Cowbridge residents are expected to see their council tax bill rise by 3.9% in April.

In a revised revenue budget proposal published today (2 February), it is proposed that the Band D Council Tax rate is set at £1,357.02 for 2021/22.

This rise reflects that of Cardiff and Caerphilly councils, who have agreed to increase council tax by almost 4%.

It is subject to approval in next week's cabinet meeting and then in two further scrutiny committee meetings.

According to the report, "As the Council also wishes to avoid ceasing the provision of services, the Council still needs to consider an increase in Council Tax...

"The average council tax set by councils in Wales for 2020/21 at Band D was £1,354.02 and therefore when taking into account increases to be approved by other Councils in Wales for 2021/22, this Council's Band D would still remain below the Welsh average."

The proposal has attracted early criticism from Vale Conservatives.

In a joint statement, Matt Smith, Senedd Candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan and Cllr Leighton Rowlands Senedd Candidate for Cardiff South & Penarth said:

"This inflation busting rise is completely unacceptable at a time when we face unprecedented economic crisis.

"It's simply not fair, hard pressed residents in the Vale of Glamorgan and Penarth should pay the price for the financial mismanagement of the Labour administration.

"We stand with our Conservative colleagues on the Council who will be voting against the rise," they continued.

"Remember what Sir Keir Starmer the Labour Leader said he branded planned hikes in England as 'absurd' and said they should be dropped to ease financial pressures on families already struggling during the pandemic.

"Let's hope he told his Labour colleagues in Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff Councils. Clearly not!"

This comes two months after it was agreed that the basic salary of county councillors in Wales is set to increase by £150 from April 2021.

The decision, made by the independent body, means that the basic salary of a backbench county councillor will rise by 1.06% to £14,368.

Meanwhile, it is proposed that group leaders shall receive similar 1.06% pay rises to £18,108 (up from £17,918), the leader of largest opposition group £23,161 (up from £22,918) and committee chairs £23,161 (up from £22,918).

Depending on the size of the authority, from April 2021 cabinet or executive members will be paid between £27,741 and £33,805, deputy leaders between £31,783 and £38,858 and council leaders between £44,921 and £55,027.

The move will see Vale of Glamorgan Council Leader Neil Moore's salary rise to £49,974, while Deputy Leader Lis Burnett's will increase to £35,320 - if they choose to accept the rise.

In November, Cllr Burnett, who alongside the rest of the cabinet does not claim on her expenses, told Nub News the following:

"The review is made by an independent panel and we accept it because participation in democracy and local government should be open to everybody, not just those who can afford it."