Council Tax and Budget FAQ

No. The average council tax in Neath Port Talbot is actually one of the lowest in Wales. Out of the 22 councils in Wales there are only six with  lower rates than Neath Port Talbot.

The confusion stems from the fact that by law council tax has to be set at band D level. All other bands are then worked out as a proportion of band D. So for example a band A property will pay 6/9ths of the band D value. Whilst Neath Port Talbot may have the third highest band D council tax rate in Wales, in reality the average council tax is less because 80% of properties in Neath Port Talbot are within Bands A-C.

Also, out of a total of 66,000 households in Neath Port Talbot, 16,500 receive council tax support – 11,o00 pay no council tax and the remainder only pay a partial amount. Council tax support is means tested which means those who need it most receive it.  

In England, the band a property falls into is based on 1991 values and the top band H in England begins at a value of £320,000. So someone who lives in a Band A studio flat in Marylebone in central London valued at £40,000 in 1991 but now worth about £950,000 will pay just over £520 a year.

In Wales, revised property values were introduced in 2003. It has been an ongoing issue for a number of years and elected Members have continued to lobby the Welsh Government to address it. We are pleased to see that council tax reform is included in the ‘Co-operation Agreement’; to reform one of the most regressive forms of taxation, which disproportionately affects poorer areas of Wales.

Council tax is charged to the household. It is based on the value of the property and not on what the household earns. So, the amount of council tax you pay depends on which property band your home is in. Check your council tax band.

The council tax you pay is not calculated on the basis of which services you actually receive or use, but it contributes to the budget the council needs to provide hundreds of different services to the residents of the county borough. Your council tax contributes around 25% to the total council budget. Find out more how the council budget is made up.

Some of these services are highly visible, such as waste collection, road maintenance, libraries and schools. Other services often go unseen, such as providing foster care for children, caring for older and vulnerable people, carrying out food hygiene inspections, a contribution to the Mid & West Wales Fire Service, and providing education for children with special needs.

You can see where your council tax goes.

Decisions around the council’s budget are agreed annually by the council’s Cabinet. Find out more regarding the Cabinet.

Every year there is a consultation on the council’s budget proposals before the final budget is set. People living and working in Neath Port Talbot are asked to indicate whether they agree or disagree with a set of draft budget proposals and invited to give their views on anything else the council should consider.

Feedback from this annual budget consultation is then considered by officers and elected members, and changes to the proposals might be made to the final budget in light of this feedback.

The council collects money on behalf of your local community council (if you have one) as part of the annual council tax bill. More information on the community council charge.

Council Tax funds just under 25% of the total cost of running the council some of which relates to administration but the vast majority is spent on front line services.

More information on where Council Tax goes.

Council tax is charged to the household, based on the value of the property and not on what the household earns. So, the amount of council tax you pay depends on which property band your home is in.

Check your council tax band.

Council tax doesn’t rise in line with inflation although inflation does have an impact on the council’s costs every year.

There are a number of ways you can take a more active part in council business. Here are some of them:

1. Register to vote and use your vote in elections. Voting is an important way for local people to make their voice heard and  influence the priorities and decisions that affect their communities.  Become a councillor – Find key information if you are interested in standing for election.
2. Take part in consultations – the council values the views of everyone in the county borough and your feedback matters. We undertake regular engagement campaigns and consultations to get  feedback on proposals, plans and policies. Look out for consultations on our webpage
3. Attend council meetings as part of our virtual public gallery – you can view past meetings or observe future meetings live via Microsoft Teams by pre-registering to be part of the virtual public gallery.

In addition to collecting the council tax required to run council services, the bill you receive also contains an element to pay for the Police and for your local community council (if you have one). The Council simply works as a  collecting agent for the police and has no control over how much is  charged.

If you are on a low income or getting benefits including Universal Credit, you may be entitled to Council Tax Support.

Council Tax Support is applied to your council tax account and will reduce your bill. Find more information on help to reduce your bill.

There are links to other sources of help and information on:

• Debt advice
• Advice and support if you're struggling to make ends meet

Before the start of each financial year, the council sets a budget for its day-to-day expenditure - the revenue budget.

Around 75% comes from the Welsh Government with the remaining balance funded by residents through council tax.

The council is required by law to set a balanced budget, which means the expenditure cannot be more than the council’s income.

Read more about the council’s revenue budget and how it is spent.

The council places great emphasis on the importance of capital investment as a means to regenerate our communities. This does not only lead to improved facilities and services but creates jobs and  economic benefits for local people.

The money for capital investment comes from Welsh Government’s capital funding programme, from capital receipts and prudential borrowing.

The council also bids for other external sources of funding. This type of funding can usually only be used for specific purposes. It is funding for example to help us realise our regeneration aspirations across the county borough and money for improvement projects in our communities that would otherwise never happen.

An example of this type of funding is the Welsh Government's 21st Century Schools Band B programme where the Welsh Government funds 65% of the cost of any investment with the remaining 35% being funded by the council.

Read more about the Council’s Capital Programme.

The council generates around £50m of income from a variety of sources, which is around 15% of its overall budget.

Departmental budgets are reviewed as part of the annual budget setting process.