I’d like to provide a brief overview of our 2022/23 budget proposals, which were agreed by Cabinet last week.

We have developed a bold and ambitious budget which includes £10 million of investment while protecting frontline services from cuts as the authority recovers from the ongoing covid pandemic.

The budget also includes a proposed Council Tax increase of 2.5 per cent, which is well below the rate of inflation and the lowest increase for a number of years. It equates to a 59p weekly increase for an average band D property.

We have created a draft budget which allows us to protect key services, meet the needs of our communities and plots a path for the organisation going forward. We have also set out exciting plans for major investment opportunities totalling £10 million, including £6 million for social care services to support our most vulnerable residents.

This budget really shows that ‘Caerphilly cares’ and we are supporting and protecting the community during these difficult times. It is important that local people have their say on our plans and help shape the budget, so a public consultation is now underway and I would encourage as many residents as possible to have their say: www.caerphilly.gov.uk/caerphilly-conversation2022

* Turning now to the local elections in May, unfortunately we are seeing an increasing number of councillors and candidates being subjected to abuse, threats and intimidation.

As well as being totally unacceptable, this behaviour undermines the principles of free speech, democratic engagement and debate.

Myself, Cllr Colin Mann and Cllr Kevin Etheridge endeavour to treat everyone with courtesy, kindness and respect and, as leaders of our respective political groups, we stand together to call for an end to abuse, intimidation and harassment of any kind.

We pledge to participate in a fair election campaign which is based on positive campaigning and merit, rather than personal attacks and smears against individuals. We encourage all elected members and candidates in the forthcoming election to do the same. In addition, we will publicly ‘call out’ any such inappropriate behaviour and take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse.

Please be kind and fair in all that you say and do.