposals to bring council tax down from 5 per cent to 3.75 per cent.
During the run up to setting the budget affordability issues have been highlighted.
Many councillors believing that hiking up Council Tax by 5 per-cent is not affordable for residents of the county.
In the run up to the meeting talks between opposition groups and Head of Finance and S151 officer, Jane Thomas were held to see if an alternative budget could be introduced.
Liberal Democrat and Green group leader, Cllr James Gibson-Watt, said: “The central issue of the amendment is the council tax.
“It’s way above the rate of inflation again and if we accept this rise of 5 per-cent, we are cementing that figure for future years, it’s clear as it’s in the financial strategy.
Cllr David Selby said: “If there was more time given then we would be able to make the correct savings and keep the council tax rise to something that is near acceptable.
“It would be very easy for us as opposition to suggest a 0 or 1 per cent rise, what we’re proposing is something that is acceptable, reasonable and affordable.”
Cllr Selby pointed to what the cabinet had done earlier in the day.
Before the meeting started and contrary to rules the Cabinet proposed bringing the budget down to 4.8 per-cent.
This would have reduced the budget of nearly £270million budget by £152,000.
“When you can do that in five minutes, then I’m pretty certain if we spend another week looking at what’s in front of us, we can find a sensible way of keeping the council tax to 3.75 per-cent, added Cllr Selby.
Following the proposal, several councillors respond by attacking the amendment for not explaining where the savings would come from.
Cllr Dai Davies calculated that the proposal would shave £950,000 off the budget, he wanted to know where that money would be found?
Cllr Tim van Rees said: “I don’t think what is proposed satisfies the requirements of a balanced budget, it’s a figure plucked from the air.
“Does that amendment meet the requirements of a balanced budget to go before the Full Council?
Head of Finance and S151 officer, Jane Thomas replied that it was an amendment “not” and alternative budget.
Head of Legal and Democratic Services, Clive Pinney added: “I think it’s a request for cabinet to go away and have another think.”
Portfolio holder for Finance, Cllr Aled Davies said: “We have worked so hard on this budget for the last 10 months, we have challenged officers continuously.
“Going away for another week will not make a difference.”
The vote was taken and the amendment to bring the Council Tax down to 3.75 per-cent lost, by 29 votes to 33.
Newtown's Mayor, Cllr David Selby, was among the councillors who called for the reduction as part of budget savings.
At Powys County Council’s (PCC) Full Council meeting the Liberal Democrat and Green group put forward an amendment to the budget proposals to bring council tax down from 5 per cent to 3.75 per cent.During the run up to setting the budget affordability issues have been highlighted.
Many councillors believing that hiking up Council Tax by 5 per-cent is not affordable for residents of the county.
In the run up to the meeting talks between opposition groups and Head of Finance and S151 officer, Jane Thomas were held to see if an alternative budget could be introduced.
Liberal Democrat and Green group leader, Cllr James Gibson-Watt, said: “The central issue of the amendment is the council tax.
“It’s way above the rate of inflation again and if we accept this rise of 5 per-cent, we are cementing that figure for future years, it’s clear as it’s in the financial strategy.
Cllr David Selby said: “If there was more time given then we would be able to make the correct savings and keep the council tax rise to something that is near acceptable.
“It would be very easy for us as opposition to suggest a 0 or 1 per cent rise, what we’re proposing is something that is acceptable, reasonable and affordable.”
Cllr Selby pointed to what the cabinet had done earlier in the day.
Before the meeting started and contrary to rules the Cabinet proposed bringing the budget down to 4.8 per-cent.
This would have reduced the budget of nearly £270million budget by £152,000.
“When you can do that in five minutes, then I’m pretty certain if we spend another week looking at what’s in front of us, we can find a sensible way of keeping the council tax to 3.75 per-cent, added Cllr Selby.
Following the proposal, several councillors respond by attacking the amendment for not explaining where the savings would come from.
Cllr Dai Davies calculated that the proposal would shave £950,000 off the budget, he wanted to know where that money would be found?
Cllr Tim van Rees said: “I don’t think what is proposed satisfies the requirements of a balanced budget, it’s a figure plucked from the air.
“Does that amendment meet the requirements of a balanced budget to go before the Full Council?
Head of Finance and S151 officer, Jane Thomas replied that it was an amendment “not” and alternative budget.
Head of Legal and Democratic Services, Clive Pinney added: “I think it’s a request for cabinet to go away and have another think.”
Portfolio holder for Finance, Cllr Aled Davies said: “We have worked so hard on this budget for the last 10 months, we have challenged officers continuously.
“Going away for another week will not make a difference.”
The vote was taken and the amendment to bring the Council Tax down to 3.75 per-cent lost, by 29 votes to 33.
Photo: Newtown Mayor Cllr David Selby
Story by Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|