Council Tax to go up by 5.5% – councillor expects ‘idiot’ label for suggesting much larger rise to protect services
Wrexham Council’s Executive Board nodded through proposals for a 5.5% increase in council tax, with one councillor explaining how he felt to protect services in future years council tax needed to be brought more in line with other authorities despite the backlash such a proposal would create.
The council tax increase was passed alongside a range of proposed savings, plus a promise to review the borough’s library services.
The council tax change will see the average bill for a Band D property rising to £1,153 with some other community charges yet to be decided on top.
However the agenda item was dominated by Clr Alun Jenkins who gave a lengthy impassioned speech (you can watch it here), which he admitted was a trimmed version from one he had prepared several drafts earlier.
Cllr Jenkins has long advocated for council tax rises, usually one or two percent on top of what is proposed come budget time, however he blew the socks off previous numbers by at one point expressing support for a 12% increase – but settling for a 9.5% increase proposal.
Clr Jenkins cited data he had collated showing Wrexham lags behind in council tax bills compared to other nearby authorities, with a comparable bill in Wrexham being £1093 whereas in Denbighshire that could be £1248 or Gwynedd £1301 with the wales-wide average being £1219 some 11% higher than Wrexham. Looking across at England one figure we could make out had Shropshire at £1406, Cheshire East at £1454 and Cheshire West and Chester at £1477 – the latter being 35% higher than Wrexham.
Clr Alun Jenkins says happy new year… ‘but it is not a good financial year we are facing’. Notes Wrexham Council is seeing a 3% real terms cut in budgets, meaning £6m cuts for the coming year. ‘Residents are right to complain they are paying more but getting less for it’.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) January 8, 2019
His argument centered around closing the gap in tax take to allow more revenue to be collected by Wrexham Council, and therefore protect the authority to the whims of various governments and their cuts in spending as the revenue from them dwarfs the council tax take.
Cllr Jenkins suggested the extra council tax would be put in a ‘special reserve’ that would become a protection against savings and would mean over time mean more services could be protected. Pointing to future budgets that have £16,000,000 of cuts pencilled in, without traditional pointers to where those cuts could take place, “Things we have had on the table and put to one side will be back on the table, as will many other services. There will be cuts to basic services, even cuts to statutory services.”
Clr Jenkins looking ahead to future budgets, fears statutory services will be cut, public only noticing once they are gone. Adds ‘hundreds of jobs’ could be in jeopardy by his maths. Again compares council tax take of ‘£61m against £235m spend’. Wants higher council tax take.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) January 8, 2019
Cllr Jenkins said: “It is a no win situation. We can’t do right for doing wrong. I would like us to take the bold step of a substantially greater increase than 5.5% , perhaps an increase of an extra 4%, that could help get us out of a very deep hole.”
“Any increase on the 5.5% would help with that.”
Cllr Jenkins also pointed to the Medium Term Financial Plan of Wrexham Council that notes a 3% inflation based increase, “We are out of that time now that figure really does need to be increased.”
“I am on a hiding to nothing” admits Clr Jenkins as he outlines his plan for higher council taxes, predicts the people of Wrexham would not be keen to be paying even more. Says he is proposing a 12% council tax rise, noting other councils have done similar.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) January 8, 2019
Recognising the people of Wrexham are a tough crowd when it comes to council tax, and the council on the whole, he said: “Social media will be red hot saying ‘this idiot on the council is saying we should have a near 10% increase’. I have tried to explain why, it is for the good of the council. If we are going to survive these crises over the next few years we have to do something very very positive.”
“I am very happy to stand on this and be questioned by the people out there” adding that those in his ward he has spoke to have ‘gradually’ come around to the thinking large increases are required to pay for services.
Clr Jenkins wraps up, he wants 9.5% council tax rise not just 5.5% (he said at one point was proposing 12%) predicts ‘red hot social media’ will refer to him as an ‘idiot on the council’, but stresses he sees this as the only way to save council finances and therefore services.
— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) January 8, 2019
After Cllr Jenkins speech the Council Leader Mark Pritchard replied noting that the power was once in Cllr Jenkin’s hands to raise tax in such a manner but had never taken the chance to do so. Cllr Pritchard noted the 5.5% increase would be a ‘hard sell’, adding: “There are a lot of people struggling out there and if you put council tax up too high you push them over the edge. That is the bluntness of it.”
Cllr Jenkins explained that he was historically part of a group that wanted to keep council tax low, however he had always held his personal views.
After the meeting we spoke with Cllr Jenkins and highlighted some of the immediate replies to our tweets from the meeting that highlighted the large extra council tax increase proposal – with his predicted ‘red hot’ responses coming in – calling him a ‘clown’ and many questioning the value for money on existing services.
Cllr Jenkins was unsurprised and said he viewed the situation as a ‘fight for the future of this council’, adding his fears for the future of services ‘we are are dismantling the good things we have built in the past’.
Many asked how such a rise could be affordable, a situation Cllr Jenkins recognised saying those hardest hit by any council tax rise would possibly be ones most affected by service cuts that will likely happen without it, and only when the services disappear would people understand.
Unlike previous years the budget agenda item itself was quiet, with few councillors in the chamber itself during the discussion, and thus passed the Executive Board vote unanimously.
You can watch Cllr Jenkins make his speech by clicking here…
Our tweets from the meeting are below in the usual reverse order…
Clr Jenkins told us after the meeting about this noting those hardest hit by any council tax rise would possibly be ones most affected by service cuts without it. Catch 22. link
Have just relayed clown comment direct to Clr Jenkins. Unsuprised, says ‘fighting for future of this council’. Notes government ‘doesnt value local authorities’. Fears for future of services, ‘we are dismantling the good things we have built in the past’ link
Meeting wraps up in quite a prompt manner – done by 11:30. Bacon o’clock.
Clr Dana Davies asks for assurance any future development or redevelopment will protect the walled garden project. Clr Pritchard notes 15 year lease, says ‘no aspiration or desires’ to do anything but lease to said ‘partners’. Report passes unanimously.
Now on to future of Erlas House. Clr Wynn says upkeep is ‘waste of public money’ and is out of his education budget. Wont be a formal demolition decision today, but in reality that is the likely outcome link
Council Budget report passes, so council tax goes up, cuts and reviews happening…. !
Funding model criticised by Clr Pritchard – explains a move from lump sum gov settlements to more hypothecated sums means less clarity for councils on what money they are getting. (There is obviously a counter argument that hypothecated = more targeted than a big fat cash pot!)
Clr Pritchard reiterates reasons green bin charges were scrapped as noted on link however warns that it is likely to be ‘revisited’.
Clr Davies asks about schools budget, and also about background of bin charge changes. Clr Davies wants any ‘additional monies’ the council may find itself with to be prioritised into secondary schools. Clr Wynn points out primary schools could be unhappy with that setup.
Clr Dana Davies notes the Environment and Transport Dept in the council is being rebranded to ‘Environment & Technical Dept’
Clr Jenkins calls that a ‘misquote’ adding he ‘always wanted to charge what we needed to’ and it was other Cllrs who kept it low. Clr Dana Davies notes she was not born when Clr Jenkins started on council, and therefore she ‘feels quite young’.
Clr Pritchard history lesson notes Clr Jenkins had chance to support changes upwards in council tax back in the day but did not. Clr Pritchard remembers Clr Jenkins saying ’we dont want to be putting burdens and pressure on the people of Wrexham’.
Clr Jenkins wraps up, he wants 9.5% council tax rise not just 5.5% (he said at one point was proposing 12%) predicts ‘red hot social media’ will refer to him as an ‘idiot on the council’, but stresses he sees this as the only way to save council finances and therefore services.
“I am on a hiding to nothing” admits Clr Jenkins as he outlines his plan for higher council taxes, predicts the people of Wrexham would not be keen to be paying even more. Says he is proposing a 12% council tax rise, noting other councils have done similar.
Clr Jenkins looking ahead to future budgets, fears statutory services will be cut, public only noticing once they are gone. Adds ‘hundreds of jobs’ could be in jeopardy by his maths. Again compares council tax take of ‘£61m against £235m spend’. Wants higher council tax take.
Clr Hugh Jones enquires if there is a Q. An angry Clr Jenkins fire backs noting ‘you had the support of the chair at the planning committee last night’ to make long point & asks for same privilege. Clr Jenkins notes this is a third redraft of his speech and has been edited down.
Clr Jenkins giving a long narrative on budget and budget cuts, ahead of what hopefully will be a question.
Clr Alun Jenkins says happy new year… ‘but it is not a good financial year we are facing’. Notes Wrexham Council is seeing a 3% real terms cut in budgets, meaning £6m cuts for the coming year. ‘Residents are right to complain they are paying more but getting less for it’.
Clr Bithell seconds the report, saying ‘it is a very difficult financial period we are in’. Thanks council officers work to put together the report. (Clr Hugh Jones to his right who was critical of officers last night is Chairing this section of the meeting)
Clr Pritchard thanks all of you who took part in the ‘Difficult Decisions’ consultation saying all responses were considered (even running a car boot?! link )
On to perhaps the most important agenda item today ‘Revenue Budget 2019-20’, council tax and cuts are the outward bits from it. Expect Clr Pritchard to give now usual speech on previous cuts, future cuts and bleak financial picture.
Clr Phil Wynn presenting report on link after this passes council will publish statutory notices that if are the usual manner, hardly anyone will see. But thats the law!
Council’s Chief Exec speaks of the fan owned Wrexham AFC, saying model gives “confidence to work with an organisation that is socially committed”. Clr Pritchard wraps up thanking the FAW, pointing out how his previous criticism has now changed to being pleased by their actions.
@michaelwilde39 this report is specific to football link
Clr Wright notes new welsh national league rules could mean 3 grounds in Wrexham could meet criteria if/when new rules come in for 19-20 season. Clr Bithell appears confident there wont be immediate impact, says ‘steering group’ he sits on is aware & part of reason for the report
Cllr Joan Lowe & Cllr Atkinson speak in support of wider football report, noting the ‘aspiration’ has always been there but higher priorities have always had the £. Clr Hugh Jones adds he hopes the good work ‘spreads north’ as notes central and south Wrexham get benefit currently
Clr Bithell presents his report about a ‘new model going forward’, which will involve football hubs link Gushing about Welsh FA’s desires to improve football at all levels in Wrexham.
Much like the league table, Wrexham AFC and football in Wrexham are moved towards the top in an agenda rejig. Clr Pritchard welcomes club Director Spencer Harris to the Exec Board.
Q from Clr Dana Davies over Wrexham’s CAB & progress after Exec Board made assurances. Was a dispute over if CAB asked for £25k or £50k. Clr Hugh Jones replies saying has been and will be meetings. No meat on the funding bone but future will see recommendations come forward.
Council Leader Pritchard starts meeting by ‘Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year’, adding ‘Clr Nigel Williams has started treatment, all our thoughts are with Nigel and his family at this time’. No public questions.
Looks like a football club director is here in the public gallery, is he scouting a councillor-cum-striker? (Probably more to do with link !)
In the Guildhall chamber ahead of the Executive Board meeting – teas and coffees being collected before kick off, batteries being put in the big clock in the wall. Watch live via link
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