Agenda item

Cabinet Member Ben Callard delivered a presentation, introduced the report and answered the members’ questions with Will McLean and Debra Hill-Howells:

With a proposed 5.95% council tax increase, meaning over 30% rise in recent years, is it reasonable to ask residents to bear this burden? Are we doing enough on efficiency and spend control, and are we prioritising correctly between services and tax burden?

Increasing council tax is not an easy choice, and there are no easy options when setting the budget. The Council can either reduce services or increase tax to maintain or improve them. The draft budget includes over £2 million in service efficiencies, and over £9 million in savings were delivered in the last year, with tens of millions saved in previous years. Residents express a desire for better services, especially in care and schools, and the Council aims to protect these. The cumulative council tax increase reflects high inflation and external pressures, but the alternative – cutting vital services – is considered worse. Councillors themselves pay council tax, and the decision to raise it is made reluctantly to protect services and vulnerable residents.

Is it a false dichotomy to present the choice as either high council tax increases or service cuts? Shouldn’t the Council focus on transforming service delivery, as businesses do, rather than simply increasing costs?

The Council has been transforming how it delivers services, with over £9 million in savings in the last year and more than £50 million over the past decade. Transformation includes investing in homes for looked-after children and reablement strategies in social care, targeting resources efficiently. Many businesses would leave the market if faced with the legal obligations councils have. The draft budget balances service demands with targeted investment and measured efficiency, continuing the Council’s transformation.

How can the Council justify council tax increases that are 10 percentage points above UK inflation rates over the last five years?

Council tax is a fixed cash sum, not a percentage, so it must increase to cover rising costs, especially staff wages, which are a major expense. Unlike income tax, which rises automatically with pay, council tax must be raised explicitly. The Council faces growing demand and complexity in services, such as an aging population and additional support needs in schools. The extra income from Welsh Government and council tax goes directly into services. Despite the large numbers, the Council believes it delivers value for money and will continue to do so.

Does this budget ensure we can address all potholes at speed? Is there sufficient capacity for speedy repairs?

The budget invests significantly more in pothole repairs, but the backlog is over £60 million, so not all potholes can be fixed. Capacity is also a structural issue; even with more funding, contractor and internal resources can't be expanded overnight. Reporting potholes helps to prioritise urgent repairs.

Does temporary pothole repair (cold fill) cause greater long-term costs, and is it counterintuitive?

Temporary patching is used for immediate safety concerns. While it may seem wasteful, it buys time until more thorough resurfacing can be scheduled. The approach prioritises safety but is acknowledged as frustrating and resource-consuming.

Is the £5 million for Chainbridge repair supported by Welsh Government assistance?

50% of the Chainbridge repair funding comes from Welsh Government, following extended negotiations.

Does the £1 million over inflation fully cover 2026/27 pay awards and ALN pressures? Is the allocation £96 per child, regardless of school type?

Pay and pension costs for teachers are fully funded, and the £1 million is additional. The £96 per pupil relates to the extra £1 million, with actual funding higher due to other lines. Allocation follows the current formula. ALN funding is also increased.

Will there be a shortfall in National Insurance funding next year, as seen this year?

All services, including schools, will be given full allowance for National Insurance costs next year. Any shortfall is managed by the authority, not by individual services.

Is there financial resilience in the budget against the possibility of another extreme weather event next year, such as Storm Claudia?

The Council is proposing a contingency fund of £850,000 for the next financial year, similar to the previous year, to respond to such events. Assets that are insurable are insured, but highways infrastructure is not. The Council works with Welsh Government for support on losses from extreme weather.

The Llanthony landslip was due to a lack of proactive maintenance, specifically overgrown trees becoming waterlogged, falling, and causing the road to slip. Is reactive spending on barriers and investigations not more costly than proactive road network maintenance?

The challenge is acknowledged, especially in rural areas like Monmouthshire, where adjoining land issues (such as tree maintenance and field runoff) impact road infrastructure. The Council works with landowners to address these issues, but the rural and hilly terrain makes proactive management difficult and consequences more severe, as seen in Llanthony.

Would the proposed 3.8% rise in fees and charges (affecting planning, car parking, leisure centres, etc.) apply across all areas or only some?

The 3.8% increase is applied across the board to all relevant fees and charges, updating them in line with inflation. These charges affect only residents who use the specific services.

Can any of the extra £5.5 million for Highways be used for new technology, machinery, or staff training to increase hot potholing, and can a proportion be ring-fenced for footways and rights of way?

£0.5 million is allocated specifically for footpath maintenance, with a planned maintenance scheme being developed. Currently, none of the funding is earmarked for new technology; it is all directed toward bridge maintenance, repairs, and resurfacing of existing carriageways.

Chair’s Summary:

Thank you to the members for their questions, and to the Cabinet Member and officers for the report and their answers today. The report was moved.