A planned four per cent council tax increase in Blaenau Gwent has been scrapped at the last minute, though opposition councillors have blasted the move as "a scam" aimed at increasing support for the Independent administration ahead of May's Local Government Election.
On Thursday, February 17, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council met to set their budget for the coming financial year.
A four per cent increase in rates was proposed and looked set to go ahead - until council leader Councillor Nigel Daniels revealed the money that this increase would raise will now be found from other sources - meaning the authority can freeze rates in the coming financial year.
