Record investment planned for council services in coming year

This is despite a much better budget for Wales being provided by the new UK Government and a better settlement for the council from the Welsh Government.

Like other councils across the UK, Swansea is facing budget pressures due to higher costs and unprecedented demand for critical services like social care and housing.

The council's strong track record on financial management and its prudent use of resources means it has sufficient funds to significantly invest in front-line services next year.

The council is also looking at announcing a sustained huge increase in roads funding to boost the number of roads resurfacing schemes.

The exact figure will be known shortly but is expected to again locally double last year's core-funded Welsh Government investment support.

This will be on top of any extra highways investment from Welsh Government which councils expect to be announced in the coming weeks.  

It is also proposing one of the lowest council tax increases in wales of 5.95% or £1.46 a week for Band B homes, all which will be used to fund services. The 5.95% will include just under 1% to fund the Mid and West Wales fire service, meaning actual council tax rise is closer to 5%.

If approved, the council's base budget proposals means schools and education will get a record increase of £23.3m taking funding to a record £229m and care services for vulnerable adults and children will get a record £25.4m increase taking funding to a record £196m.

The figure for education and schools includes a headline £11.8m cash increase as well as previous £11.5m of one-off short-term support for schools now fully funded in the base on top .

There is also an extra £1m in the pipeline for the hugely-successful play areas programme that has already seen £7m invested in new facilities for every community. The pledge features alongside a £2.6m commitment to a new generation of skateboard and BMX zones across the city.

Rob Stewart, Council Leader, said: "Despite facing some of the most severe rises in demand for critical services we have ever seen, and continued pressures from inflation, high energy prices, and the impacts of the cost of living crisis we are able to provide record investment this year.

"That is thanks to a significantly improved settlement for Wales from the new UK government, which has helped the Welsh Government provide a better than expected settlement for local councils in Wales.

"In Swansea we have a strong track record of using tax payers money wisely and driving down our costs of services which means we can now put record levels of funding into vital services.

"Schools are getting a record 12% or £23m base increase and social services are getting a record 14.9% or £25m increase - significantly more than the current rate of inflation and a real terms cash boost.

"That money will help ensure schools are able support our children to learn and our care workers look after vulnerable adults and children. In Swansea, we will continue to prioritise the services our residents tell us matter to them most.

"We're also protecting front-line services at a time when many other councils in England and Wales are having to consider going to monthly bin collections, closing leisure centres and libraries and cutting back on school crossing patrols and bus service subsidies."

Cllr Stewart said: "We know families across the UK are struggling with the long effects of the cost of living crisis that hit a few years ago, and we will continue to do all we can locally to support them through difficult times.

"We are committed to helping families and residents with money-saving initiatives like free bus services, food support grants and our Swansea Spaces under our here for you campaign hush helped thousands of people last year."

"To help fund continuing investment in services the council is proposing a 5% council tax increase for 2025/26, plus just under 1% that goes directly to Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service."

Swansea's proposed council tax rise is set to be among the lowest in Wales and compares to 9.75% in neighbouring Carmarthenshire and 7% being discussed for Neath Port Talbot.

Cllr Stewart said that the proposed council tax increase for Swansea alone (excluding the Fire Authority) means a rise of about £1.30 a week for a band B property

"To keep council tax rise as one of the lowest in Wales, we are continuing to play our part to keep costs down for taxpayers through £18.4m of new savings and efficiencies this year. Even accounting for these savings and through prudent management of resources, we will be investing a further £50m into key services."

The council has been consulting on its budget proposals and the Cabinet will meet on February 20 to discuss its proposals.