COUNCIL tax look sets to change in the years to come as the Welsh Government announce plans to hold a consultation next year on an “ambitious package of council tax reforms.”

Welsh Government Finance and Local Government Minister Rebecca Evans announced the plans - the first step in progressing the Programme for Government and Plaid Cymru Co-operation Agreement commitments to make Council Tax fairer - earlier this month.

Options being considered this term include revaluation, a review of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, and an evaluation of discounts, disregards, exemptions and premiums – with options for more fundamental reform in the longer term.

The Welsh Government said: “Reforms to council tax would be designed to ensure contributions from households are made as fairly as possible, while maintaining its role as a significant revenue stream which helps to fund essential public services including education, social care, and recycling.”

Rebecca Evans said: “We want to modernise the council tax system and make it fairer.

“We want to make council tax more progressive in its design and delivery.

“This will be a significant piece of work and it will be important, through the consultation we launch next year, that we listen to people’s views and look at what can be practically achieved during this Senedd term - as well as leaving open the potential for further and more fundamental reforms in the longer term.

“I have been speaking with colleagues in local government, who are of course key partners in delivering what we set out to achieve.

“It’s important we co-design changes with them as well as work with partners in the Senedd and across Wales to find consensus on reform.

“Changes won’t be brought in immediately and it will be important to focus work on the early building blocks needed for change, including revaluation.”