Newport council reduces proposed council tax rise in one of several changes to budget plans

Newport City Council had consulted on plans to increase council tax by 6.95 per cent, but the proposal was met with opposition from many residents.

In an online survey, 57 per cent of people said the rise was 'too much', though in a separate bus Wi-Fi survey opinions were almost evenly split between thinking it was too high or about right, with slightly more saying the latter.

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, council leader, Cllr Debbie Wilcox, announced the authority was now proposing a 5.95 per cent increase after extra funding received from the Welsh Government.

An additional £3.2million of total funding has been announced since initial proposals were drawn up, leaving Newport council with a surplus of £655,000 based on previous budget plans.

Plans to increase annual parking permit charges have also been put on hold until July, when Newport council takes over parking enforcement from Gwent Police.

Withdrawing from the Gwent-wide Sensory and Communication Support Unit (SenCom) has also been put on hold, as have plans to cut three education welfare officers and one educational psychologist in Newport schools.

The council tax rise of 5.95 per cent would equate to 94p per week extra on a band B property, £1.08 on a band C and £1.21 more on a band D home.

Cllr Wilcox said the authority had listened to "the most pressing needs" of residents in the public consultation and aimed to balance a council tax rise with making savings elsewhere.

"Although council tax contributes less than a quarter towards the total budget, we recognise that this is a considerable outgoing for households," she said.

"In our early deliberations we warned that, however much we might not want to do it, we would have to consider raising it substantially.

"However, this 'cash in hand' has provided some room for manoeuvre and I and my cabinet members felt it important to use some of that money to reduce the proposed increase in council tax."

Cllr Mark Whitcutt, deputy leader, said the changes showed the council was a "listening administration."

He said the proposed council tax rise was a "measured response" to the challenging financial situation.

But speaking afterwards, Conservative group leader, Cllr Matthew Evans, said many residents would be 'angered' by the proposed rise.

"It means residents will be paying around an additional £70 per year for their services," he added.

"People think that is very unreasonable.

"There were also campaigns to stop charges for car parking at Fourteen Locks but that seems to have been ignored."

The final budget plans will now be voted on at a full council meeting later this month.