Written in November 2026 from council records since 20 September 2026, open consultations and official sources. Written automatically, then checked: every point names its sources and every figure appears in them. Follow the links to check anything before relying on it.
Each council sets a budget every year: how much to spend on each service and how much council tax to charge. Council tax pays for about a third; most of the rest is a grant from the Welsh Government and business rates.
The Cabinet proposes the budget, usually in the winter, and the full Council agrees it and sets council tax by early March. Scrutiny committees examine the plans first.
Most councils run a budget consultation in the autumn or early winter. Your councillors vote on the final budget, so tell them what matters to you.
| Council | Items | With a decision |
|---|---|---|
| Carmarthenshire | 85 | 80 |
| Pembrokeshire | 73 | 67 |
| Flintshire | 70 | 50 |
| Swansea | 70 | 52 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 66 | 40 |
| Powys | 61 | 43 |
| Cardiff | 56 | 48 |
| Gwynedd | 55 | 41 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 53 | 50 |
| Bridgend | 45 | 0 |
| Conwy | 43 | 42 |
| Ceredigion | 40 | 38 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 38 | 30 |
| Denbighshire | 38 | 33 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | 36 | 35 |
| Blaenau Gwent | 34 | 33 |
| Newport | 34 | 31 |
| Caerphilly | 33 | 0 |
| Wrexham | 28 | 27 |
| Monmouthshire | 24 | 9 |
| Torfaen | 19 | 13 |
Decided: Cabinet accepted the report. It agreed that members provide appropriate challenge to the financial outcomes, continue to support the financial control procedures agreed by Council, and note the budget control and monitoring procedures in the Capital Team.
Decided: Cabinet approved letting Unit 1 to a major high street retailer, through an Agreement for Lease (a binding promise to lease) and then a lease. It delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Place the power to agree the final terms. It agreed that the total project cost be funded from any one of the scenarios in Appendix C, updated the capital programme, and noted that every effort is being made to find external funding. It authorised tenders for the building works, to be invited and assessed by a mini-competition under the South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework (a list of pre-approved builders), and delegated power to award the contract if the total project cost is not exceeded.
Decided: Cabinet approved a change to the design brief for Gowerton School (Secondary) under the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. It also approved a revised sum of £2,523,285 for pre-construction costs, committed to the capital programme, which is £4,557,600 less than the £7,080,885 approved in July 2025.
Decided: Cabinet approved receiving and committing the £2,962,397 Welsh Government grant to the capital programme for school repairs and maintenance, subject to confirmation of the final grant award and conditions. It delegated to the Director of Education and the Director of Place the task of identifying and prioritising the schemes, and allowed the Director of Finance and the Director of Education to substitute up to £1,533,800 of the grant for core capital funding if needed, with the equivalent borrowing moved to 2027-28. The schemes may include roofing at YGG Bryn Tawe and Cefn Hengoed Community School, toilet upgrades, and new heating for four primary schools that rely on oil-fired boilers.
Decided: The Committee received the report on the 2025/26 year-end revenue budget.
Decided: The committee confirmed that it had read, understood and taken account of the Audit Wales report on the road maintenance programme. It also noted the agreed actions in the management response, and how road maintenance programmes are compiled and targeted.
Decided: The minute records no vote. It records the Chair's suggestion that the school balances graph in section 6.3 be updated before the report goes to Cabinet, as it shows a £7.1m deficit rather than the £9.337m forecast discussed.
Decided: The committee noted the contents of the update report.
Decided: The committee noted the findings of Audit Wales's follow-up letter and the Council's management response and action plan. It referred the report to Cabinet to oversee and endorse the proposed actions. It also sent the report to the Start Well Task and Finish Group examining school budgets, with any analysis of the impact of specific interventions with schools.
Decided: The committee reaffirmed its support for the continued UK City of Culture 2029 bid. It supported the ten-year Cultural Strategy 2027 to 2037 for the long-term development of culture across the county borough, subject to successful funding applications. It also supported the principle of funding being made available to deliver the strategy, subject to future budget decisions.
Decided: The committee deferred the application for a site visit, with internal and external inspections. The vote was 16 for, none against and none abstaining. Members also asked for a further report to a future meeting, with possible reasons for refusal and officers' recommendations.
Decided: The Council agreed to introduce an extra council tax premium on long-term empty properties from 1 April 2027. The premium is 100% for properties empty one to five years, 200% for five to ten years, and 300% for ten years or more. The Council also agreed that the extra income will support bringing empty homes back into use, increasing housing supply and running the scheme. Detailed spending will be set through normal budget processes, and the Cabinet will receive an annual report.
RESOLVED: • That the latest Welsh Government position on grant funding and the level of Regional Transport Fund grants to be available to South West Wales region (subject to the overall Welsh Government budget setting process), be noted. • That the Draft Regional Transport Plan Year 2 Delivery Programme for 2027-2028 be endorsed to the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee.
Decided: The committee agreed that the Chairperson would write to the Cabinet Member with the committee's observations and recommendations.
Decided: The Committee resolved to scrutinise and comment on the information provided. It also agreed to consider whether it wished to receive further detail on any matters in the report.