19/12/2024
Tonight’s budget setting was extremely difficult in the face of the UK governments national insurance hike!
Before we started this meant a real term increase of 1.5% on the budget of Laleston Community Council.
Tonight our independent councillors focused on the following:
• Improvements in our community with our centres being managed by a full time member of staff, a maintenance officer being employed to pick up the shortfall in BCBC budgets, keeping our community looking as it should.
• Additional budget for grass cutting and w**d spraying ensuring Bryntirion, Broadlands, Cefn Glas and Laleston are maintained properly next year.
• 6 new VE Day benches to mark the end of war in Europe 80 years ago, and to mark the sacrifice and service of veterans both then and today in our community.
• Conclusion of the Laleston well consultation. protecting our heritage and history for future generations.
• Further investment in our ambitious plans for Bryntirion playing fields to realise its potential.
• Planting of the centre verges on Heol Blandy in Broadlands
• Investment in Christmas lighting to continue to replace and enhance our communities
• Extending our playparks and adding new equipment.
• Support for community events to bring our community together.
Our budget setting was challenging. The BCBC leader had already told community councils they would need to do more, we were faced with neglecting our community or stepping up to the challenge. We reduced our reserves to ensure whilst we stepped up our residents got value for money. Today we set a precept which increased by just over £3 per household at 5.8%. We hope in the coming year you can see visibly how we spent this improving our community.
