A public consultation has begun on Neath Port Talbot’s draft budget for 2025/26. The consultation is open until Friday 31 January 2025.
Residents, businesses, local groups and other organisations are being encouraged to have their say on how the council proposes to continue delivering over 400 vital public services whilst closing an estimated budget gap of £15 million.
The Welsh Government’s Provisional Local Government Settlement, published on 11 December 2024, indicated that NPT will receive an increase in funding of 4.4% next year – the tenth highest in Wales. Whilst the increase is welcome, it will be nowhere near enough to cover the cost of services.
Despite the difficult financial background, the council hopes to deliver a budget with no significant cuts to services.
The easiest way to find out more and take part in the consultation is to visit the council’s website www.npt.gov.uk/consultations
Printed questionnaires, consultation leaflets and reference copies of the consultation report listing the proposals for cutting spend and/or increasing income will be available at public buildings around Neath Port Talbot, including civic centres, Celtic Leisure venues and libraries. These venues will also have feedback boxes for submitting completed questionnaires.
Urging people to take part in the consultation, Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Social Justice, Cllr Simon Knoyle, said: “During the term of this administration we have had to find over £23m of savings and for the financial year 2025/26 it is no different. We have had to make difficult decisions regarding the services that Neath Port Talbot Council provides whilst maintaining levels that residents across the County expect.
“A raft of savings and income generation proposals have been identified once again and we have had to do this in order to try and find a solution to balance the budget. It is a massive task to find ways of ensuring we keep the statutory services running plus covering non-statutory services also.
“A considerable local contribution to essential Fire and Rescue services (a cost over which the council has no control) is also included within council tax.”
