PRESS RELEASE

The Assembly Member for Aberconwy and Shadow Minister for Local Government Janet Finch-Saunders has expressed dismay and anger that Conwy county Borough Council have factored in a 5% Council Tax increase into a report presented at the authority this week. The AM said “It is extremely disappointing that the Plaid Cymru / Labour led coalition have taken the option to press our hardworking taxpayers and pensioners again in this way.

The Assembly Member, herself a previous County Cllr and Cabinet Member said “Whilst I appreciate that the authority has worked hard to achieve some of the savings required, it must be stressed that these savings are required as a result of another poor settlement from the Welsh Labour Government and their abject failure to pass on the funding that has been provided by the UK Government, to freeze council tax in line with England and Scotland.

This increase will be seen as a blow to the many hard working taxpayers and pensioners here in Conwy, who have already seen an increase of 147% in Council tax since 1997.

“The Plaid / Labour led administration in Conwy is failing the ratepayers of Aberconwy  and I would ask the leader, Cllr Dilwyn Roberts to explain exactly what representations he has made to the Welsh Government on behalf of the residents here in Conwy, as regards the poor settlement and the council tax freeze funding provided by the UK Government.

“The time has come for those leading CCBC to step up to the mark, focus on smarter, more efficient ways of working and in particular, avoid the frequent expensive overspends that we have seen much too often of late.

ENDS