Sioned Williams MS writes for the Glamorgan Gazette about council tax increases and the Welsh Government's draft budget
The article was published in the Glamorgan Gazette on Thursday 13 February 2025.
Welsh Government budget - When ‘more’ is not enough
I’m aware that not everything that happens in the Senedd filters through to everyday life, but there’s been one story in 2025 that has dominated headlines, and has in turn impacted everyone in Wales, and that’s the Welsh Government’s proposed budget for the year.
They’ve heralded this as one of the most generous budgets of recent times, while at the same time, councils around Wales have announced they’ll have to increase council tax.
These two things haven’t happened in isolation.
In fact, it serves to highlight that there are instances where ‘more’ is not the same as ‘enough.’
This is very apparent from Bridgend County Council’s announcement on their proposed 4.5% increase to council tax. They said that “despite receiving a higher than expected settlement from Welsh Government, ongoing budget pressures mean that the council still faces difficult choices and a savings target of £9.1m to balance the budget for the year.”
Because of this shortfall, they are also being made to consider cuts to Meals on Wheels, funding for school counselling and music services to name a few.
It’s very easy to blame our local authorities for the cuts – after all, it’s they who have raised our council tax, or cut our services – but it’s not the full story.
Our local councils are under incredible pressure and the UK Labour Government’s decision to increase national employer contributions is increasing that pressure.
When the money going to local government from the Welsh Government isn’t enough to meet the costs of the services that councils are required by law to provide, like social care and education, it’s going to lead to pain across the nation in terms of council tax rises and how public services are delivered on the ground.
Plaid Cymru believe that our councils should be funded fairly and this Welsh Labour budget doesn’t meet their needs.
‘More’ is not always enough.