Swansea residents hit with 3.9% Tax Hike: £1.01 Extra a Week for Band B Homes
Swansea Council has approved a colossal £677 million budget, which they claim will deliver “record spending” on vital services for the people of Swansea.
However, buried within the fanfare of increased investment is the stark reality of a council tax hike that will hit households across the city.
The 3.9% increase translates to an additional £1.01 per week for those living in average Band B properties, a figure the council leader attempts to downplay as “much less than the cost of a cup of coffee.”
Council Leader Rob Stewart, attempting to put a positive spin on the rise, stated: “At 3.9% our council tax rise is the third lowest in Wales and we are below the Welsh average for council tax.”
He further claimed: “We are achieving record investment in services while setting one of the lowest council tax rises in Wales.”
Despite these assurances, the fact remains that residents will be digging deeper into their pockets to fund the council’s ambitious spending plans.
The budget includes a staggering £448 million combined for education and social services, alongside £70 million earmarked for building new homes and improving existing ones, as well as tackling the homelessness crisis.
In a move that may raise eyebrows, the council is also looking to introduce a £10 million Economic Growth Fund, which would see a £3 million boost for road resurfacing projects and tackling potholes.
This comes after Cllr Stewart boasted that in the last 12 months, the council “fixed more than 5,200 potholes,” yet residents “told us they want more.”
Further initiatives funded by the budget include an extra £474,000 for the council’s CWOT teams for deep-cleaning streets and a £150,000 investment in Swansea’s network of bridleways and footpaths.
The council also highlighted the return of its “pioneering free bus offer” for the Easter holidays, which they claim has been enjoyed “more than a million times so far.”
Cllr Stewart defended the council’s financial management, stating: “Thanks to prudent management of our resources and despite the financial challenges we face we’ve not had to consider harsh measures like other councils have.”
He clarified that approximately 0.5% of the 3.9% council tax increase is allocated to fund the Mid and West Wales fire service, meaning the actual council tax rise for council services is closer to 3%.
#Budget #CouncilTax #LocalGovernment #PublicServices #RobStewart #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #TaxHike
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