Our house Council Tax was £1,560 for the year to 31st March 2013.

Ten years later, to 2023, the figure is £2,420, an increase of 55%.

Bank of England inflation over ten years is 32% considerably less than 55%.

Powys Council Tax increase was 5% up last year to 31st March 2023. This year to 31st March 2024 it is up 7.5%. Inflation is 4% (January 2024) and is falling.

Many public companies like Rolls-Royce and Marks and Spencers do lay off staff when times are tough.

Local authorities just pass it on to Council Tax payers. It’s your money they’re spending, while in secure jobs with generous salaries and pensions.

OTHER NEWS:

Attracting talent to local authorities may be expensive but deputies can grow into senior positions and many council jobs are marginal.

Birmingham City Council, now bankrupt, is shedding 600 jobs. Shropshire County Council have asked 300 voluntary redundancies this week.

Look around you – pubs and small businesses are closing. Private Council Tax individuals and businesses cannot generate enough cash to keep local authorities afloat. They naturally blame the Government.

Powys population age profile may not help but the population has increased by just one-fifth of one per cent – just 200 inhabitants more between the 2011 (133,000) and 2021 (133,200) censuses.

Local authority and government profligacy will see the public sector sink the private sector very soon.

It is the duty of every Powys County Councillor to cut employment numbers and costs before we are overwhelmed.
Bruce Lawson, Montgomery