It is a gloomy evening in the town of Port Talbot, south Wales, as a barrage of rain and thunder echoes around the well-known steel making town. It is here that a group of local councillors and residents have gathered in the Princess Royal theatre for a public meeting tonight, to discuss the current financial and economic conditions across the UK, outlining what they could mean for council services moving forward.
It is just one of a string of events to be held across the borough in the coming weeks, arranged by Neath Port Talbot's council with the aim of getting feedback from residents as well as addressing any fears they may have over the current financial crisis.
And it's clear there are fears from everyone at the moment, with the council having previously announced that with inflation reaching levels not seen since the 80s, their estimated energy costs alone will rise by £8m in 2023-24. This is part of an overall deficit of around £30m the council will need to meet over the next few years, and as council tax only makes up 25% of the council’s budget, they say government intervention will be needed.
