Bridgend Council has published its final plans for their 2023-24 budget (pdf).
The budget is set to be signed off by BCBC’s Cabinet later this week, then go to a full council meeting for a final vote on 1st March 2023.
The General Picture
Bridgend Council sought just over £2.6million in cuts and savings – lower than originally expected (£3.3million) – with £17.2million expected to be found over the next four financial years. The financial situation is expected to get tighter – and anticipated cuts larger – from 2025-26 onwards.
As a result of the public consultation – and concerns from the council’s scrutiny committees – there have been some significant changes to the budget.
Several proposed cuts – which would’ve seen some services lose all of their council funding – are set to be called off.
Funding for home-college transport, RNLI lifeguards in Porthcawl, fly-tipping enforcement and strategic regeneration has now been protected for at least the next year.
In another bit of (relatively) good news, the draft budget’s proposed 6% increase to council tax has been scaled back to 4.9% – which is in line with what most other councils in the region are doing.
However, a planned cut to the school budget is set to go ahead.
Where will the cuts and savings come from in 2023-24? (pdf)
Education & Family Support (-£2.16million)
- Cuts to schools, mainly from staffing budgets – which could lead to teacher redundancies (-£2.12million).
- Savings from delegating some school transport responsibilities to the Pupil Referral Unit (-£40,000).
Communities (-£375,000)
- Commercial let of two wings at Ravens Court in Bridgend town centre to partner agencies (-£120,000).
- Savings from switching to LED street lights (-£100,000).
- Closure of recycling centres for one weekday per week (-£50,000).
- Income from charging blue badge holders for parking (-£40,000).
- Increase subscription charges for household garden waste recycling (-£30,000).
- Increase charges for bulky waste removal (-£25,000).
- Cuts to the road marking budget (-£10,000).
Chief Executive’s Directorate (-£75,000)
- Savings from a reduction in printing costs (-£40,000).
- General efficiency savings in supplies and services across the directorate (-£35,000).
Capital Spending Programme
Capital funding is used on one-off projects and infrastructure (pdf).
As in previous years, the majority of capital spending will go towards new schools. Several new primary schools are in the pipeline over the next few years including new English and Welsh-medium schools in North Cornelly, a new Ysgol Bro Ogwr in Brackla and a new single-site Mynydd Cynffig school.
There’s additional money in place for school extensions at Coety Primary, Pencoed Primary and Bryntirion Comprehensive. Just under £1.95million has been allocated to upgrade facilities to enable universal free school meals to be rolled out in primary schools too.
A first tranche of £6million has been allocated for the refurbishment of Porthcawl’s Grand Pavilion. BCBC recently posted a flythrough video showing what the £18-20million project will look like once completed.
£1.79million has been allocated as part of Labour’s 2022 manifesto pledge to upgrade playgrounds across the county.
£1.27million has also been allocated in 2023-24 towards remedial work to repair damage caused to homes under the Arbed scandal in Caerau. As far as I know, there still hasn’t been any official confirmation of the timetables or Welsh Government funding, but this suggests it’s close.
This year’s council contribution to the Cardiff City Region will be just over £2.45million.
Council Tax, Precepts & Charges
As mentioned, subject to final approval council tax is set to increase by 4.9%. This means the average Band D council tax will increase to £1,675.26 (+£78.25) – though this is lower than originally planned.
The South Wales Police precept – set by the Police & Crime Commissioner, Alun Michael (Lab) – will have a steeper increase of 7.4% (+£22.32 at Band D).
Bridgend Council’s contribution to South Wales Fire Service will increase the most at just under 13% or £979,000 (£8.52million in total).
There have been quite a few changes to council-managed fees (pdf):
- Requests for CCTV footage from insurance companies and legal representatives – £100 + VAT
- Film licensing – £600 + VAT
- Printed copies of planning documents and guidance – £25 + VAT
- Subscription to household garden waste collections – £46 per household (£42 for pensioners)
- Bulky waste collections (3 items) – £25
- Blue badge holders will now have to pay parking charges at council-run car parks.
The proposed town & community council precepts for 2023-24 are as follows (pdf).
The majority of town & community councils have opted to either cut or freeze their precepts next year. In most cases this only makes a difference of a few pounds and pence per household, though of course it adds up.
It’s not surprise that two of the smallest community councils – Merthyr Mawr and Newcastle Higher (the Penyfai and Aberkenfig area) – had the leeway to make the biggest cuts.
The only increase that stands out is the above-inflation increase to the Laleston precept – though my understanding is that’s largely down to proposed projects such as a new skate park at Bryntirion Fields.
While Maesteg Town Council is set to cut its precept by 8.9%, I’ve been reliably told that there’s been disagreement over plans to replace the chains of office for the Mayor & Deputy Mayor – which has been quoted as costing up to £17,000 (and rejected for the time being while other quotes are sought). At the same time there’s disagreement over whether or not to award an inflation-based pay-rise to staff.
The full proposed council tax plans are below:
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