Proposals for Neath Port Talbot Council’s budget for the 2025-26 financial year have been released this month with reports of almost £15 million worth of savings needing to be found.
The plans which were released in January 2025 show how the authority will look to balance it’s books for the coming year, delivering more than 400 public services, despite what they say is a “difficult financial background.”
The plans will now be presented to members on January 10 before they go out to public consultation, and currently include a 7% council tax increase for residents across the borough, along with a number of saving and income generation measures.
These include plans to reduce the council revenue spent on local bus support, along with the increases in fees and charges associated with cemeteries, and the dimming of street lighting at certain hours.
It could also see a re-design of homeless services to reduce the number requiring temporary accommodation, as well as a reduction in the day to day works budget for road assets such as markings, signs, speed cushions, safety fences, and cattle grids.
The report, however, noted that even though difficult decisions will need to be made over the coming months, the draft budget still has no significant cuts to services or jobs in it.
It comes after some cost-saving measures were previously rejected by cabinet members, with proposals to have waste collections every three weeks and a reduction in street cleansing and drainage repair teams being turned down after feedback from the public.
It also follows what was said to be an “improved” provisional settlement from the Welsh Government in December 2024, where Neath Port Talbot Council received an increase in funding of 4.4%, which is the 10th highest in Wales.
Speaking after the draft budget was released Neath Port Talbot Council leader, Cllr Steve Hunt said: “The improved provisional settlement announced by the Welsh Government on December 20 is a welcome development but there is still a significant mismatch between the cost of services that the people of Neath Port Talbot need and value, and the funding provided.
“We recognise all 22 local authorities across Wales are in the same position as us, so we will continue to work with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) to lobby Welsh Government for the appropriate funding needed to support the services we need to deliver for our residents.
“We value the feedback we received during the engagement exercise we carried out in October, and I would always urge residents to engage with any further consultations we undertake, to help us make informed decisions.”
A council spokesperson added: “Inevitably all councils will need to make difficult decisions on cuts to services and increases in council tax. The council has been working hard to identify savings and income generation proposals to minimise the impact on council taxpayers and services. Some of these proposals have already been approved and will be implemented in the next financial year.”
The draft budget for Neath Port Talbot will now go to council members on January 10, and if agreed will see a public consultation run until January 31, with a final decision including the setting of council tax expected to be made on March 5, 2025. For the latest Neath Port Talbot news sign up to our newsletter here.