Posted on: Wednesday 29 January 2025
Torfaen Council has launched its public consultation on its budget proposals for 2025-2026.
The consultation will run until midnight on Friday 14 February, 2025. All the information around the budget proposals and a short survey to complete is available on Get Involved Torfaen.
This year, the council received a 4.8% increase in the draft settlement from Welsh Government, plus additional funding to cover nationally agreed pay awards for staff.
The Leader of Torfaen Council, Cllr Anthony Hunt said: “Despite ongoing financial pressures created by demand for services and inflation, the council is well placed to put forward a balanced budget and deliver our county plan priorities for communities next year.
"Our proposals recommend additional investment in schools and education, avoid cuts to vital local services, helps deliver the priorities in the council’s County Plan and supports one of the lowest council tax increases in Wales with support for 10,000 homes through the council tax reduction scheme. Now the council wants to hear your views.”
Until the final Welsh Government settlement is confirmed, the following proposals are being put forward:
- A 6.9% or £5.35 million increase for Torfaen’s schools,
- A further investment of £750,000 for vital Additional Learning Needs support.
- An extra £800,000 for Crownbridge Special School expansion
- £800,000 to meet demand pressures on School Transport and for Additional Learning Needs.
- A 5% increase for Social Care providers to recognise the impact of the Real Living Wage.
- An extra £1m for Adult Social Care services.
- An extra £1m to transform Children’s Services to meet care costs
- An extra £385,000 to meet cost pressures in waste and recycling services
- A £227,000 investment in a waste education and enforcement team to help the raise the rate recycling campaign
- £250,000 to continue the school leaver employment and apprentice scheme.
- £534,000 to support nearly 10,000 Torfaen homes through the Council Tax Reduction scheme.
A further £29 million is proposed for capital investment next year which will form part of the council’s Capital Funding Strategy, including consideration for schools, public spaces and road and pavement surfaces plus funding for disabled facility grants which help people stay in their homes. This will include consideration of how the council uses new Welsh Government finance to help improve local roads.
Visit Get Involved Torfaen no later than midnight on Friday 14 February, 2025.