LibDem group leader endorses tax settlement

John Warman, councillor for Cimla, welcomed the efforts of Neath Port Talbot CBC leader, Derek Vaughan, and the council's officers in restricting the rise in council tax in 2009/10 to 3.9%. He agreed with Cllr Vaughan that the county borough had been handicapped by the initial apportionment of central support on set-up, and by below-inflation raises by the Welsh Assembly Government since.

He said that parents, as well as head and other teachers, would welcome the aim of protecting front-line education services.

John took the opportunity to point out the unfairness of the method of paying for local council services, and urged central government to review the whole system of local government taxation.