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).
Business rates collected: 96% across Wales (2025-26).
AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations and recommendations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations and recommendations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
Vale of Glamorgan, Governance and Audit Committee,
RESOLVED:
That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
AGREED: that the Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations and recommendations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.
Swansea, Scrutiny Performance Panel - Service Improvement, Regeneration and Finance,
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 be
reflected in the scheme.
(3) T H A T the national scheme be adopted with the following discretions:
- That the Council should continue to allow Extended Payments up to a
maximum of 4 weeks.
- That the Council should continue to disregard War Widow and War
Disablement pensions in assessing income for Council Tax Reduction.
- That the Council should continue to allow Backdated Reductions for a
period up to 26 weeks.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To enable the Council Tax Reduction Scheme to be approved and in place for
implementation from 1st April, 2026.
(2) To ensure that the Council’s scheme continued to comply with regulation.
(3) To reconfirm the three local discretions.
RESOLVED –
(1) T H A T the final Housing Revenue Account budget proposals for 2026/27 set
out below be approved:
2026/27
Original Change Final
2025/26 Proposed
Budget
£000
Expenditure
Supervision & Management – General 4,909 (90) 4,819
Supervision & Management – Special 1,962 (87) 1,875
Repairs & Maintenance 5,920 805 6,725
Capital Financing Costs 6,889 737 7,626
Rent, Rates, Taxes & Other Charges 298 (29) 269
Increase in Provision for Bad Debts 691 29 720
Capital Expenditure from Revenue Account 6,979 (322)
6,657
(CERA)
27,648 1,043 28,691
Income
Dwelling Rents (26,158) (1192) (27,350)
Non Dwelling Rents (199) (6) (205)
Interest (215) (7) (222)
Charges For Services and Facilities (817) 54 (763)
January 12 Special 6.30pm (JLT)
Contribution towards expenditure (95) 0 (95)
Grant Income (205) 0 (205)
(27,689) (1,151) (28,840)
(Surplus)/ deficit for the year (41) 108 (149)
Working Balance Brought Forward as at (3,885) (440)
(4,325)
1st April 2026
Working Balance Carried Forward as at (3,926) (548)
(4,474)
31st March 2027
(2) T H A T an average rent increase of 4.3%, as set out in paragraph 2.24 of the
report be approved.
(3) T H A T the increase suggested for other services as set out in the table
below and in paragraphs 2.26 to 2.34 of the report be approved.
2025/26 2026/27
Actual Proposed
50 Week Basis Charges Charges
£ £
Grounds Maintenance 1.51 1.48 per week
Cleaning of communal areas 3.00 3.19 per week
Lighting of communal areas 3.60 2.52 per week
Laundry Facilities 0.41 0.40 per week
Window Cleaning 0.18 0.16 per week
Lift Maintenance 1.25 1.82 per week
Door Entry 0.80 1.05 per week
Intercom 1.29 1.86 per week
CCTV 1.43 1.78 per week
Sewerage Treatment Plants 467.54 485.00 per annum
Cesspools 451.00 468.14 per annum
(4) T H A T all changes to rents and service charges be approved and
implemented from 1st April, 2026, 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 Rented Homes Wales Act.
(5) T H A T the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2026/56 be approved.
(6) T H A T the information provided to Members from Place Scrutiny Committee
on 6th January, 2026 be noted.
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 2026/27.
January 12 Special 6.30pm (JLT)
(2) In order that new rent levels were set within the specified Welsh Government
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 guidelines and to meet the tenant notification deadline
as required by statute.
(5) Having obtained Cabinet approval for the Housing Revenue Account
Business Plan 2026/56 (draft) prior to referral to Full Council.
(6) Having regard to the discussion at the Scrutiny Committee meeting.
January 12 Special 6.30pm (JLT)