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Question from: County Councillor Pete Lewington Subject: Budget Consultation PDF 35 KB
Question:
The responses to the recent Powys County Council budget survey were deemed to be representative of the Powys population and 3 particular responses were:
1. Only 30% disagreed with increasing council tax by less than 5% even if it meant there would be more service reductions, 2. 63% disagreed with increasing council tax by more than 5% even if a higher increase would limit the need for service reductions and 3. The majority of respondents (44% versus 38%) who expressed an opinion disagreed with increasing charges for some services so those who use the facilities pay more eg.green waste , parking , transport
Whilst engaging with Powys residents in the budget development process it appears that these responses have been ignored.
Consequently, could the portfolio holder please set out in detail why those responses were ignored and also how these responses were evaluated and subsequently dismissed when setting the level of council tax.
It is clear from these responses that our residents are telling us they can’t afford high levels of council tax and charges which is at odds with the portfolio holder’s written assertion that “careful consideration has been given to the affordability for Powys residents” when setting the level of council tax at 7.5%.
Could he please explain in detail the careful considerations he has undertaken to reach his conclusions based on what residents have told him in the survey?
Minutes: Response by the Cabinet Member:
The data and feedback from the 2024/2025 Powys County Council budget survey, helps us shape what the Council could look like in the future. The results of the survey were considered by Cabinet as part of the Budget setting and through Scrutiny committees prior to being presented to Council on the 22nd February 2024.
Responses received from the people of Powys were considered, alongside an extremely challenging economic climate, where high inflation and increased demand for our services continue to create additional pressures on the council’s finances for next and future years. The Welsh Government funding settlement for 2024/2025 reported an increase of £7,013 million, which equates to 3.1% for 2024/2025 (far below the level needed to meet the Council's increased costs). Significant cost reductions and savings have had to be considered with £10.653 million removed from the budget next year (equates to an additional 10.8% increase on Council Tax).
In proposing the 7.5% Council Tax increase, careful consideration was given to the affordability for the people of Powys, in light of the continuing cost of living crisis, together with the ongoing need to meet increasing demand for specific services and inescapable cost pressures for local services which people rely. It is widely accepted that the increase may be difficult for some of the people of Powys, particularly the impact that the increase will have on the most socio-economically disadvantaged across the county. However the impact of this has been carefully balanced with the provision of crucial services provided by the council, which resulted in the this decision. It is important to note that a considerable number of lower income households are able to receive support and more than 52% of Powys households are already eligible via various benefits such as council tax discounts, winter fuel payments, tenancy hardship grants and other schemes.
Engagement with representatives from community groups is currently underway across the county, one of the areas that the engagement focuses on is income and work and the barriers around this topic. Engagement diagram – see attached pdf.
Further engagement will take place during 2024 which will offer residents further opportunity to help us redesign the Council for the future and engagement with Town and Community Councils and partners will be fundamental in developing local, community led solutions and building community resilience.
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