Council Tax Explained 2024
The Council has agreed it’s budget for 2024/25, and is planning to invest a total of £185million into providing services for the people of Blaenau Gwent. The Budget seeks to protect the frontline services most valued by residents and keep the Council Tax increase as one of the lowest in Wales
The agreed budget will see funding for Social Services of £53.5m, Schools £56.3m, and Environmental Services £36m. The budget for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme has been maintained at £10m to provide financial assistance to eligible local residents.
For the next financial year, the Council has recognised the impact the continuing high levels of inflation is having on household budgets, and has agreed to support the budget with a contribution from reserves of £1.5m, this is the second consecutive year that reserves will be used to balance the budget and has resulted in the Council minimising the increase in Council Tax levied by Blaenau Gwent CBC to 4.95%.
The Council will continue to monitor budgets closely throughout 2024/2025, and for the medium term, the Council is continuing with its strategic financial programme called Bridging the Gap, which will enable it to plan its spending in line with its funding. Within this framework, the Council will be looking at further ways to achieve reduced costs and increase income, whilst mitigating the impact on services.
Your Council Tax Bill 2024/2025
Comparison of 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 Estimated Net Revenue Expenditure.
|
Portfolio |
2023/ 2024 |
2024/ 2025 |
% Increase |
|
|
£000 |
£000 |
|
|
Corporate Services |
18,633 |
26,293 |
41.11 |
|
Social Services |
54,065 |
53,159 |
-1.68 |
|
Active Living and Learning |
69,011 |
69,032 |
0.03 |
|
Economy |
1,356 |
470 |
-65.33 |
|
Environment |
29,260 |
28,183 |
-3.68 |
|
Planning & Licensing |
1,543 |
1,145 |
-25.80 |
|
Other |
150 |
124 |
-17.19 |
|
Total Net Revenue Expenditure |
174,018 |
178,406 |
|
How the Budget is Funded
|
Funding Source |
2024 / 2025 |
|
|
|
£000 |
% |
|
Council Tax |
40,196 |
21.6 |
|
Revenue Support Grant |
119,663 |
64.4 |
|
Reserves |
1,500 |
0.8 |
|
NNDR |
24,381 |
13.1 |
|
Total |
185,740 |
100.0 |
Capital Expenditure
In 2024/2025 the Council estimates that it's total Capital Expenditure will be as follows:
|
|
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
|
|
£000 |
£000 |
|
Other Services |
73,233 |
28,145 |
|
Total |
73,233 |
28,145 |
Estimated Financial Reserves
Revenue Reserves – dedicated general reserves are estimated to stand at £13.0 million at the year end.
Standard Spending Assessments
The Councils Standard Spending Assessment for 2023/2024 has been determined by the National Assembly for Wales as £171,843 for 2023/2024 and £178,361 for 2024/25.
Authority’s Budget Requirement
The Authority’s budget requirement for the year 2023/2024 is £181,850 and £185,740 for 2024/25.
Council Tax For Each Area 2024/2025
|
Band/ Community |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
|
Abertillery & Llanhilleth |
1567.96 |
1829.28 |
2090.61 |
2351.94 |
2874.60 |
3397.24 |
3919.90 |
4703.88 |
5487.86 |
|
Brynmawr |
1530.46 |
1785.54 |
2040.62 |
2295.70 |
2805.86 |
3316.01 |
3826.16 |
4591.40 |
5356.64 |
|
Nantyglo & Blaina |
1538.76 |
1795.23 |
2051.69 |
2308.15 |
2821.07 |
3333.99 |
3846.91 |
4616.30 |
5385.69 |
|
Tredegar |
1536.90 |
1793.06 |
2049.21 |
2305.36 |
2817.66 |
3329.96 |
3842.26 |
4610.72 |
5379.18 |
|
Ebbw Vale / Cwm / Beaufort |
1512.95 |
1765.11 |
2017.27 |
2269.43 |
2773.75 |
3278.06 |
3782.38 |
4538.86 |
5295.34 |
Precepts and Levies
The following bodies have precepted upon Blaenau Gwent CBC:
|
|
2023/24 |
Band D Equivalent |
2024/25 |
Band D Equivalent |
|
Gwent Police |
6,752,190 |
324.52 |
7,317,677 | 349.52 |
|
289,000 |
62.58 |
381,131 | 82.51 | |
|
43,000 |
25.40 |
45,000 | 26.27 | |
|
91,170 |
33.78 |
105,000 | 38.72 | |
|
159,161 |
33.60 |
171,098 | 35.93 |
The following bodies have levied the sums indicated on the Council
|
Organisation |
2023/2024 |
2024/2025 |
% Increase |
|
Brecon Beacons National Park |
32,130 |
32,130 |
0 |
|
Fire Service |
3,953,469 |
4,167,800 |
5.42 |
|
Coroner's Court |
152,010 |
174,980 |
15.11 |
|
Total |
4,137,609 |
4,374,910 |
5.74 |