Council tax set to 'rise by 5%' (From Free Press Series)

Council tax set to 'rise by 5%'

COUNCIL tax payers in Torfaen could face a five percent increase in their bills if the council's current working budget is approved in March.

This would mean the average bill for a person living in a Band D house going up by £46.90 - from £937.98 to £984.88.

A five percent hike in council tax bills could be deemed "excessive" by the Welsh Assembly, if the rise is approved at Torfaen council's cabinet meeting on March 7.

The minister for local government and public services has stated that "there will be no justification for excessive increases in council tax."

Finance chiefs at Torfaen put the council's budget for next year at over £140 million, 17 percent coming from council tax.

In a report to the cabinet yesterday the council's chief finance officer Phillip Nash said the Assembly input of £116 million had increased by 4.5 percent.

"Although welcome," he said, "it (the settlement) nevertheless remains short of the overall all Wales average."

While the education department is to benefit from a cash boost, concerns were expressed about the amount likely to go to social services.

Councillors approved a budget boost of £800,000 to go solely to benefit the borough's 49 schools.

Torfaen's executive member for Education, Councillor John Turner, said: "It will make a difference, but it is also an indicator that education is going to be a priority for us in the future."

But assistant executive member for social services, Councillor Brian Mawby warned: "Setting the budget at this level for social services means there is an element of risk. The social services settlement is not generous."