MACHYNLLETH residents are facing a huge 18.7 per cent increase in the town council portion of their council tax – with the town’s mayor saying the council had no choice but to impose the inflation-busting increase.

Town councillors agreed to the rise after learning of several increased costs that the council needed to budget for following advice, but mayor Tony Jones said the decision had not been an easy one despite the demands.

Last year, the town council had brought in £122,900 as its share of council tax, but that will rise to £145,900 in 2018/19 – an increase of 18.7 per cent.

While Cllr Jones confirmed that figure, he said it had been forced on councillors after the town council was told it needed to establish a contingency fund, replace the town council’s computer system and fund pay increases and pension payments for town council staff.

Despite the town council agreeing to take over the running of the café at Y Plas, Cllr Jones said the increased precept would not go toward staff costs for the café as the facility was expected to meet all costs from its own budget.

He said: “It is about an 18.7 per cent increase. Our general costs have risen.

“We were told we had to have a contingencies fund so we have had to put quite a bit into that.

“The wages and pensions have had to go up as well.

“Our computer system also has to be changed as it isn’t doing what it should be doing.

“We’ve had it from good sources that this is what we have to do."

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