The leader of the council frequently asserts that severe funding shortfalls necessitate making savings. Is this simply a euphemism for cutting the basic services funded by residents’ council tax? While the council claims its “prudent financial approach” allows for extra investment in key services despite challenging times, many residents are questioning its priorities.
Public Services Under Threat
RCT residents have been subjected to ongoing reductions in core services, including:
- The closure of care homes
- Restrictions on wheelie bin usage
- Other cuts justified as essential “savings”
Council tax revenues and Welsh Government grants are intended to support vital services such as:
- Road maintenance and street cleaning
- Social care and Meals on Wheels
- Education and homelessness support
- Libraries, parks, and waste collection
Instead, these services are being scaled back, leaving residents wondering where their money is going.
Property Purchases and High Expenditure
Despite its claims of financial hardship, RCT Council has spent significant sums on property acquisitions and redevelopment projects, including:
- Iceland Store, Pontypridd: Purchased for £800,000.
- Rhos House, Mountain Ash: Acquired for £150,000 and later leased to the Cwm Taf Health Board.
- Marks & Spencer and Dorothy Perkins Stores, Pontypridd: Purchased, demolished, and replaced with a costly riverside plaza, partially funded by the Welsh Government. The full extent of local taxpayers’ contributions remains unclear.
More Purchases Amid Service Cuts
The council’s growing property portfolio includes:
- Several high-street properties in Pontypridd, including a former bingo hall, were purchased and demolished at significant expense. Taxpayer-funded consultants were later hired to explore developing a hotel on the site.
- Office spaces in Merthyr Tydfil, despite ample availability within RCT.
Costly Consultants and Ambitious Projects
Beyond acquisitions, the council has invested heavily in consultancy fees for feasibility studies and planning exercises. Notable examples include:
- A hotel-led development for the former bingo hall site.
- The controversial £1.5 million Llys Cadwyn footbridge, partly funded by council tax revenues.
Unanswered Questions About Priorities
The council’s expanding property portfolio and high-cost projects stand in stark contrast to its financial hardship claims. Residents are left asking:
- Why is the council focusing on speculative property investments while reducing essential services?
- Are these developments genuinely in the public interest, or do they benefit private interests at taxpayers’ expense?
For instance, the Marks & Spencer store in Pontypridd was in excellent condition and could have been refurbished for residential use, as proposed in a private developer’s 2017 plan. Instead, the council purchased and demolished it. A total of 44 flats was proposed for the M&S building by a private developer, with a mixture of one and two-bedroom units.
Commissioning “expert advice” to prioritize a hotel-led development on the Bingo Hall site.
RCT Council report: Expert advice has been commissioned to explore commercial uses to strengthen the viability of the town and the advice received clearly supports a hotel-led development with retail uses at the lower ground floor. Following approval from Cabinet in February 2022, a formal procurement exercise will be undertaken over the coming months to secure a Development Partner to take forward a hotel-led development on-site at Pontypridd.
Selling Recyclable Materials: A Missed Opportunity?
While cutting services such as waste collection, the council benefits from selling dry recyclables like cans, glass, and paper. Income from these materials has risen by 22% in recent years. Residents are asking: why aren’t these revenues reinvested in local services?
Notes
Pontypridd Police Station and adjoining land
Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee (22 March 2022): Section 4.8 reveals the £2 million Llys Cadwyn footbridge was partly funded by council resources.
M&S Store Demolition: The store was in excellent condition and approved for redevelopment in 2017. The council instead pursued costly demolition and redevelopment.
Key Properties Acquired by RCT Council:
Iceland Store, Pontypridd (£800,000)
Rhos House, Mountain Ash (£150,000)
Marks & Spencer and Dorothy Perkins Stores, Pontypridd
Bingo Hall, High Street, Pontypridd
https://rctcbc.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=457&LLL=0
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