Anglesey residents are being urged to have their say on current budget proposals as the county council looks to overcome a £14m funding gap.

The Executive today (Wednesday 24 January) launches its Budget 2024 to 2025 consultation as the local authority faces service cuts and a possible Council Tax increase.

Funding from the Welsh Government simply isn’t enough to meet costs faced by the council. Initial proposals to balance the 2024 to 2025 revenue budget will include:

• nearly £5m in service cuts - which will include a £1m reduction in staffing budgets, an increase in fees and not fully funding cost pressures faced by schools
• using more than £4m from the council’s general balances and earmarked reserves to help
• increasing the Council Tax premium for second homes from 75% to 100%
• raising Council Tax by 9.78% (plus 1.12% to cover the fire levy) which will see the average Band D bill rise by £156.51 to £1,593

Anglesey Council Leader, Councillor Llinos Medi, said, “Like all local authorities in Wales, we’re facing significant financial challenges. With a £14m funding gap, our budget proposals will make hard reading – but we still need the public to have their say as we move forward. The Full Council will consider its final budget on 7 March, so it’s important that as many residents as possible respond.”

The consultation survey will be available online at www.anglesey.gov.wales/budget-2024-2025 and paper copies will also be available at Cyswllt Môn (Council offices in Llangefni); leisure centres and libraries.

The budget consultation will ask residents to:

• identify those services which are most important to them
• whether they agree or disagreed with major savings proposals under consideration in various service areas
• whether they’d be willing to pay higher fees and charges if it meant protecting services – for example leisure centres
• and their views on a potential 9.78% increase in Council Tax (plus 1.12% to cover the Fire Levy)

They can also email comments to budgetconsultation@anglesey.gov.wales or write to: Budget Consultation 2024/25, Chief Executive’s Office, Isle of Anglesey County Council, Council Offices, Llangefni, LL77 7TW.

Anglesey’s Finance portfolio holder, Councillor Robin Williams, said, “Public services across Wales are in dire straits and we have not reached these proposals lightly. As in previous years, we will focus on striking a balance between service cuts, raising Council Tax and using council reserves to balance our proposed Revenue Budget.”

“I would urge the residents of Anglesey to have their say so that we can prepare a prudent and balanced budget.”

Councillor Williams added, “With the financial position of Welsh local authorities likely to get worse over the coming years, it is no exaggeration to say that future council services on Anglesey are under real threat.”

The budget consultation ends on Friday, 9 February 2024.

The proposed Revenue Budget for 2024 to 2025 stands at £184.2m. The final budget will be approved by the Full Council on 7 March 2024.

Ends 24 January 2024