Householders in Swansea are likely to face a council tax rise of 5.95% from April. Council leader Rob Stewart said a third of this hike was due to an above-inflation increase in the Mid and West Wales Fire Service budget, which is funded from council budgets via a levy.
He said the council could have absorbed the additional £2.2 million levy cost but it would have meant closing several libraries or community centres, introducing monthly black bin bag collections, or charging for residents' parking. Cllr Stewart told a cabinet meeting that these were not things he or others wanted to do. The council is already targeting savings of £24.8 million for the coming financial year, although schools are expected to contribute £2.9 million towards this.
The Swansea Labour leader said the 5.95% council tax rise would still leave bills some £200 lower than those in neighbouring Neath Port Talbot, and that some other councils were proposing higher increases.
