Conservative Councillor for Rhiwbina Jayne Cowan says last night’s meeting to approve the council’s budget “became a bit of a farce.”
The meeting ended dramatically with both the Lib Dem and Plaid Cymru councillors walking out when it was decided their amendments to the budget would not be voted on.
Ms Cowan says “I’m disappointed in last night’s meeting. I think this year more than ever because of other price increases, like the price of food, people will notice the increase.”
Cardiff City Council voted to increase council tax by 3.7 per cent with 39 votes in favour, 11 votes against and 17 abstentions.
This will add more than £4 million to the council’s funds.
Councillor Cowan says “There’s been a comparison looking at Kensington and Chelsea and they actually pay less council tax than a band E in Cardiff. If the council can live within their means in London we should certainly be able to do the same here.”
Lib Dem Councillor for Gabalfa Ed Bridges says “the Lib Dem Group are very disappointed. We feel that the Labour council have broken their promise on council tax and they refused to allow other proposals to be voted on.
In the 2012 election Labour promised they would keep council tax rises below 2 percent and yesterday they voted for a 3.7 per cent.”
Councillor Bridges says “the main disappointment for me is not over the procedure, but that the people of Cardiff were not served well last night by the debate that unfolded”
Labour Councillor for Cathays Sarah Merry says “I’m really disappointed that Councillors form the Lib Dems decided to curtail debate on an issue as important as the budget.”
“The amendments they put forward read more like election leaflets rather than good governance. They know there is far far deeper cuts in our funding coming next year and if we went along with their amendments that would mean even bigger cuts for services next year.”
Cardiff City Council have been unavailable for comment.
