Council tax bills will increase by 3.7 per cent in Newport in April

Newport City Council’s cabinet had originally proposed a five per cent council tax increase, but a U-turn was made after a public consultation.

The 3.7 per cent council tax increase is set to cost the council £753,000.

The council tax rise will cost residents in Band D properties £1,242.20 a year in Newport. It will equate to an increase of 85p per week increase for Band D properties.

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The leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Matthew Evans said the increase was too high and that the council was “asking people to pay more for less”.

Cllr Ray Truman said it was “probably the most difficult budget that any of us will ever have to deal with”.

Newport Independents Party councillor Kevin Whitehead said he had written to the council to suggest a 2.5 per cent increase in council tax.

Speaking in the meeting Cllr Whitehead said that he didn’t put an amendment forward because he knew it would get voted down and he “didn’t want to waste people’s time”.

Cllr Whitehead said: “It’s easy throw rotten tomatoes at people who have had to make difficult decisions.

“Let’s not kid ourselves that it’s not a good budget; It’s mostly a good budget.”

The budget also includes an investment of around £828,000 in social care, which will be funded in part by the increase in the social care workforce grant.