VALE of Glamorgan Council has passed new financial arrangements for the coming year which will impact every resident of the county.

The council has passed a 6.5% increase in council tax, which makes it one of the highest in Wales.

The increase is made up of a 5.5% base increase and an additional 1% which is ringfenced for youth provision and rural bus services.

This increase equates to an extra £2.07 per week for a band D household

This is a greater increase than other Welsh councils such as Swansea (3.9%), Carmarthenshire (4.9%), Cardiff (3.9%), Newport (4.9%), Bridgend (4.95%), Monmouthshire (5.95%) and Caerphilly (6.35%) councils.

Due to the 1% increase on top of the base rate, an extra £1.07m can be raised by the council, split evenly between youth services and rural transport.

During the debate council leader Lis Burnett said that the 2026/27 budget was the first time in over a decade where it has "actually been possible to make choices to invest" rather than choosing between cuts.

The Labour leader said that the Vale of Glamorgan is 17th out of 22 Welsh counties in terms of council tax charges.

She continued: "That will not change…We are a low council tax authority."

Conservative group leader Cllr George Carroll criticised the 6.5% rate as being one of the highest in Wales.

"I cannot in good conscience support the inflation-busting council tax rises proposed within this revenue budget."

He also called it a "sign of incompetent financial management from this administration". 

Plaid Cymru group leader Dr Ian Johnson said: "Very broadly speaking, it doesn't strike the right note to me in the current circumstances to raise council tax by the level suggested here tonight."

He also criticised the increase as being "significantly above inflation".

Regarding the whole increase Cllr Stephen Haines said it was "another pressure on household budgets that are already stretched".

Addressing the council's opposition group, Cllr Elliot Penn asked: "What's your alternative? There never is one – just default opposition."

He continued: "Default opposition, it's just not serious is it?"

Cllr Janice Charles said: "We are once again being asked to demand more money from residents who are already, quite frankly, living on a knife edge."

Multiple Labour members praised the funding going to youth services.

Cllr Ewan Goodjohn said: "This investment in our young people is so absolutely vital to the character and the nature of our communities in the future."

The vote was approved with 49% for (26 votes), 42% against (22), and 9% abstaining (5).