How the council raises and spends its money, including council tax and savings.
What councils do
Each council sets a budget every year: how much to spend on each service and how much council tax to charge. Council tax pays for about a third; most of the rest is a grant from the Welsh Government and business rates.
Who decides
The Cabinet proposes the budget, usually in the winter, and the full Council agrees it and sets council tax by early March. Scrutiny committees examine the plans first.
Having a say
Most councils run a budget consultation in the autumn or early winter. Your councillors vote on the final budget, so tell them what matters to you.
In numbers
Council tax collected: 95% across Wales (2025-26).
Council tax unpaid at the end of the year: £119 million across Wales (2025-26).
Council tax still owed from earlier years: £199.3 million across Wales (2025-26).
Council tax written off: £9 million across Wales (2025-26).
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the policy to not grant any level of discount for unoccupied dwellings
that have remained so for 6 months which was agreed for 2024-25, be agreed for
2025-26.
(2) T H A T the long term empty property premium of 100% agreed by Full
Council on 6th March, 2024 for the 2024-25 financial year continue for such
properties from 2025-26 that remain so for the period up to (but not including) 24
months.
(3) T H A T the long term empty property premium of 150% agreed by Full
Council on 6th March, 2024 for the 2024-25 financial year continue for such
properties from 2025-26 that remain so for a continuous period of 24 months up to
(but not including) 36 months.
January 13 Minutes Special 6.05pm (KB)
(4) T H A T, as agreed by Full Council on 6th March, 2024, a premium of 200%
be introduced from 1st April, 2025 for long term empty properties that have remained
as such for a continuous period of 36 months or more.
(5) T H A T the premium of 100% for periodically occupied properties for the
2024-25 financial year agreed on 6th March, 2024 be reaffirmed and continue for
2025-26.
Reasons for decisions
(1) The Council was required to determine its policy on discounts in relation to
unoccupied dwellings as defined in classes A, B and C to the Council Tax
(Prescribed Class of Dwellings) (Wales) Regulations 1998 each year.
(2) The Council was required to determine its policy regarding premiums in
respect of long-term empty properties as defined in Sections 12A and 12B of the
Local Government Finance Act 1992 as inserted by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.
(3) Upon reviewing the implementation of the premium for long term empty
properties introduced from the start of 1st April, 2023, it was felt that a straight
increase to the premium levels as previously proposed may counteract the intention
of the policy, which was to bring long term empty properties back into use, if the level
of charges due hindered necessary works required to make a dwelling habitable. As
such it was felt that a stepped approach would be more in keeping with the policy to
ensure that persistent long term empty properties were targeted.
(4) As (2) above.
(5) The Council was required to determine its policy regarding premiums in
respect of second homes as defined in Sections 12A and 12B of the Local
Government Finance Act 1992 as inserted by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.
January 13 Minutes Special 6.05pm (KB)
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the final Housing Revenue Account budget proposals for 2025/26 as
set out below be approved:
Original Change Final
2024/25 Proposed
Budget
2025/26
£000
Expenditure
Supervision & Management – General 4,695 214 4,909
Supervision & Management – Special 1,949 13 1,962
Repairs & Maintenance 5,000 920 5,920
Capital Financing Costs 5,792 1,097 6,889
Rent, Rates, Taxes & Other Charges 270 28 298
Increase in Provision for Bad Debts 1,027 (336) 691
Capital Expenditure from Revenue 8,197 (1,218)
6,979
Account (CERA)
26,930 718 27,648
Income
Dwelling Rents (25,793) (365) (26,158)
Non Dwelling Rents (186) (13) (199)
Interest (45) (170) (215)
Charges For Services and Facilities (684) (133) (817)
Contribution towards expenditure (94) (1) (95)
Grant Income (205) 0 (205)
(27,007) (682) (27,689)
(Surplus) / deficit for the year (77) 36 (41)
Working Balance Brought Forward as (3,524) (667) (4,191)
at 1st April 2025
Working Balance Carried Forward as (4,191) (41) (4,232)
at 31st March 2026
(2) T H A T an average rent increase of 2.7%, as set out in the Cabinet report of
9th January, 2025 be approved.
(3) T H A T the increase suggested for other services as set out in the table
below and in the Cabinet report of 9th January, 2025 be approved:
2024/25 2025/26
Actual Proposed
50 Week Basis Charges Charges
£ £
Grounds Maintenance 1.47 1.51 per week
Cleaning of communal areas 2.75 3.00 per week
Lighting of communal areas 2.51 3.60 per week
Laundry Facilities 0.62 0.41 per week
January 13 Minutes Special 6.30pm (KB)
Window Cleaning 0.18 0.18 per week
Lift Maintenance 1.33 1.25 per week
Door Entry 0.71 0.80 per week
Intercom 0.95 1.29 per week
CCTV 0.00 1.43 per week
Sewerage Treatment Plants 455.25 467.54 per annum
Cesspools 439.00 451.00 per annum
(4) T H A T all changes to rents and service charges be approved and
implemented from 1st April, 2025, with the first week of April being a non-chargeable
rent week and that increase notices be sent to tenants two months in advance of the
new charges coming into effect as required by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.
(5) T H A T the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2025/54 attached at
Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report of 9th January, 2025 be approved.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To facilitate budget monitoring and to demonstrate a balanced budget with a
drawdown from HRA reserves to bring the reserve back into balance with the
Housing Business Plan 2025/26.
(2) In order that new rent levels were set within the specified Welsh Government
(WG) guidelines and to meet the tenant notification deadline as required by statute.
(3) That charges were approved and to meet the tenant notification deadline as
required by statute.
(4) In order that charges were approved, new rent levels were set within the
specified Welsh Government (WG) guidelines and to meet the tenant notification
deadline as required by statute.
(5) To obtain Cabinet approval for the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan
2025/55 (draft) prior to referral to Full Council.
January 13 Minutes Special 6.30pm (KB)
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed Requirements
(Wales) Regulations SI 2013/3029 (“the Prescribed Requirements Regulations”) and
the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default
Scheme) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 SI 2014/66 be adopted.
(2) T H A T any amendments to Regulations made by the Welsh Government
reflected in the scheme be noted.
(3) T H A T the national scheme be adopted with the following discretions:
- Extended Payments be allowed up to a maximum of 4 weeks;
- War Widow and War Disablement pensions in assessing income for
Council Tax Reduction continue to be disregarded;
- That Backdated Reductions be allowed to continue for a period up to
26 weeks.
Reasons for decisions
(1) In order that the Council Tax Reduction Scheme was approved as required by
Council by 31st January, 2025 and in place for implementation from 1 st April, 2025.
(2) To ensure that the Council’s scheme complied with regulations.
(3) To reconfirm the three local discretions.
January 13 Minutes Special 6.15pm (KB)
RESOLVED: that
(1) the updated Budget Position for 2025/26 at Provisional Settlement Stage be noted.
(2) the proposed approach to Budget Consultation for 2025/26 be agreed, and subject to that agreement:
· Note that the formal budget consultation will commence on the 9th January 2025 and run until 5th February 2025. The results of the consultation process will then be considered by Cabinet in preparing their final 2025/26 budget proposal.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
RESOLVED: that the following resolutions be approved:
1. the calculation of the Council’s tax base for the year 2025/26 be approved.
2. that pursuant to this report and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) (Wales) Regulations 1995, as amended, the amount calculated by Cardiff Council as its Council Tax Base for the year 2025/26 shall be 153,582.
3. that pursuant to this report and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) (Wales) Regulations 1995, as amended, the amounts calculated by the Council as the Council Tax Base for the year 2025/26 in the community areas subject to a precept shall be as follows:
Lisvane
3,200
Pentyrch
3,798
Radyr
4,169
St. Fagans
2,037
Old St. Mellons
2,692
Tongwynlais
835
4. that the arrangements for the payment of precepts in 2025/26 to the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales be by equal instalments on the last working day of each month from April 2025 to March 2026; and to the Community Councils, be by one payment on the first working day of April 2025, reflecting the same basis as that used in 2024/25; and the precepting authorities be advised accordingly.
Swansea, Scrutiny Performance Panel - Service Improvement, Regeneration and Finance,
RESOLVED – T H A T the proposed change to the Joint Working Agreement under
a Deed of Variation between the partner Councils for the provision of Regulatory
Services be approved.
Reason for decision
To ensure that appropriate approvals were sought in relation to the proposed change
to the Joint Working Agreement through the addition of the Public Health Wales Act
2017 to the list of functions delegated to the Joint Committee and contained in Part 1
to Schedule 1 of the Shared Regulatory Services Joint Working Agreement to be
agreed by all three partner Councils.
FINAL DRAFT VALE OF GLAMORGAN ANNUAL SELF ASSESSMENT REPORT 2023/24 (REF)
The Leader, in presenting the reference, shared how the report had been developed
based upon feedback from Cabinet, Scrutiny and the Governance and Audit
Committee. She referred to the need to look at a plain language version being a
longer-term consideration as this needed to be understandable to residents but also
to fulfil legislative requirements. The Leader indicated that the assessment had been
moderated based upon feedback, but that the Council had still had a good year. The
Leader moved the recommendation that the Draft Vale of Glamorgan Annual Self
Assessment be approved contained as contained within the reference which was
seconded by Councillor Brooks.
Councillor Hooper shared that he felt that the report was an improvement based
upon previous years, with an increased sense of contrition and honesty. He also
said it was important to improve accessibility. He referenced the “good” grading and
sought clarification of how this could be progressed.
The Leader said it was a statutory requirement, and they would continue to learn,
including feedback from the Peer Panel Assessment and the Corporate Plan. She
agreed that there was an issue surrounding the need to have an open conversation
with residents and was not sure how this would be achieved but would continue to
try. The Leader further commented that the good rating was based upon reflection
upon performance against what was set out in the Annual Delivery Plan, and advised
this would be a discussion for the next self-assessment to consider the Council
benchmarks, increased data and feedback.
Councillor Carroll said that it would be bizarre for him to endorse the “good”
assessment based upon previous comments in the meeting but welcomed the
changes in format of the report to improve accessibility. He also welcomed the
changes to the format of reports which was noted and agenda planning which would
be considered by Democratic Services.
Following a request a recorded vote on the recommendations with item took place as
follows:
December 02 Minutes and DN (JLT)
Members For Against Abstain
Anne Asbrey √
Julie Aviet √
Gareth Ball √
Rhiannon Birch √
Bronwen Brooks √
Gillian Bruce √
Ian Buckley √
Lis Burnett √
Samantha Campbell √
George Carroll √
Christine Cave √
Charles Champion √
Janice Charles √
Millie Collins √
Marianne Cowpe √
Pamela Drake √
Vince Driscoll √
Anthony Ernest √
Christopher Franks √
Wendy Gilligan √
Russell Godfrey √
Emma Goodjohn √
Ewan Goodjohn √
Stephen Haines √
December 02 Minutes and DN (JLT)
Sally Hanks √
William Hennessy √
Nic Hodges √
Mark Hooper √
Catherine Iannucci-Williams √
Gwyn John √
Dr. Ian Johnson √
Susan Lloyd-Selby √
Belinda Loveluck-Edwards √
Julie Lynch-Wilson √
Kevin Mahoney √
Naomi Marshallsea √
Michael Morgan √
Jayne Norman √
Helen Payne √
Elliot Penn √
Sandra Perkes √
Ian Perry √
Joanna Protheroe √
Ruba Sivagnanam √
Carys Stallard √
Neil Thomas √
Rhys Thomas √
Steffan Wiliam √
Margaret Wilkinson √
December 02 Minutes and DN (JLT)
Eddie Williams √
Mark Wilson √
Nicholas Wood √
TOTAL 30 22
The recommendation being carried it was
RESOLVED – T H A T the Final Draft Vale of Glamorgan Council Annual Self
Assessment Report 2023/24 as considered by Cabinet on 7th November, 2024
(Minute No. C166 refers) be approved.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting.
TREASURY MID YEAR MANAGEMENT REPORT 2024/25 (REF)
The Leader, in presenting the reference that had been sent to Members that day
following the decisions of Cabinet on 28th November, outlined the mid-year (April –
September) report, highlighting that this information had also been provided to the
Governance and Audit Committee. The report considered an economic update
which looked at the factors that drove the UK economy during the period under
review and an analysis of interest rate forecast for the period December 2024 to
March 2027. There were no policy changes to the Treasury Management Strategy
as a 30th September, 2024. The report emphasised that new loans were borrowed
on a shorter term basis as interest rates were forecast to fall, creating a temporary
breach of the maturity structure of borrowing, but that the Council had considered
this to be prudent in this situation. The Leader further advised that borrowing was
supporting the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and that external debt had
increased.
The Council unanimously
RESOLVED – T H A T the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report for the period
1st April to 30th September, 2024 be approved and the use of the urgent decision
procedure be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the contents of the report and discussions at the meeting and the
Cabinet’s use of the urgent decision procedure to enable the matter to be considered
at this Full Council meeting.
December 02 Minutes and DN (JLT)