Alarm at Abertillery and Llanhilleth Community Council decision to raise precept by 107 per cent

Abertillery and Llanhilleth has increased its budget from £112,000 to £242,000 – around £30 a year for Band A properties, which make up nearly three quarters of houses in the area.

A third of the cash will be used to fund extra community projects it has been said, but its approval saw one councillor tender his immediate resignation over the move.

Abertillery and Llanhilleth Community Council's offices

The Labour group leader on Blaenau Gwent council, Steve Thomas, has said he thought the increase was a mistake when presented with it.

“I found that baffling, mind-blowing that this can happen in this day and age,” said Cllr Thomas at a full meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council on Thursday.

“The Labour-run council in Tredegar decreased its precept by 0.43 per cent. I felt I had to raise this because it’s very alarming.”

Councillors considered Abertillery and Llanhilleth’s precept alongside its borough-wide council tax, which will rise by 4.9 per cent.

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Blaenau Gwent council leader, Cllr Nigel Daniels, told members that local precepts were a matter for community councils and said that full council meetings of the local authority were the ‘wrong forum’ to raise concerns.

Blaenau Gwent council leader Nigel Daniels

Cllr Thomas’ comments were also labelled ‘hypocritical’ by Cllr Julie Holt, who also serves as chair of Abertillery and Llanhilleth community council.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Holt said: “I’m absolutely appalled that Steve brought it up when Labour members of our council actually helped put that precept up. It was a democratic decision.

“He spoke about a Labour-run council reducing their precept but what has politics got to do with it?

“Community councillors are unpaid volunteers and we try and do what’s best for our community.”

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The community council’s decision was informed by a survey of 67 residents in the area which showed 61 backing an increase if it meant the council did more for its communities.

Most of the respondents were unaware that they were paying £17 per year towards funding the community council.

On January 16, members were considered with three options – a standstill budget of £135,000, a budget of £142,000 proposed by Cllr Steve Bard and Cllr Gary Oakley’s £234,000 budget.

Minutes from the meeting show a heated debate over each option before Cllr Oakley’s suggestion, described as ‘visionary’, was voted through by 11 out of 16 members.

“People who may not have been in favour had their minds changed when the councillor spoke about antisocial behaviour, and the council having been lackadaisical with its funding,” said Cllr Holt.

“We’ve been stuck with the same precept for donkey’s years. We’re playing catchup and a change was needed.”

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Cllr Bard withdrew his budget, left the meeting and later emailed a resignation letter to the council’s clerk.

He said he wanted no part in placing a burden on ‘the poorest in our local area’, adding that the increase was ‘too much too soon’.

The community council will hold an extraordinary meeting on March 4, which will be attended by Blaenau Gwent council’s Cllr Daniels, to discuss what projects they will fund with the extra money.