Welshpool paying second highest council tax in Powys

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

Welshpool has retained its place as the second most expensive place to live in Powys when it comes to Council Tax.

The town is only second to Machynlleth, whose householders are way out in front as the highest Council Tax payers in Powys, coughing up a hefty £2550.51 from April for a Band D property.

Welshpool Band D homeowners will be paying an eye popping £2,424.94, while, for the first time, all communities in Powys will be paying more than £2,000.

Guilsfield remains one of the cheapest places to live with an annual Council Tax bill of £2,167.97, thanks largely to the decision by its community council not to increase their slice this year.

For the full list, see below 

At a meeting of Powys County Council today (Thursday), councillors met to formally set the Council Tax which is an annual legal requirement that’s needed before bills can start to be sent out to residents.

On February 20, the council agreed an 8.9% Council Tax increase for the 2025/2026 budget.

Council Tax is made up of three components, the biggest being payment for services from a principal authority such as Powys which includes education, social services, rubbish collection and highway maintenance, but a levy called a precept is also charged by the local police force, Dyfed-Powys Police, and also from town or community councils.

Earlier this year Dyfed Powys police approved a precept increase of 8.6% which takes the annual cost up to £360.68 for a Band D property.

In recent months, over 100 town and community councils in the county have been meeting to discuss their own financial needs and decide the amount of precept to levy on their areas.

All these elements are brought together so that a total Council Tax bill is calculated.

Director of Corporate Services and s151 Officer, Jane Thomas, said: “The report you are considering today is required by legislation to ensure that Council Tax rates for the forthcoming year can be implemented so that we can deliver our services.

“It is important to note that this does not re-open the budget process as it council agreed the Council Tax level to be set, and this applies the calculation for those charges.”

She added that any delay would have a significant impact on the council’s cash flow as there are “strict deadlines” to get the bills written up and sent out.

Finance Portfolio Holder, Labour’s Cllr David Thomas, said: “It’s a very technical report.”

Councillors then went to a vote which saw 29 councillors vote in favour, 11 against and 19 abstained.

COUNCIL TAX FOR A BAND D PROPERTY

MONTGOMERYSHIRE

Aberhafesp – £2,172.13
Banwy – £2,166.44
Bausley with Criggion – £2,184.32
Berriew – £2,172.85
Betws Cedewain  – £2,179.82
Cadfarch – £2,168.12
Caersws  – £2,221.50
Carno  – £2,194.82
Carreghofa – £2,181.59
Castle Caereinion  – £2,193.99
Churchstoke – £2,179.88
Dwyrhiw – £2,166.18
Forden – £2,211.29
Glantwymyn – £2,169.37
Guilsfield – £2,167.97
Kerry  – £2,177.83
Llanbrynmair – £2,175.63
Llandinam – £2,206.59
Llandrinio and Arddleen – £2,174.74
Llandysilio – £2,180.50
Abermule with Llandyssil -£2,224.72
Llanerfyl – £2,176.24
LLanfair Caereinion – £2,212.16
Llanfechain – £2,171.90
Llanfihangel – £2,205.98
Llanfyllin – £2,228.14
Llangedwyn – £2,162.12
Llangurig – £2,162.12
Llangyniew – £2,183.97
Llangynog  – £2,249.55
Llanidloes – £2,170.20
Llanidloes Without – £2,174.70
Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant – £2,170.56
Llansantffraid – £2,170.56
Llansilin – £2,173.58
Llanwddyn  – £2,222.68
Machynlleth  – £2,550.98 
Manafon  – £2,161.19
Meifod – £2,179.62
Mochdre with Penstrowed – £2,188.93
Montgomery  – £2,255.56
Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn  – £2,360.76
Pen Y Bont Fawr  £2,197.67
Trefeglwys – £2,155.95
Tregynon  £2,195.69
Trewern  – £2,179.60 2
Welshpool – £2,424.94