County cabinet agrees to 9.34% Council Tax rise

* County Hall, Ruthin.

Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet has agreed a 9.34% increase in Council Tax with a view to ensuring social care services and learners within schools can be protected as far as possible, it says.

This proposal will go before full council on January 30 for final approval. 

Leader of the council, Councillor Jason McLellan, said: “We know that the proposed increase will not be welcome.  The annual increase required in Council Tax to fund council services is 8.23% with an additional 1.11% to cover the increase in the levy from the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority.  

“This decision has been reached with a view to ensuring that those most vulnerable in society receive care and support when needed through our social care teams and to protect learners in our schools as far as possible.  Schools, education, social care for adults and children and homlessness services combined account for 63% of the Council’s budget. 

“This is alongside continuing to provide the wide range of services such as collecting waste from every household, maintaining the road network, and many other services that our communities value. 

“Our priority has to be protecting those most at risk in Denbighshire, and whilst we managed to keep Council Tax increases lower last year, in order to deliver essential services over the coming year, we have had to propose a higher increase for 2024-25.  

"Looking at it over a two-year period Council Tax increases will have increased less than inflation over the same period, yet the demand for some of our statutory services has significantly increased year on year. 

“Like all councils we have had to make these difficult decisions against the backdrop of the UK Government’s policies of austerity. This year we have seen another inadequate settlement for Wales announced by the UK government in the Autumn Statement.”

The latest estimate is that delivering day to day services in 2024/25 will cost an additional £24.5m compared with 2023/24. 

Denbighshire is looking at all services and trying to protect the most vulnerable as far as possible, it says.

The council has been working towards setting its budget for 2024/25 for some considerable time and a range of proposals to identify savings and efficiencies, both internally and within the services it delivers, are under consideration.

Some people will be shielded from the increase through the Council Tax reduction scheme which helpa those on low income or claiming benefits. 

Residents can find out more about this on Denbighshire’s website on the following link:https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/benefits-grants-and-money-advice/council-tax-reduction-scheme.aspx