Cardiff Council has voted to increase council tax, seek an alternative operator for St David's Hall and increase the cost of school meals as part of its budget. Councillors debated various potential cuts, savings and spending for hours at City Hall on Thursday, March 9.
The two main opposition groups at the council put forward their own alternative budgets, with the Conservatives calling for a council tax freeze and the Liberal Democrats advocating for the Cardiff Bay arena plans to be shelved. However, it was the original budget proposals agreed on by Cardiff Council's cabinet over a week ago that ended up being voted through.
The council's budget for 2023/24 will see major changes to the lives of people across Cardiff, from increases to the cost of school bus passes, car parking and the use of sports pitches to changes to recycling centres. It is hoped that the changes will help the council bridge a budget gap of £24 million, which has been brought about by spiralling inflation, increased demand on services and lower than anticipated income levels. Here is a closer look at what the budget approval means for the city.
