The Chief Officer - Finance, Performance and Change presented a report providing Council with details of the council tax requirement for the County Borough Council together with the requirements of the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales and Town and Community Councils and seeking council approval of the band D council tax for Bridgend County Borough Council and the community areas for 2022 – 23.

The Chief Officer - Finance, Performance and Change explained that in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council had to calculate its budget requirement and then set the level of council tax for the coming financial year. In addition, as a billing authority, Bridgend County Borough Council was also required to calculate the basic amount of council tax for dwellings within the area which related to one or more special items. The Council collected the council tax on behalf of Town and Community Councils and the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales. The money was collected on behalf of these organisations and was then paid over to the relevant bodies in line with the amount they had included in their budget to be charged to households in the county borough of Bridgend. Council had just agreed a net budget requirement for the council for the coming financial year of £319m. This equated to a council tax of £1,597.01 on a band D property. This was a zero increase for the coming financial year

The Chief Officer - Finance, Performance and Change explained that the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales had notified the Council that their precept for the coming financial year was agreed by the South Wales Police and Crime Panel on the 3rd February 2022. As a result, their precept on a Band D property would increase to £302.11, a 5% increase. This increase by council tax banding was shown in table 3 within the report. The Council had also been informed of budget requirements by Town and Community Councils and this was an average 0.78% reduction for the coming financial year.

The Chief Officer - Finance, Performance and Change explained that table 6 within the report detailed the total average Band D council tax requirement for 2022-23 for all areas of Bridgend. A further breakdown of the Council Tax for each area, detailing the amount payable to this Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales and the relevant Community Council was shown at Table 7. She added that whilst Bridgend County Council had agreed a 0% increase for the coming financial year, council taxpayers would see an increase in their overall council tax bill for the reasons outlined in the report.

A member stated that he objected for the aforementioned reasons and asked for a roll call.

A member asked with regard to the assistance for those properties within bands A to D of £150, would that be detailed in the bills being sent to households for this council tax year? As a point of order he added that Bridgend was one of the most expensive authorities for council tax in Wales and that the damage had been done between 1999 and 2004. He noted that in 2012 there was a council tax freeze as there was this year which seemed to coincide with an election.

The Deputy Head of Finance replied that in terms of the £150 assistance to those Bands A to D, there was still a lot of work to be done and detail to be worked through in terms of how the payments would be made. She understood that there would not be a reduction on the council tax bill, but a separate payment into a council taxpayers account however this had not yet been confirmed. This was not going to be a simple process with around 50,000 individual payments to be made as a Council into individual bank accounts. Payments would not start until April and it could take quite a few months to get them all made. A lot of payments to individuals and individual businesses had been made over the last couple of years, but absolutely nothing of this magnitude. They would be working with Welsh Government and the other local authorities as to how to administer this and get the payments out as soon as possible.

A member asked for advice in relation to the increase in the South Wales Police precept. There was representation on the South Wales Police and Crime Panel and they asked if the authority supported the increase or if they voted against it and where would the authority stood with regard to its presence and influence on the panel.  

Cllr R Young, representative on the Police and Crime Panel, explained that they had had a very interesting meeting of the panel earlier in the month. The Commissioner attended and outlined his requirements, along with the Chief Constable in order to finance the policing of South Wales. There was very short notice for him to create his budget on the basis that the settlement from central government was late coming through. There was much debate in the chamber regarding his request for a 5% increase and the ability of residents to pay. Consideration was given to the cost of living crisis, the fact that inflation was rising and wages were not keeping up with inflation. It was a lively debate and the vote was very close. There were 11 members on the panel and 8 votes would be required to veto the increase.

If this was vetoed, the Commissioner would have 2 weeks to come back with a new figure showing a slight reduction and that could not be vetoed.

There were 5 votes against and on that basis the increase was accepted by six votes to five. He confirmed that he had voted against the increase.

A member asked what would happen with the assistance for houses in council tax band A to D, and those properties in other bands based on the value of the house where there were help to buy schemes and the owners did not own 100% of their property.

The Deputy Head of Finance replied that as far as she was aware, it would be based on those in bands A to D plus people who receive council tax reduction. The final guidance had not been received but there had been a lot of discussions with Welsh Government. When the information was received they would publicise so that residents knew whether or not they would be eligible.

With regard to the request for a vote, the Chief Officer - Finance, Performance and Change asked for the reason for the vote as they had just agreed the council tax for Bridgend. The other two elements of the final bill, South Wales Police and the Town and Community Councils, had already set their budgets and told the authority the precept.

The member thanked the Chief Officer - Finance, Performance and Change for the helpful explanation and withdrew his request.

RESOLVED:          Council approved:

• a Band D Council Tax for Bridgend County Borough Council of £1,597.01 for 2022-23, and

• the Council Tax charges for Band D properties for 2022-23 for each of the community areas as outlined in Table 7.