Plaid Cymru Caerphilly Together, We Can Build a Brighter Future

The Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly Council has unveiled a detailed alternative budget to reduce the impact of cuts proposed by Labour rulers.

The proposals drawn up by Penyrheol councillor Greg Ead are aimed at protecting the public from the worst of  the impact of Labour’s spending cuts and reducing the council tax rise.

Councillor Greg Ead’s proposals include: 

• Taking£3.145 million from  earmarked reserves that are unallocated and unspent.
• Cutting the proposed 7.9% increase in council tax to 5.9%, which would cost £1.453m,reducing the burden on all council tax payers in the Caerphilly area.
• Reducing the proposed 5% increase across all departments to fees and charges, to 3% that amounts to £554,827.
• Cancelling and revoking 15 proposed cuts including all reductions to infrastructure facilities, some public protection and the unnecessary increases to charges for parking, waste collection, pitch fees, sporting fees.

Councillor Greg Ead said: “The proposals from the Plaid Cymru group are aimed at making use of reserves that are unused. In developing this alternative budget, Plaid Cymru have demonstrated that by allocating 16 reserves, £3.145m is immediately available to be released. We have identified a further 21 reserves totalling £7.543m, that should be analysed with a view to releasing them to support the 2025-26 budget to protect against cost cutting.

“We want to protect the public at these difficult times and ensure fee increases and charges are kept to a minimum while at the same time reducing the impact of a council tax rise.

“Now the challenge for Labour is to look seriously at these proposals and not just reject them because they are from the main opposition party. We believe this budget provides a viable and financially responsible alternative that prioritises public services and economic sustainability while reducing the burden on residents.”