Council tax is set to increase in most parts of Wales as councils bid to plug huge funding gaps. Local authorities across Wales have warned they face a potential budget gap of more than £500 million with economic pressures putting huge pressure on services.
Setting its draft budget for 2023/24 in December, Welsh Government warned Wales faced a "perfect storm of financial pressures" and that its budget would be the most difficult since devolution. You can read more about the draft budget, which will be agreed later this year, here.
It came after local authorities in Wales warned in November they are set to be engulfed by a "financial firestorm" with services including schools, libraries, waste collection and care homes all facing huge cuts. Most authorities have yet to officially confirm increases to council tax for the next year, but many have already indicated that rates will be rising.
Here is everything we know so far about how much council tax is changing in each part of Wales from April 1. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.
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Anglesey
Anglesey County Council has proposed an increase of 5%, taking the annual charge for Band D homes to £1,435.86. The executive unanimously approved the recommendations on Tuesday, January 24 but the final plans for the budget still have to come before a full council meeting on March 9.
Gwynedd
Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet has approved a recommendation to increase council tax by 4.95%. The decision will go before the full council on March 2.
Conwy
Conwy County Borough Council's finance officers have modelled several separate scenarios, including council tax rises of 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5%. Councillors have opted not to set an indicative rise and the matter is set to be discussed again by both the scrutiny committee and cabinet before the council set the final figure on March 2.
Denbighshire
Council tax will increase by 3.8% in Denbighshire after councillors agreed on the budget in a bid to plug a £10.8m funding gap.
Flintshire
Flintshire County Council is expected to confirm its council tax rise on February 23.
Wrexham
Wrexham Council is set to increase council tax by 6%, announced last month, which will see council tax on a band D property rise by more than £100. The increase will be confirmed at a meeting later this month.
Ceredigion
Ceredigion County Council is likely to increase council tax by 7.3%, which would see an average band D resident pay another £105.72 a year. A final decision will be made by the council on March 3.
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire County Council's cabinet has recommended council tax increase by 7.5%, which would increase the annual bill of the average Band D property by £62.46, to £1,311.63. It will be considered by the full council on March 2.
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire Council will increase council tax by 6.8% for 2023/24, a smaller rise than originally mooted. The budget will be set out by the full council in March.
Swansea
The Swansea Council cabinet approved a council tax increase of around 4% last year which will go before the full council on March 2.
Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot Council has proposed an increase of 4.5%, but final decisions on the budget will be made by the cabinet and full council in March this year.
Bridgend
Bridgend County Borough Council is currently planning to increase council tax by 6%, with a final decision due in the coming weeks.
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has recommended a 3.5% increase to council tax in 2023/24, which will be confirmed at a full council meeting.
Merthyr Tydfil
The council tax increase for 2023/24 in Merthyr Tydfil is currently budgeted at 1%, but Merthyr Tydfil Council has yet to confirm the final figure.
Cardiff
Cardiff Council has not revealed how much it will increase council tax, but said increases will be necessary to close its budget gap.
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan Council is proposing an increase of 4.9% but a decision will not be finalised until a full council meeting in March.
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire County Council's budget includes a proposed 5.95% council tax rise, a final decision on which will be confirmed in early March.
Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council is set to increase council tax by 4% from April, which equates to residents needing to find an extra £58.76 a year. The final proposals will go in front of the full council later this year.
Caerphilly
Caerphilly County Borough Council's draft proposal is to increase council tax by 7.9% for 2023/24.This would increase the Band D precept from £1,253.95 to £1,353.01 (an annual increase of £99.06 or £1.91 per week). A final decision will be made ahead of the new April financial year.
Torfaen
Torfaen County Borough Council is putting a 1.95% council tax rise before councillors in Torfaen for approval on February 28.
Newport
Newport’s council tax increase will be 8.5% rather than the originally proposed 9.5%. For Bands A to C, which are the most common in Newport, this equates to an increase of between £1.39 and £1.85 per week. The proposed increase will now go before full council on Tuesday February 28.
Powys
Powys County Council has proposed a council tax rise of 5% in its draft budget, which will be considered by a meeting of full council on Thursday February 23.
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