Machynlleth residents are facing another inflation-busting town council precept increase after town councillors agreed to increase its share of the council tax by almost 10 per cent.

An increase of 9.8 per cent has been approved at a special meeting of the council, taking the average Band D bill up by £19 a year, or £1.58 per month.

That comes after two previous increases well above inflation that led to the council being criticised for the level of increase it was setting for its share of the council tax.

The increase in the 2020/21 council tax precept is even higher than that imposed last year, when a 9.55 per cent increase was agreed ,with councillors saying that tree safety surveys and work to address safety issues had meant there was a need for a larger increase than initially proposed.

That came after a huge increase of 18.7 per cent imposed in January 2018, justified as the council was facing growing costs, including a contingency fund and new IT system.

The 9.8 per cent increase agreed by town councillors only affects the town council’s portion of the council tax. Precept levels have yet to be announced by Powys County Council and Dyfed-Powys Police.

Depending on the decisions taken by the county council and the police, residents could be facing a significantly increased council tax bill.

Early indications are that the county council portion of the council tax bill will increase by five per cent.