COUNCILS across Gwent are going through the process of deciding if they will raise council tax, and by how much, for the forthcoming year. Jessica Best, Ruth Mansfield and David Deans looked at how this will effect the pockets of people in all five council areas.

PEOPLE across Gwent face rising council tax bills in the coming months as councils set out their stalls for price hikes.

The increases come as councils face cutting their budgets in the face of reduced settlements from the Assembly.

All this means people across Gwent will feel the pinch when their council tax bill comes through the letterbox in the coming months.

Newport residents face a 3.9 per cent increase as the authority looks at delivering £16million of savings during the next financial year.

At a cabinet meeting, members proposed a 3.9 per cent increase stating this was realistic for Newport residents while helping the council in challenging times.

Council tax for a Band D property is currently £772.56. A 3.9 per cent increase would mean this would rise by £30.13 to £802.69. The figure will be recommended for council approval on February 22.

Blaenau Gwent council could cut 75 jobs and increase council tax by 3.2 per cent as it tries to balance the books.

A report due to be delivered to Blaenau Gwent council's executive committee on Monday reveals proposals to make savings worth more than £3.5 million in 2011/2012, up from the £1 million in savings it needed to make last year.

The proposed 3.2 per cent increase would mean the annual bill for people living in Band D households would jump from £1,183.13 to £1,220.99 - an extra £37.86 a year.

Monmouthshire's cabinet yesterday agreed to put up rates by 2.9 per cent.

Councillors decided to recommend the rise which will see Band D homes paying £28.29 more a year, when they met at County Hall on Wednesday. Monmouthshire councillors will debate the changes when they meet on March 3.

Caerphilly council has proposed to freeze its council tax for the next two years, meaning Band D properties would continue to £897.84. It is due to vote on the proposals on February 24.

Torfaen council is proposing to put up its council tax by 2.99 per cent for 2011/2012.

The average Band D council tax is currently £1,137.98 which would rise by £33.99.