An early shot of Jane Dodds’ party election broadcast on behalf of us Welsh Liberal Democrat candidates comprises front pages of local newspapers leading on council tax rises. We have regularly campaigned on keeping council tax down, particularly in Neath Port Talbot where certain communities are routinely the most heavily-taxed in Wales. To their credit, the county borough council has this year held the basic rate steady. I would like to think that they would have done this anyway, and not just in an election year. This is what reserves are for, to tide the council over in the face of an emergency and the current rise in the cost of living certainly counts as an emergency. There may well be further economies to be made without affecting social services, in areas which Labour prefers not to touch. Incoming councillors will need to look at the books. I, for one, would like to get back on the Audit Committee if elected.

However, we have to be honest with the voters. The pressure on wages and prices which affects ordinary citizens will inevitably impact council operations too. It may not be possible actually to cut council tax but we should be clear that any rise would be absolutely essential and not to fund vanity projects.

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