Highest council tax raise in Wales

Mar 13 2003 By Elgan Hearn, Bangor And Anglesey Mail

EXECUTIVE committee councillors have raised council tax on Anglesey by 9.4 per cent, and have been universally criticised for the inflation-busting raise which was agreed after a controversial vote.

The vote was tied at 18 apiece before County Council Chairman Cllr R L Owen, was forced to used his casting vote to push the hikes through.

In a heated debate at council chambers in Llangefni last Tuesday, leader of the council, Cllr Goronwy Parry and the Executive Committee found their controversial council tax raise under pressure.

Several councillors vented their anger at the latest increase, which means that home owners on the island have suffered a massive 68 per cent increase to their council tax bills during the last five years.

They also complained that the Executive Committee had not consulted with the town and community councils in the proper manner.

An extra 34 jobs, for Council Officers has been blamed for forcing the

9.4 per cent increase, but according to leader of the council, Goronwy Parry, the hike was necessary as Anglesey tax payers could have to face a huge 20 per cent plus increase next year, and the jobs are forced upon the local authority by the Welsh Assembly.

Even worse news for tax payers on the island is that the final increase after adding precepts for community councils and the police will be 12.3 per cent.

One of the few who tried to offer a more moderate alternative to the intransigent Executive Committee, was Councillor Eifion Jones.

He offered a lower tax raise and solved the council extra jobs conundrum funding by saying they were not needed and the £250,000 taken fro m reserve balances could be put back.

Cllr Eifion Jones said: "My aim was to bring the increase down to 7.8 per cent, by cutting the number of jobs and putting the £250,000 back in the balances.

"This year'sincrease means the total has gone up 68 per cent over the last five years, the highest total raise throughout Wales.

"I strongly believe the tax payers should be given a voice. The executive committee say they have been consulting but Anglesey residents are against this rise, and this has not changed the committee's mind.

"I consulted with Brynsiencyn and Llanddaniel Community Councils, and they told me that they were uncomfortable with a 9.4 per cent increase, this is why I was against it." One of the councillors who accused the executive committee of not listening to consultees' views on the tax increase, is Cllr Elwyn Schofield

He had hoped to force a special council meeting to discuss the tax because community councils' views had not been added to council minutes.

He said: "I am disappointed, thereis much evidence that shows that full consultations were not made.

"I cannot see any other local authority throughout Wales deciding to raise council tax by the chairman's casting vote." Councillor Gareth Winston Roberts, was another voice who condemned the inflation-busting council tax hike: "I don't understand the decision, especially as many letters from community councils seem to have been lost.

"In my opinion the biggest shock, was what the Director of Finance, David Ellis Williams said, that there was no need to listen to the community councils' views.

"I am also disappointed that the Plaid Cymru group have voted for the rise."

Councillor Gwyn Roberts was also deeply unhappy: "There is great unease about this increase. The tax has been raised massively over the last few years. It's hard to believe that consultation happened, a letter sent by Llaneilian Community Council was not read."

Labour stalwart, Cllr John Chorlton, had also put forward an alternate tax raise.

"The increase does not have to be so high. We have to look whether these staff increases are needed, not just appoint 34 people, and it's disgusting that community councils have been ignored."