THE most important day of the year is looming for Powys County Council (PCC) and it’s nine days before Christmas.

On Monday, December 16, PCC will find out whether the Welsh Government is playing Father Christmas or The Grinch as they find out what sort of financial settlement they will receive for the next financial year.

Head of finance, Jane Thomas, told cabinet members of the date as they agreed the council tax base setting at their meeting on Wednesday, November 27.

Setting the Council Tax base is a legal requirement.

Finance portfolio holder Cllr Aled Davies, (Conservative – Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant & Llansilin) said: “This is one of the fundamental building blocks of the council tax.

“This is report is to formally set the council tax base for the next financial year 20/21.

“It’s an annual statutory requirement.

“We have the council tax base for each community across Powys, starting at Abbeycwmhir all the way to Ystradgynlais which gives us a base of 62,396.70

“It’s gone up slightly, and is worth about £300,000 in additional tax.”

Adult services portfolio holder, Cllr Myfanwy Alexander (Independent – Banwy), said: “What we are saying is there are more houses in Powys eligible to pay council tax?

“Do we know yet if this will be reflected in our population figures or are we talking about more households for the same number of people?”

Head of finance, Ms Thomas, answered: “The figures have not been published yet. They will obviously be a key factor in the revenue support grant as will the calculation of our council tax base.

“It is a consideration to how (the) Welsh Government distributes the revenue support grant.

“The tax base will increase as we build more homes or more homes are available, it won’t necessarily impact on population as there are other factors as well.

“The revised figures for tax base and population will be published when we get the revenue support grant.

“We are expecting to get it on December 16.”

The report explains that council tax is the adjusted number of chargeable dwellings in the council’s area belonging to each valuation band.

This is modified to take into account of a number of factors including the proportion applying to dwellings in each council tax band together with the number of discounts, exemptions, disablement reductions and premiums.

An estimate for losses is also made.

PCC uses figures prepared by the Valuation Office Agency as at October 31 for the council tax base calculation,

PCC’s budget is made up of two elements, 70 per cent comes from the Welsh Government’s revenue support grant and 30 per-cent from council tax.

This year’s total budget is £255.1 million with £174.291 million coming from the Welsh Government.

This was received on December 19 and was a 0.3 per cent cut in grant from the Welsh Government.

PCC, along with nine other local authorities in Wales, saw a reduced level of funding.

PCC ranked joint 18th of the 22.

COMMUNITY Tax Base 2020-21

  • Abbeycwmhir 127.49
  • Aberedw 140.84
  • Aberhafesp 223.97
  • Abermule with Llandyssil 736.31
  • Banwy 321.85
  • Bausley with Criggion 366.9
  • Beguildy 379.26
  • Berriew 753.24
  • Betws Cedewain 229.46
  • Brecon 3510.52
  • Bronllys 435.38
  • Builth Wells 1073.6
  • Cadfarch 451.23
  • Caersws 712.07
  • Carno 357.14
  • Carreghofa 316.57
  • Castle Caereinion 305.31
  • Churchstoke 864.58
  • Cilmery 237.53
  • Clyro 420.93
  • Cray 132.27
  • Crickhowell 1135.6
  • Cwmdu and District 555.79
  • Disserth & Trecoed 554.4
  • Duhonw 151.61
  • Dwyrhiw 280.49
  • Erwood 254.26
  • Felinfach 379.16
  • Forden 803.59
  • Gladestry 228.46
  • Glantwymyn 651.48
  • Glasbury 571.24
  • Glascwm 268.53
  • Glyn Tarrell 301.12
  • Guilsfield 854.02
  • Gwernyfed 483.92
  • Hay-on-Wye 905.85
  • Honddu Isaf 222.68
  • Kerry 992.37
  • Knighton 1321.1
  • Llanafanfawr 235.63
  • Llanbadarn Fawr 352.05
  • Llanbadarn Fynydd 142.73
  • Llanbister 190.78
  • Llanbrynmair 499.47
  • Llanddew 120.62
  • Llanddewi Ystradenny 144.92
  • Llandinam 443.75
  • Llandrindod Wells 2388.72
  • Llandrinio & Arddleen 723.75
  • Llandysilio 549.91
  • Llanelwedd 188.69
  • Llanerfyl 216.39
  • LLanfair Caereinion 795.41
  • Llanfechain 272.8
  • Llanfihangel 273.01
  • Llanfihangel Rhydithon 118.12
  • Llanfrynach 327.94
  • Llanfyllin 711.58
  • Llangammarch 264.23
  • Llangattock 564.56
  • Llangedwyn 196.06
  • Llangorse 564.76
  • Llangunllo 201.14
  • Llangurig 379.76
  • Llangynidr 585.49
  • Llangyniew 308.99
  • Llangynog 198.95
  • Llanidloes 1195.81
  • Llanidloes Without 310.78
  • Llanigon 282.28
  • Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant 593.57
  • Llansantffraid 719.35
  • Llansilin 366.6
  • Llanwddyn 125.8
  • Llanwrthwl 110.44
  • Llanwrtyd Wells 396.32
  • Llanyre 583.11
  • Llywel 257.55
  • Machynlleth 871.06
  • Maescar 471.42
  • Manafon 181.81
  • Meifod 708.39
  • Merthyr Cynog 140.54
  • Mochdre with Penstrowed 254.07
  • Montgomery 723.44
  • Nantmel 350.06
  • New Radnor 234.93
  • Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn 4342.55
  • Old Radnor 406.28
  • Painscastle 284.58
  • Pen Y Bont Fawr 252.08
  • Penybont & Llandegley 206.62
  • Presteigne & Norton 1288.2
  • Rhayader 910.54
  • St Harmon 317.46
  • Talgarth 741.49
  • Talybont-on-Usk 400.7
  • Tawe Uchaf 571.24
  • Trallong 196.26
  • Trefeglwys 470.97
  • Treflys 239.32
  • Tregynon 390.13
  • Trewern 654.37
  • Vale of Grwyney 499.22
  • Welshpool 2687.35
  • Whitton 211.1
  • Yscir 258.06
  • Ystradfelte 254.96
  • Ystradgynlais 2963.56
  • Total 62,396:70