Can we expect more cuts to public services but expect a Council Tax Hike again

So the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is complaining about the council’s lack of money again he’s starting early this year building up to the next rise in our council tax as increases year on year but lower on election years as highlighted in red in the table.

But the council always has funding for pet projects the ones that they can emphasize at election times to get your vote.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council cuts into basic public services but your council tax continues to rise.

Waste Management and Collection:

The transition from a weekly black bag/bin collection to a 3-week collection cycle to a reduction in the allowable number of black bags on bin collection days.

Bulk Waste Collections:

The introduction of a charge of £17 for bulk waste collections was included in you council tax

Green Waste Management:

The provision of 2 green waste sacks is covered by council tax; additional sacks are subject to a £3 fee.

Public Facilities:

Closure of certain public toilets across Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Recreation Facilities:

Closure of paddling pools; no direct funding for certain recreation areas, such as the Aberdare Splash Pad, while others, like the Pontypridd Lido, continue to receive council support.

Care Services:

Closure of several care homes, with long-term home care and childcare programs outsourced to the private sector.

Community Centers:

Closure of many community centres the transition of the council-operated St Mair’s Centre to the management of Age Connects Morgannwg, now known as Cynon Link.

Pest Control:

Introduction of a £30 fee for pest control services, previously covered by council tax.

Public Libraries:

Closure of multiple public libraries, leaving just 13 libraries serving 35 electoral wards; remaining libraries now offer diverse services beyond traditional library functions.

The council closed Aberdare Museum but retained Pontypridd Museum, Aberdare Museum now run as a trust museum.

So what other cuts are the council planning AberdareOnline has asked the council for a response to this. “Some of the playing fields will be going, as they are unsustainable as a cost implementation,” to date the council has not responded.

The question was raised when speaking to a councillor about the damage to Mikes Field Aberaman and the answer was, that some of the playing fields will be going, as they are unsustainable as a cost implementation.

Now we have local councillors asking the public to pick up litter but it is the local authority that is responsible therefor just another cut in public services

Annual percentage yearly increase in band D council tax rises by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
4.82	5.33	5.89	5.74	4.96	5.02	4.82	4.86	4.92	4.03
2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
3.19	2.83	4.32	4.53	3.94	2.90	2.62	3.85	4.54	3.31
2021	2022	2023
3.02	1.79	4.55

Council tax you were paying in 2001

A	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
449.80	539.76	629.72	719.68	809.64	989.56	1,169.48	1,619.28

Council tax you were paying in 2010

A	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
701.63	841.96	982.29	1,122.61	1,262.94	1,543.59	1,824.25	2,104.90	2,525.88	2,946.86

Council Tax you now pay in 2023

A	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
1,095.57	1,314.68	1,533.79	1,752.91	1,972.02	2,410.25	2,848.47	3,286.70	3,944.04	4,601.38

RHONDDA CYNON TAF COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL 2023/24 FEES AND CHARGES

75 councillors are elected to represent the people of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Group A: Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea Councillors

Basic salary payable to all elected members: £17,600;
Leader of the largest opposition group: £26,400;
Committee chairmen and women, civic head and presiding officer (if remunerated): £26,400;
Executive members: £39,600;
Deputy leaders: £46,200;
Leaders: £66,000.

Do councillors get a pension?

The LGPS for councillors is a defined benefit career average scheme and is guaranteed by law. The calculation of your final pension is based on the time you have been a member of the scheme and your average pay during your period of membership as a councillor.

Local authorities or councils, there are 22 local authorities in Wales with some 1254 councillors.

Cardiff Capital Region,

The UK Government and the Welsh Government. The Cardiff Capital Region is made up of an area of South East Wales, consisting of the ten local authorities; Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Newport and Cardiff.

Aberdare is waiting for information under FOI from Cardiff Capital Region to date they have not responded it is now with The Information Commissioners Office.

There are 735 community and town councils in Wales

Welsh Parliament or Senedd , made up of 60 Members basic Senedd members will earn £69,958

at the moment there are 40 MPs representing Wales in the House of Commons the basic annual salary for an MP from 1 April 2023 is £86,584.

List of members of the House of Lords

We also pay Income, tax Value Added Tax, if you own a vehicle Road Tax MOT Fuel Duty on petrol and diesel is 52.95 pence per litre plus VAT TV license Tax is £159 the list seems endless.

And now our Welsh Government you know the same government that a Labour minister said ‘We don’t know what we’re doing on the economy’ I think that’s the only thing they got right (‘We don’t know what we’re doing on the economy’) has come out with, Council Tax reform in Wales.

So there is a scramble to get as much out of the public trough as they can with so much public money spent on governments and government departments in Wales it’s not hard to see there is little left for basic public services like health.

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council what do they know?