Council Considers Sharing Chief Executive to Curb Rising Tax Costs

Ceredigion faces a possible tax increase. It could reach almost ten percent this April. Officials are looking for ways to cut costs to avoid the large tax hike.

Councillors are debating a 9.9 percent tax increase. Gwyn Wigley Evans proposed some solutions, including sharing the chief executive. Cutting directors could also save the council money, according to Evans.

The chief executive earns £137,000 per year. One corporate director makes £120,500. Evans questioned these high salaries at a recent meeting, suggesting leaders hadn’t explored all options. He cited Blaenau Gwent’s cost-saving actions as an example since they readily share their chief executive.

Evans also asked about the need for two directors, questioning if a cabinet is even necessary. He posited that perhaps a mayor would be a better alternative and believes these ideas need further consideration. Evans mentioned sharing jobs with other counties and suggested AI could also cut staff. He noted that early retirement isn’t currently a widely available option, as they are only asking school leaders to consider it.

Rhodri Evans, who leads the independent councillors, also voiced concerns over the tax increase and thinks staff cuts should be considered. Staffing makes up a large part of the budget, about £120 million, he noted. Residents shouldn’t face such a high tax, he argued.

The independent group voted against the budget last year because they felt the cost-cutting ideas were unrealistic. They feel strongly that the tax is too high and should not exceed 6.1 percent, which aligns with Ceredigion’s inflation rate.

They want to invest in some services, though, and support planning enforcement. They also feel that investment in waste collection is essential. The group believes staff costs should be reduced, targeting employees earning over £45,000, with each department finding those specific cuts.

Collaborating with other local authorities could generate additional savings. However, the independent group is adamant that certain things should remain untouched: school staffing and frontline employees should not be cut. Agency staff costs are a major concern, and officers need to address this issue quickly, requiring more resources to achieve a good result.

All public bodies face financial strain right now. Consequently, most are proposing staff cuts to balance their budgets.