Town Council confirms 20% council tax rise

The final piece of the council tax jigsaw has been put into place, and it makes for grim reading for Welshpool householders.

Following the news that Powys County Council and Dyfed-Powys Police will be adding 5% to the money we pay them every year, Welshpool Town Council has confirmed an eye-popping 20% hike.

The Town Council says it is to pick up the shortfall from £57,250-worth of lost grants from Powys County Council for services it has taken on.

MyWelshpool has been told that Welshpool Town Council’s spending will approach £1.2million for the next financial year, up from around £980,000 for the current one.

The Town Council budget is made up of around 35% council tax, 30% grant aid and investment income and 40% commercial and other income.

The £26 increase may only work out at 50p a week, but a Band D property will see its share of the council tax increase from £128.73 to £154.73 from April. Overall, when including the new police (extra £10.69) and Powys Council (extra £56.63) precepts, we will be paying almost £100 a year extra on our council tax for a Band D property.

The increase was unanimously agreed by councillors in November. Last year, Welshpool raised their slice by 7%.

It promises to be a tough year for houesholders with the Bank of England also expected to increase interest rates by up to 1% this year, putting an even tighter squeeze on householders with mortgages.

What the Town Council provides and looks after (list provided to us by the Town Council):

Town Hall, markets, recreation centre, day centre, meals on wheels, Tourist Information Centre, three sets of public toilets, council offices, recreation grounds and open spaces, flower beds, six playgrounds, country park, litter bins, street cleaning, fly tipping, verges, station car parks, memorial gardens, war memorial, CCTV system, Mottte and Bailey Castle, community awards, allotments, events (including Christmas Lights, Carnival, Winter Festival, Transport Festival, Remembrance and others), archives, newsletters, web site and donations along with a range of other smaller services.