Ratepayers on Anglesey have been handed a St David’s Day boost thanks to proposals that would see a lower than expected council tax hike.

Meeting on Monday, Anglesey Council’s Executive voted to recommend a 2.75 per cent tax rise when the full council votes on the 2021/22 budget.

The council’s budget proposals had initially proposed a 3.75 per cent council tax hike, resulting in the average ‘Band D’ household paying an extra £48.96 over the year.

But thanks to extra Welsh Government cash, including £300,000 to buy new Chromebooks for school pupils – devices the authority originally expected to have to fund itself  – as well as extra cash to cover some of the cost of buying new refuse collection vehicles, council chiefs are now confident that a whole 1 per cent can now be slashed from islanders’ contributions to the annual budget.

As a result, if approved by full council,  the final budget proposal stands at £147.420m, with the 2.75 per cent increase in council tax resulting in annual ‘Band D’ bills increasing by £35.91 to £1,340.64.

As always, however, the bulk of the authority’s income continues to be derived from the annual settlement from Cardiff Bay – over £104m – with the budget  described as “allowing the maintenance of existing services” without swingeing cuts, but also warning of “new pressures” including staffing costs and pay inflation.

Addressing Monday’s meeting, the finance portfolio holder said the island would likely see the lowest council tax rise in the north, “if not the whole of Wales.”

Cllr Robin Jones went on to point out that Anglesey already had the second lowest council tax rates in the region, behind Wrexham, but almost 10 per cent – or £125 – cheaper than neighbouring Gwynedd.

The head of finance, Marc Jones, warned however that any government mandated staff pay rise would take its toll on council finances, with island teachers costing £30m a year in staff salaries, with another £50m being spent on staff across other council departments.

Even a 1 per cent rise, he said, would result in £300,000 and £500,000, respectively, having to be found.

“We are putting some money aside to mitigate some element of risk, but if it’s higher we may have to look at our reserves,” he added.

Other costs facing the authority are a new waste management contract, which is the equivalent of a 3 per cent council tax rise on its own.

With the new eight year waste collection contract with Biffa costing an extra £900,000 a year, this is only partially made up by the extra £265,000 a year expected to derive from the optional £35 a year garden waste collection service – set to be introduced from April and already charged for by every other northern council.

It is also proposed to spend £250,000 to employ between eight and ten trainees, providing opportunities for local young people to start a career in local government and go some way to addressing future skills shortages.

An increase in coastal parking charges is also expected to recoup another £100,000, after officers concluded that Anglesey’s fees are “low” compared to other authorities, but without impacting town centre council-run car parks.

Despite some opposition by tourism groups, who claim they could impact on visitors to the island, the new proposed charges at such coastal car parks are:

Up to 1 Hour – £1 (unchanged)

Up to 2 Hours – £2 up to £3

Up to 4 Hours – £3.50 up to £6.00

Up to 12 Hours – £4.50 up to £10.00

Up to 12 Hours (car & trailer) – £6 up to £20.00

The full council will decide on the budget when it meets on Tuesday, March 9.