Improving People's Lives

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:42 pm on 3 May 2022.

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Photo of Joel James Joel James Conservative 1:42, 3 May 2022

First Minister, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council sits on one of the largest—if not the largest—bank balances of any local authority in Wales, with a staggering £171.3 million in useable reserves, down marginally from the £208 million it had previously. Despite these vast reserves, RCT council continually pleads poverty, and I can attest to this from a position of some authority having served as a county borough councillor on it for almost the last 15 years. Llywydd, for the record, I am still a councillor there for at least a few more days. RCT has one of the highest council tax rates of any local authority in the entire United Kingdom, which is, and I'm sure you agree, First Minister, a slap in the face to all council tax payers in the Rhondda. RCT council even has the audacity to raise council tax again this year, asking residents to pay more and more, even when the council has such vast reserves—[Interruption.] First Minister, how is—