There was heated debate when the final budget for Neath Port Talbot was approved after a board meeting on 2 March. The decision provides for an increase in the municipal rate of 4.5%, as well as an increase in municipal rates of 5%.

Despite the ongoing financial crisis, coalition advisers who spoke ahead of the passage said they believed they had delivered one of Wales’ strongest budgets this year, which focused on protecting vital services and saving hundreds of jobs.

Cllr Simon Noyle, member of the finance cabinet, said: “He has managed to get budget revenue projections back on track, even in the extraordinary circumstances that we all know have arisen since the budget was passed around 12 months ago. Inflation has risen from around 3% last March to around 10% today, the war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and rising energy prices. Despite all this, we managed to protect jobs and not reduce the services we provide, and we also managed to find funding for the investment.”

Special advisory boards will be established for two major events at Neath Port Talbot

The budget, approved by 30 members to 26, will now see an increase in the transferred school budget of 8% or £7.64m, and a 15% increase in the social services budget or £13.8m.

The authority will also press ahead with plans to bring the area’s leisure services back under council control, supporting the council’s £1.4m project from the council’s special reserves and protecting around 400 jobs.

A further £3.5m from the council’s general reserves will also be used to balance the budget, which the official says will help them avoid job losses or service cuts during the year.

This will come alongside a host of cost-saving measures, such as the closure of five city buildings across the county, as well as reduced energy usage, possibly in the form of street lighting and hybrid operation.

Elsewhere in the budget, the West and Central Wales Fire and Rescue Service final fee was increased by 13%, with a 5% increase in council charges such as waste contracts, bulk waste collection and cemeteries.

Speaking to the opposition, Neath Port Talbot Labor leader Rob Jones said he did not support raising council taxes and believed it went against the promises of the current coalition’s manifesto, with other party members describing the move as “hypocritical”. . .”

Although opposition members drafted a budget amendment proposing a council tax increase of just 2% instead of 4.5%, it was rejected after CFO Hugh Jones said it was unreasonable and he would not recommend it to the board.

Board leader Steve Hunt said: “As leader of the Neath Port Talbot board, I support Cllr Finance Cabinet Member Simon Noyle and the budget recommended to the board today.

“This budget is the result of months of careful planning and consultation with councillors, community members, communal councils, stakeholders, unions, companies and the third sector.

“I want to assure all board members that we take our responsibilities to manage our finances carefully and seriously. We work hard to maintain a balanced budget while ensuring we continue to provide the services our community needs.

“We look forward to continuing to work together so that we can continue to secure and protect jobs and provide the best services our communities have come to expect. I sincerely believe that together we can build a stronger and more sustainable city council for the future, so that our communities can be assured that we all have their back.” You can read more about our Neath Port Talbot stories here or sign up for our newsletter here.

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