Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd and Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called for a change to the Welsh Government’s funding formula for local authorities so that people in Conwy County aren’t faced with further steep rises to their council tax.

With Conwy County Borough Council having recently voted in favour of a 10% increase to their council tax for the next financial year, Darren today urged the Welsh Government to review its funding formula for councils so that local authorities, like Conwy, are not forced to make similar hikes in the future.

Speaking in today’s Business Statement in the Senedd, Darren said, under the current formula Conwy get an unfair settlement each year  and urged those in power to address this. 

He said:   

“Can I call for a Statement from the Cabinet Secretary for finance in relation to why he thinks that the local government settlements in Wales, and the formula that is used to produce those settlements, is fair? 

“One thing that we know is that, unfortunately, there are certain local authorities who seem to constantly lose out as a result of the local government funding formula. One of those includes Conwy, part of which I represent, in my Clwyd West seat.

“Local residents in Conwy are facing a council tax increase of almost 10 per cent again this year, the third such increase in three years, which is driving people nuts, because they see these huge increases in council tax whilst local services are being cut. Local people want a greater say in the way that their money is spent, and I think what we need to understand is why the Government feels that this is fair and why the Government is continuing to resist giving the opportunity for local people to have a say via local council tax referenda.” 

In her response, the Trefnydd (Business Manager), Jane Hutt MS,  said “this is an important question for our forthcoming debate on the draft budget and the local government revenue settlement”.  She also referred to Wales having “one of the most favourable council tax reduction scheme system arrangements in Wales”.

Speaking after the meeting, Darren said: 

“When Conwy Council’s 10% increase comes into force in April, people will be paying 30% more council tax than they were three years ago. This is an absolute disgrace, particularly given the cost-of-living pressures people are already facing. This is a substantial amount of extra money they are going to have to find each year.

“In England such an increase would not have been allowed without a ‘yes’ vote in a referendum. Residents in Wales deserve the same privilege and this is something I have been, and will continue, pushing for.”  

Watch Darren’s contribution in the Welsh Parliament below: