Welshpool approves budget, and below inflation Council Tax rise
The budget follows a detailed line-by-line review of Council services and spending over the last four months.
As part of this work, the Council says that they have delivered around £86,000 in savings, including the transfer of services to third parties and wider efficiencies and tighter control of expenditure.
Spending on administration and management has also been reduced by over £26,000 per year helping to ensure that more of the Council’s resources are focused on frontline activity, town improvements and community priorities.
Despite these savings, the Council continues to face rising costs linked to inflation and the ongoing delivery and maintenance of services and public facilities. The approved budget makes provision for these pressures while also enabling new investment in the town.
The 2026/27 budget includes around £45,000 of investment in new and expanded projects, aligned to the Council’s Interim Strategic Plan. These include initiatives supporting:
· progress on the Town Hall Transformation project and associated fundraising;
· town centre and place-planning work, including planting and regeneration initiatives;
· environmental and biodiversity improvements;
· tourism branding and promotion; and
· enhanced events, marketing and town presentation, including new bunting and flags and support for specialist markets.
Following approval by Full Council last night, the Town Council element of council tax for 2026/27 will result in a Band D charge of £286.80, an increase of around 13 pence per week or 2.5%, which is below the current rate of inflation.
Powys County Council has already indicated it will be adding 4.9% to their slice of the Council Tax, while Dyfed-Powys Police will be adding an eye-popping 7.47% to the money that they expect us to pay for their services.
The Mayor of Welshpool, Cllr Phil Owen, said: “This budget shows that the Council has taken a responsible and balanced approach. We have made significant savings, reduced our overheads, and at the same time protected essential services and invested in projects that will make a real difference to Welshpool.
“It supports the continued improvement of our town, from regeneration and environmental work to events and town centre activity, while keeping the increase to the Town Council element of council tax below inflation.”
Cllr Morag Bailey, Chair of the Finance & Governance Committee, added: “This has been a thorough budget process. Every area of spending has been reviewed, savings have been identified, and we have worked hard to ensure the budget properly reflects the real cost of running services and maintaining the town’s assets.
“Alongside that, the Council has been able to redirect funding into new priorities that support our Interim Strategic Plan and strengthen the Council’s financial resilience for the future.”
The budget also supports a structured approach to strengthening the Council’s financial resilience, with a planned contribution of £20,000 to the reserves alongside the use of forecast year-end underspends.
Further information about the 2026/27 budget, including a summary for residents and interactive budget viewer, is available on the Council’s website at https://beta.welshpooltowncouncil.gov.uk/page/budget-2026-27
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