TaxPayers’ Alliance launches campaign against “one of largest council tax hikes in history”

Feb 28 2024

Embargoed: 00:01, Wednesday 28th February 2024

Pembrokeshire county council’s proposed 16 per cent council tax increase would be largest in Wales since 2000-01
Rise would mean additional £219 per year on band D bills and £170 on band A bills
TPA campaigners will be in Pembrokeshire to campaign against the proposal

The TaxPayers’ Alliance has launched a campaign against a proposed 16 per cent council tax hike by Pembrokeshire county council, in what new research has found would be one of the largest council tax hikes in history.

The campaign group will be in Pembrokeshire on Thursday 29th February and Friday 1st March delivering leaflets and speaking to residents about the council’s plans, which will be decided on at a meeting on Thursday 7th March.

TPA research has found that if the tax rise is agreed, it will be the largest in England and Wales since 2012-13, when referendum principles were agreed. Under these referendum principles, any council in England wanting to raise rates by over a certain percentage would have to submit the proposal to a referendum, currently 5 per cent for the 2024-25 financial year. This does not apply to Wales, where rises are uncapped.

As a result of the rise, which will also be the largest in Wales since 2000-01 and the third largest since 1997-98, band D taxpayers face an additional £219 on their bills, which will rise from £1,343 to £1,562 per year. Band A taxpayers, who pay the lowest rates, will see a rise of £170 from £1,044 to £1,214 per year. If Wales had an equivalent referendum cap to England, these rises would be limited to a maximum of £67 for band D taxpayers and £45 for band A taxpayers, a difference of £152 and £101 compared to the 16 per cent rise.

The TPA are calling on residents in Pembrokeshire to write to the leader of the council expressing their opposition to the proposals.

READ THE BRIEFING NOTE

Key findings:

Under current proposals for a 16.31 per cent council tax increase in Pembrokeshire, the average band D council tax will rise by over £219.
If the Welsh government implemented a council tax referendum limit equivalent to the level in England of 4.99 per cent, the average band D council tax in Pembrokeshire would rise by £67, a saving of £152. For those in band A, the lowest band, they would save over £100.
If Pembrokeshire County Council confirm the proposed council tax rise of 16.31 per cent, it will be the third largest council tax rise in Wales since 1997-98, in percentage terms. The only larger rises were in 2000-01 and 1998-99, when Monmouthshire and Powys county councils increased their council tax by 23.15 per cent and 17.5 per cent respectively.
Of the ten largest council tax rises in Wales, in percentage terms all but Pembrokeshire’s proposed rise occurred in 2003-04 or earlier, over 20 years ago.
If Pembrokeshire County Council confirms a 16.31 per cent council tax rise, it will be the largest council tax increase in England and Wales since the council tax referendum principles were implemented in 2012-13, in percentage terms.
A council tax increase of over 16 per cent will be more than three times higher than the rate most councils in England are allowed to increase their council tax by before requiring a referendum.

READ THE BRIEFING NOTE

Benjamin Elks, grassroots development manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:

“This record-busting rate rise would deal a devastating blow to household finances in Pembrokeshire.

“Local taxpayers face being punished for the council’s failure to find efficiencies, cut down on waste and balance the books.

“Councillors should show some backbone, stand up for their residents and say no to this ruinous tax hike”

TPA spokespeople are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)

Media contact:

Benjamin Elks
Grassroots Development Manager, TaxPayers' Alliance
[email protected]
24-hour media hotline: 07795 084 113 (no texts)

Notes to editors:

Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) campaigns to reform taxes and public services, cut waste and speak up for British taxpayers. Find out more at www.taxpayersalliance.com.
TaxPayers' Alliance's advisory council.
The TPA will be in Milford Haven from Thursday 29th February until midday on Friday 1st March.
1. Contact details: Benjamin Elks, Grassroots Development Manager. Email: [email protected]. Phone no. 07912 150462
Photos of the TPA team on the ground in Pembrokeshire will be available on request.
The TPA are campaigning against council tax rises nationally.