4.1% average council tax rise slammed
Welsh Government figures released today confirm an average Band D council tax rise of 4.1 per cent across Wales for 2015/16.
The estimated Band D percentage increase for English authorities is 1.1 per cent.
Welsh Conservatives have slammed the Welsh rise and reaffirmed their commitment to a council tax freeze in Wales.
In England, the Conservative-led UK government has facilitated a council tax freeze since 2010. The Welsh Labour government has consistently refused to do the same, despite receiving additional money as a result of the situation over the border.
According to today’s publication, ‘increases combine to produce an average band D rise of £52 or 4.1%’.
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy recently concluded the cost of Welsh rises would hit 100 million pounds.
In a statement published here, www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2015/03/welsh-council-tax-bills-to-increase-by-4/ , Head of CIPFA Wales Chris Tidswell said: “Many households in Wales are struggling to manage their budgets so an increase above the rate of RPI inflation will not be welcome.”
Additionally, in England, a referendum is required to endorse any increase above two per cent. In Labour-run Wales, no similar scheme has been introduced.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, said:
“Yet another hammer blow for Welsh taxpayers and yet again we fall foul of Labour’s continued ignorance of a council tax freeze.
“While Conservatives in government focus on keeping money in people’s pockets – with a continued freeze and income tax cuts for over a million people in Wales – Labour continue with their war on Welsh wallets.
“Labour ministers’ consistent refusal to facilitate a Welsh freeze is a matter of national shame.
“Our communities are being hit far harder than their English counterparts and the failure of Labour ministers to deal with that is a disgrace.
“For over 15 years Labour ministers in Wales have reigned over vastly inflated council chief exec salaries and a local authority culture that even they now admit needs changing.
“It’s just not fair to make householders pay for that failure.”