THE rise in council tax in Ceredigion could be more than first thought with a possible seven per cent increase potentially on the table.

Council leader Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn indicated at cabinet on Tuesday (January 22) that councillors may like to consider upping the proposed rise to seven per cent, raising an extra half million pounds.

Councillors were discussing the draft budget for 2019-20 which includes a proposed rise of five per cent in council tax. This would raise around an extra £2million.

Corporate lead officer for finance and procurement Stephen Johnson told the meeting that the difference to a band D property would be £1,287.80 with a five per cent rise or £1,312.33 at seven per cent.

Cllr ap Gwynn criticised Welsh and Central Government’s handling of “consequential” and distribution of funds for local authorities, particularly in reference to pay increases for teachers and the associated pension costs.

“We are still in a very difficult situation, that’s the political message, there’s discontent among leaders of the authorities in Wales because we all feel that local government has been let down by London and the Welsh Government,” she added.

Ceredigion’s revenue allocation from Welsh Government for 2019/20 is £102,091,000 which is an increase of 0.3 per cent.

A report to cabinet adds that this is a decrease in real terms “after including expenditure increases.”

Council tax in Ceredigion is slightly above the Welsh average the report states, at £1,226 for a Band D property but when combined with police and community charges is slightly less, councillors were told.

Cllr ap Gwynn told cabinet she would not ask them to accept five per cent at its meeting but wait for reports from scrutiny.

“We need to recognise that there’s a gap here between what we received and also the demands.

“We really have to go to the root of our services and see what are the best ways and most efficient ways of working,” she said.

Its capital allocation has risen by £953,000 to £5.591million but there was a reduction in funds for coastal protection.

Around £6million of cuts need to be made within the budget and a £650,000 shortfall for schools needs to be addressed to avoid deficits despite £2million extra already allocated, councillors were told.

Welsh Government will cover 55 per cent of the teacher pay rise but there is no announcement yet on whether pension rises will be funded.

“Even if you go to seven per cent it’s not going to be enough,” said Cllr Paul Hinge, who added making the council fund the remaining 45 per cent was “a very naughty way of doing it. It’s disgusting.”