Council Tax precept to rise by 2.5%

Carmarthenshire County Council has agreed its revenue budget following feedback from a public consultation.

Full Council agreed the budget put forward by the Executive Board, and although the opposition put forward an alternative budget, the Executive Board’s recommendations were adopted.

It means Council Tax in Carmarthenshire will increase by 2.5 per cent – a level supported by the majority of people who responded to the public consultation.

For an average Band D property, this equates to a rise of £2.33 per month, or 54p per week.

Cllr David Jenkins, the council’s Executive Board Member for Resources, said the revenue budget reflects the views of people who responded to the consultation and keeps the Council Tax increase to the lowest possible level.

He explained how several savings proposals were cut from the original proposed budget following public feedback, with an extra £1.92million added to balance the books and protect vital services.

A proposal to cut the delegated schools budget was one of those changes. Now schools in Carmarthenshire will have the same amount of money to spend as this year – achieved by injecting £1.76million into the budget to bring the schools budget back to a cash neutral position.

To support the youth service, savings proposed for Carmarthen’s Quay Centre – where the service was previously provided – have been halved in response to concerns raised, therefore allowing a further £10,000 to be spent on services for young people in Carmarthen.

Proposals to transfer or close St Clears Leisure Centre have been withdrawn, owing to the weight of concern by the local community and county councillors.

Proposed cuts of £170,000 to voluntary sector grants have also been amended. Instead of the original proposals, a cut of £35,000 will be made in 2017/18, with future savings being phased in at £35,000 per annum thereafter.

The council had carried out extensive consultation with members of the public as part of the budget process, including an online survey, meetings with councillors and trade unions, and feedback from young people in schools through an Insight programme.

Cynnydd o 2.5% o ran praesept y Dreth Gyngor

Mae Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin wedi cytuno ar ei gyllideb refeniw yn dilyn adborth o ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus.

Mae’r Cyngor Llawn wedi cytuno’r gyllideb a gynigiwyd gan y Bwrdd Gweithredol ac er bod yr wrthblaid wedi cynnig cyllideb arall, cafodd argymhellion y Bwrdd Gweithredol eu mabwysiadu.

Mae hyn yn golygu y bydd y Dreth Gyngor yn Sir Gaerfyrddin yn cynyddu 2.5% – lefel a gefnogwyd gan y rhan fwyaf o bobl a ymatebodd i’r ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus.

Ar gyfer eiddo Band D cyfartalog, mae hyn yn golygu cynnydd o £2.33 y mis neu 54c yr wythnos.

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd David Jenkins, yr Aelod o’r Bwrdd Gweithredol dros Adnoddau, fod y gyllideb refeniw yn adlewyrchu barn pobl a ymatebodd i’r ymgynghoriad ac yn sicrhau bod y Dreth Gyngor yn cynyddu cyn lleied â phosibl.

Esboniodd fod nifer o gynigion am arbedion wedi’u dileu o’r gyllideb arfaethedig wreiddiol yn dilyn adborth gan y cyhoedd a bod swm ychwanegol o £1.92 miliwn wedi’i ychwanegu er mwyn mantoli’r cyfrifon a diogelu gwasanaethau hanfodol.

Roedd cynnig am dorri cyllideb ddirprwyedig ysgolion yn un o’r newidiadau hynny. Bellach bydd gan ysgolion yn Sir Gaerfyrddin yr un swm o arian i’w wario ag eleni – byddai hyn yn cael ei gyflawni drwy fuddsoddi £1.76miliwn yn y gyllideb er mwyn sicrhau bod cyllidebau’r ysgolion yn ôl mewn sefyllfa niwtral yn ariannol.

Er mwyn cefnogi’r gwasanaeth ieuenctid, roedd yr arbedion a gynigiwyd ar gyfer Canolfan y Cei yng Nghaerfyrddin – lle darparwyd y gwasanaeth yn y gorffennol – wedi cael eu haneri mewn ymateb i’r pryderon a fynegwyd, felly’n caniatáu £10,000 yn rhagor i gael ei wario ar wasanaethau ar gyfer pobl ifanc yn Sir Gaerfyrddin.

Mae’r cynigion i drosglwyddo neu gau Canolfan Hamdden Sanclêr wedi cael eu tynnu’n ôl, yn dilyn pryderon gan y gymuned leol a chynghorwyr sir.

Yn ogystal mae toriadau arfaethedig o £170,000 yng ngrantiau’r sector gwirfoddol wedi cael eu newid. Yn hytrach na’r cynigion gwreiddiol, bydd toriad o £35,000 yn cael ei wneud yn 2017/18 a bydd arbedion yn y dyfodol yn cael eu cyflwyno fesul cam sef £35,000 y flwyddyn ar ôl hynny.

Roedd y cyngor wedi cynnal ymgynghoriad helaeth gydag aelodau’r cyhoedd fel rhan o broses y gyllideb, gan gynnwys arolwg ar-lein, cyfarfodydd â chynghorwyr ac undebau llafur, ac adborth gan bobl ifanc mewn ysgolion drwy’r Rhaglen Golwg Sir Gâr.