Council approves budget for 2026-27

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Yesterday, Bridgend Council held their annual budget meeting (Youtube).

The final budget proposals were signed off by the Cabinet last week, but need approval from the full council.

Opposition Tables Lower Council Tax Increase

The largest opposition group (Bridgend County Independents) tabled an alternative budget.

It had a single proposal. This would use £736,000 of unallocated funding to reduce the proposed council tax increase from 4.7% to 4%. At the Band D average, this works out at a saving (to householders) of around £13.50.

Leader of the Opposition, Cllr. Amanda Williams (Ind, Coity Higher), told councillors there was support – both inside and outside the council – to make sure council tax increases don’t outstrip inflation (where possible).

Cllr. Sean Aspey (Ind, Porthcawl West Central) said that council tax bills in Bridgend were, on average, over £200 a year higher than Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan, and over £400 higher than Cardiff.

Cllr. Simon Griffiths (Lab, Brackla East & Coychurch) disagreed. He didn’t believe this was a fair comparison, as the populations in some of those councils are wealthier.

Unallocated money to be used to deal with price pressures

Cllr. Philip Jenkins (Ind, Maesteg East) suggested the unallocated money could be used to purchase an extra drain cleaning machine to help deal with flooding.

Cllr. Jonathan Pratt (Con, Newton) took issue with how the Bridgend County Independents have tried to suggest on social media that if their amendment isn’t passed, it would be down to other opposition councillors rather than the much larger Labour group.

Cllr. Pratt questioned why some money was unallocated. Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr. Hywel Williams (Lab, Blackmill), confirmed it would be used to deal with price pressures/inflation during the financial year.

Council Leader, Cllr. John Spanswick (Lab, Brackla West Central), didn’t believe this amendment counted as an alternative budget. It was more an alteration to council tax – which he didn’t have a problem with, in principle. However, the household saving (at Band D) is minor – the equivalent of around 26p a week.

Cllr. Spanswick added that the money has been held back to avoid any further budget cuts to schools. He also pointed out that the Bridgend County Independent-controlled Bridgend Town Council was proposing a near 10% increase to its precept, which would wipe out any savings from their proposed council tax cut.

The opposition amendment went to a recorded vote.

Vote: Bridgend County Independents - Alternative Budget Proposal

For (16)

Cllr. Sean Aspey (Ind, Porthcawl West Central)
Cllr. Anthony Berrow (Ind, Bryntirion, Laleston & Merthyr Mawr)
Cllr. Freya Bletsoe (Ind, Oldcastle)
Cllr. Steven Bletsoe (Ind, Bridgend Central)
Cllr. Steven Easterbrook (Ind, Bridgend Central)
Cllr. David Harrison (Ind, Cefn Glas)
Cllr. Phil Jenkins (Ind, Maesteg East)
Cllr. Mark John (Ind, St. Bride’s Minor &Ynysawdre)
Cllr. Robert Smith (Ind, Rest Bay)
Cllr. Ian Spiller (Ind, Bryntirion, Laleston & Merthyr Mawr)
Cllr. Tim Thomas (Ind, St. Bride’s Minor &Ynysawdre)
Cllr. Alan Wathan (Ind, Coity Higher)
Cllr. Amanda Williams (Ind, Coity Higher)
Cllr. Ian Williams (Ind, Oldcastle)
Cllr. Martin Williams (Ind, Coity Higher)
Cllr. Tim Wood (Ind, Bridgend Central)

Against (33)

Cllr. Heidi Bennett (Lab, Penyfai)
Cllr. Jon-Paul Blundell (Lab, Cefn Glas)
Cllr. Eugene Caparros (Lab, Brackla East & Coychurch)
Cllr. Owain Clatworthy (Reform, Pyle, Kenfig Hill & Cefn Cribwr)
Cllr. Richard Collins (Lab, Maesteg West)
Cllr. Huw David (Lab, Pyle, Kenfig Hill & Cefn Cribwr)
Cllr. Colin Davies (Lab, Bryntirion, Laleston & Merthyr Mawr)
Cllr. Paul Davies (Lab, Caerau)
Cllr. Melanie Evans (Lab, Pencoed & Penprysg)
Cllr. Neelo Farr (Lab, Porthcawl East Central)
Cllr. Paula Ford (Lab, St. Bride’s Minor &Ynysawdre)
Cllr. Jane Gebbie (Lab, Pyle, Kenfig Hill & Cefn Cribwr)
Cllr. Rhys Goode (Lab, Nantymoel)
Cllr. Richard Granville (Lab, Cornelly)
Cllr. Heather Griffiths (Lab, Garw Valley)
Cllr. Simon Griffiths (Lab, Brackla East & Coychurch)
Cllr. Gary Haines (Lab, Aberkenfig)
Cllr. Della Hughes (Ind, Ogmore Vale)
Cllr. Martin Hughes (Lab, Maesteg East)
Cllr. Malcolm James (Plaid, Llangynwyd)
Cllr. Martyn Jones (Lab, Garw Valley)
Cllr. William Kendall (Lab, Brackla East Central)
Cllr. Maxine Lewis (Lab, St. Bride’s Minor & Ynysawdre)
Cllr. Johanna Llewellyn-Hopkins (Lab, Brackla West)
Cllr. Jonathan Pratt (Con, Newton)
Cllr. John Spanswick (Lab, Brackla West Central)
Cllr. Ross Penhale-Thomas (Ind, Maesteg West)
Cllr. Jeff Tildesley (Ind, Cornelly)
Cllr. Graham Walter (Lab, Porthcawl East Central)
Cllr. Alex Ulberini-Williams (Ind, Pencoed & Penprysg)
Cllr. Hywel Williams (Lab, Blackmill)
Cllr. Richard Williams (Lab, Pencoed & Penprysg)
Cllr. Elaine Winstanley (Lab, Cornelly)

Future years expected to be “financially challenging” to local government

Moving the main budget motion, the Cabinet Member for Finance told the chamber that the Cabinet had taken the views of those who took part in public consultation, and the cross-party Budget Working Group, into consideration when finalising their plans.

He noted that council tax only makes up around 28% of BCBC’s income, and future years are expected to be “financially challenging” for local government. As things stand, council tax is expected to increase by 4.5% for each of the next four years.

After a lengthy discussion, the final budget proposals were put to a recorded vote.