A FINAL decision on Newport City Council’s draft budget – including plans to increase council tax by five per cent – will be made at a special meeting later this month.

The council needs to make almost £11 million worth of cuts in the forthcoming financial year as a result of a reduction of its grant from the Welsh Government of £1.4 million – or 0.7 per cent and will vote on its draft budget on Wednesday, February 24.

The plans could mean popular events such as Newport Food Festival and the Big Splash are scrapped while learning difficulties services, street cleaning and Sunday bus services face budget cuts.

Although the council had previously announced it will increase council tax by four per cent in April, the draft budget also includes a proposal to increase this to five per cent.

The meeting will begin at 5pm and is open to the public. The agenda will be available from a week beforehand at newport.gov.uk.

The council’s cabinet will also discuss the plans at a meeting on Monday, February 11, which will start at 11am.