Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has criticised Conwy County Borough Council’s proposed 6.5% council tax increase, describing it as an added financial burden on residents already facing rising living costs.

The increase, which is due to be discussed by the council’s finance committee on Monday before a final decision at Full Council on 5 March, would see a Band D household pay around £122.75 more per year — equivalent to approximately £2.36 per week. Of that total, around £115 would go towards Conwy Council services, with roughly £7.74 allocated to the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Mr Millar said residents had experienced repeated increases in recent years and questioned whether the proposed rise was justified at a time when some services are facing savings.

“It is wrong that local residents are facing another inflation-busting hike in council tax while seeing services cut,” he said. “We have seen rise after rise in recent years and residents are frustrated at paying more while feeling they are getting less in return.”

He also argued that council tax in Wales represents a higher proportion of household income compared to parts of England and suggested that residents should have a greater say over large increases.

Mr Millar said his party has previously called for local referendums on council tax rises above a certain level, a proposal which has not been adopted by the Welsh Government.

In addition, he called for changes to the Welsh Government’s local government funding formula, saying it does not sufficiently reflect rural service delivery costs or demographic pressures in areas such as Conwy.

Conwy County Borough Council has previously stated that the proposed rise is intended to help address a funding shortfall while protecting key services. The authority, like others across Wales, is legally required to set a balanced budget each year and has cited pressures including social care demand, pay awards and inflation.

Councillors will debate the proposals in the coming weeks before setting the final council tax level for 2026/27 in early March.