March 05, 2026 - 170 views
Residents in Conwy County Borough will see council tax rise by 6.5% from April after councillors approved the authority’s budget for the 2026/27 financial year.
Members of Conwy County Borough Council backed the increase at a meeting today with the authority saying the rise is needed to fund essential services amid ongoing financial pressures.
The increase includes 6.09% for council services and 0.41% to cover the levy for the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
For a typical Band D property, this means an extra £122.75 a year – about £2.36 a week – taking the annual bill to £2,011.26, before additional charges such as the police precept or town and community council levies.
Introducing the report, Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning Chris Cater said the budget had been set to ensure the council can continue to deliver key services.
However, the decision is likely to reignite debate about the rising cost of council tax in the county.
In recent years, residents have faced significant annual increases, including a combined rise of nearly 9% in 2025/26, which took the Band D bill to £1,888.51.
The latest rise means the Band D figure in Conwy has now climbed above £2,000 a year, reflecting a broader trend across Wales where councils say they are under increasing pressure from rising costs and demand for services such as social care.
Across Wales, the average Band D council tax bill was about £2,170 in 2025/26, although figures vary significantly between authorities.
In North Wales, several neighbouring councils have also confirmed sizeable rises in recent years.
For example, Denbighshire approved an increase of just over 6% for 2025/26, pushing the average Band D bill there to around £2,217, slightly higher than Conwy’s previous level.
Supporters of the increase argue that councils have little choice as they face rising costs and increasing demand for services, particularly adult social care and education, while funding settlements from the Welsh Government remain tight.
But critics say repeated increases are putting further pressure on households already dealing with higher living costs.
The final amount residents pay will vary depending on their property band, the precept set by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, and the charge set by their local town or community council.
The council says the approved budget will allow it to continue providing key local services across the county during the coming financial year.
