Council tax to rise by 3.35 per cent in Torfaen

5:20pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News

Council tax to rise by 3.35 per cent in Torfaen Council tax to rise by 3.35 per cent in Torfaen

TORFAEN councillors have approved a 3.35 per cent increase in council tax.

At a meeting earlier today, the full council voted in favour of the final revenue budget, which will result in a 3.35 per cent increase in council tax for Torfaen residents.

This will see a band D council tax rate increase to £1,007.88 in 2013/14, an increase of £32.67 per annum or 63p per week.

Comments(9)

KarmaSuitsYa says...
5:55pm Tue 26 Feb 13

This just in - Council Tax payers are awarding themselves a 100% reduction in financial contributions to corrupt or incompetent institutions.

Just say 'NO' folks.

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Alessi says...
7:26pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Its a shame that TBC wasted over £2m on laptops and equipment that they really didn't need. Perhaps if that cash had been saved there might not of been a need for an increase in Council tax.
TBC are excellent at cutting services and making people redundant. Our schools are mostly grade 4 or 5 with the exception of 1. Our highways are a disgrace full of pot holes and no maintenance programme in place.
The Chief Executives and Managers all earn excellent salaries but are controlling less staff and less services. Perhaps we should cut their salaries too.
I am fed up of paying an increase every year only to see the money being wasted. Come on TBC get your act together and give the residents of Torfaen real value for money.

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Degaus says...
8:14pm Tue 26 Feb 13

TCBC appear to be financially incompetent. The Community Farm is running at a loss year on year (last subsidy £400,000!) don't know this years yet! Have to pay back to WAG £400,000. SRS (Lapgate) to bailouts, 1 0f £363,000 and again the second time and it still hasn't come to court. Spend thousands on a "fountain" in the "Italian Gardens" - admitted part was a grant but money could have been put to better use. They have run Pontypool into the ground with their decisions - no shops, no shoppers and are spending thousands of "regeneration" money on art projects when what is needed is footfall but you won't get that without businesses which are deserting Pontypool rapidly. Incompetent is not the word - narcissisim is a better one. Why won't they talk to or listen to the people of Torfaen. We the electorate of Torfaen are paying for the financial mess they are in. If you dare to speak your mind on any matter and it does not agree with their doctrine you are immediately slated - labour stated at the last election that they would NOT raise council tax - what happened TCBC???? How many more election promises will you or have you done a u turn on? I can moan I did not vote for them! All Independants 1 Plaid voted against the increase, for some reason the Conservatves abstained (?) what was that about you either agree or don't not sit on the fence! Sad state of affairs in Torfaen

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I am deadly says...
8:26pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Good news people of Torfaen - This will mean our bins will now be emptied on correct day? Our street lighting will be turned back on? and our 'war torn' pot holed roads will be repaired? and the local schools that are closing will now be saved?

Or is this to payback for the WG 'clawback' and the rest of the laptop saga? going into millions and to bail the community farm another few 100k again, amongst other things?

Headache
http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/uk-wales-south
-east-wales-20181483

Good news?
http://www.torfaen.g
ov.uk/en/News/2013/J
anuary/11-Surplus-la
ptops-set-for-Torfae
n-and-Monmouthshire-
schools.aspx
How much more in stock?
http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/uk-wales-south
-east-wales-20914480

Clawback
http://www.southwale
sargus.co.uk/news/gw
entnews/10171726.LAP
TOP_ROW__Torfaen_and
_Monmouthshire_to_pa
y_back___400k/
Laptop saga continues
http://www.freepress
series.co.uk/news/10
191340.MP_says_child
ren_punished_over_la
ptop_saga/

We are only paying for the mistakes made by labour over the last few generations in Torfaen.

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welshmen says...
10:53am Wed 27 Feb 13

While the Executives don't have to have a cut,whey don't they doc there selves 3.5% and put the money in the kitty let them feel the pain...

Even if they don't most of you will vote them in again.Idiots....

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Cwmderi says...
11:25am Wed 27 Feb 13

Torfaen is a tiny authority that is top heavy with highly paid senior managers. It really is time that an amalgamation with Monmouthsire and/or Blaenau Gwent should be implemented which would save £millions on job duplication at senior levels and make the combined authorities of a reasonable and manageable size.
With the best interest of council tax payers and improving delivery of combined services this is surely a win win opportunity before other ministers step in and forces amalgamation upon them.,

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brainfreeze says...
12:29pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Above inflation rises in an area of high unemployment. This Council deserves everything that's coming to them.

What exactly are we paying for here, because it's not decent roads, street lighting or even half decent schools. They can't collect bins when they are supposed to and no-one will call you back if you contact them. It's the greatest con in history.

It's just one shambles after another and senior management need to be held to account for their failings in providing BASIC services.

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Sometimes says...
12:59pm Wed 27 Feb 13

You get what you vote for, in Torfaen's case, it's Labour, like it's always been due to the amount of people on benefits in the county. Are we suprised that they have no ideas other than raising tax. I agree with above, we should scrap Torfaen council and merge with other councils to save money. We have half the population of Newport and almost the same amount of Council employees!

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Aquarius says...
1:09pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Luckily, there's some STILL doing alright in Torfaen.

Why, look at the selfless public servant Bob Wellington, leader of the council and all his various well paid little jobs.

One job follows the other - it hardly matters whether he's actually any good at them.

I've was always a lifelong labour voter but in recent times, both locally and nationally I've seen that there's barely any difference in any political party.

And these newly elected labour councils in South Wales are all busy putting up council tax, cutting services which weren't that good to begin with (what's happened to Torfaen's rubbish and recycling collections? They're *appalling* these days....), and of course sneakily going back on promises and pledges.

Yet the bosses are still getting big payrises and few councillors seem willing to freeze their own allowances. Surprise Surprise eh?

The people get in election after election because people in some areas blindly vote for anyone with a red rosette. Wrap a hatstand in a red scarf in Torfaen and people will vote it in as a labour councillor. Not me anymore. Council leaders like Mr Wellington jumping on the 'jobs for the boys' gravy train and getting a salary and allowances which most of us can only dream of while presiding over demonstrably worsening services and council tax increases.

And to pay for what? I think we all know the answer to that one...!

Of course, the opposition are just as bad. So who to vote for next time?

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