Average council tax hits £1,000

Councillors voted to keep the increase below 5 per cent despite claims it would mean cuts to services, including education.

It means residents in average Band D homes will pay around £1,000 a year from April 1, including the different town or community council charges and the police authority precept, which is up 5 per cent to £152.32.

Only 23 of 43 councillors were at the meeting after a boycott by the Labour group and many Liberal Democrats and Independents. They said they had not been given enough time to comment on the proposals by the ruling Conservative group.

Liberal Democrat leader Phyl Hobson said he had wanted a 5 per cent rise in council tax to avoid problems with education funding.

But deputy council leader Graham Down said: "We are, by some distance, the highest-charging authority in Wales. Fairly understandably, and to put it mildly, our residents are fed up with it."

An average Band D home will pay council tax (including community councils and police precept) of: Abergavenny - £997.23; Chepstow - £1,016.93; Monmouth - £990.73; Caldicot - £1,011.47

The cheapest place to live is Trellech, where residents will pay £970.75

* Council tax in Blaenau Gwent is to rise by just over 5 per cent from April, it was decided at the special meeting of the council yesterday.

Residents living in Band D properties will see bills rise by an average £55.47, taking their total to an average £1,156.76. That includes the police authority and community council precepts, which are slightly different for each of the five areas.

The amounts that will be paid for each Band D property in each area are: Abertillery and Llanhilleth, £1,158.80; Brynmawr, £1,166.37; Nantyglo and Blaina, £1,162.17; Tredegar, £1,170.10; Ebbw Vale, £1,142.12.

Council leader John Hopkins said: "We are not cutting any services and once again the council tax bill equates to 17p per person for every £1 of council services we deliver."