Carmarthenshire Council sets budget for next year - council tax up 4.77%

Councillors in Carmarthenshire have set the budget for next year along with its financial plan for the next three years.
Recommendations by the executive board were carried by a large majority at the County Hall meeting.
They included changes to the original proposals made following extensive consultation and feedback where over 1,000 members of the public gave their views.
The council has to save £12million in the next financial year, and around £31million over the next three years.
Some 52 proposals were originally put forward for consideration, then following consultation and feedback from the public a number of these were taken out by the executive board.
Those changed include children’s respite; flood defence; street cleaning; work place parking; school crossing patrols, free transport to denominational schools; free post-16 transport; and youth services and libraries.
Councillors also voted to give all staff a one per cent pay rise to be consolidated but not in addition to any national pay award for 2014/15 where applicable. The lowest paid staff are to be given an increase to £7 an hour. Investment in schools, council homes and regeneration will also continue.
Leader Cllr Kevin Madge said: “We have made significant changes as a result of the consultation, and I would like to thank all those who took part.
“However, this does impact on our council tax which will increase by 4.77%, I appreciate it is not as low as people would want, but I think we have achieved a balance between protecting services, investment in our future and the impact on council taxpayers."