Rhondda Cynon Taf sets lowest council tax rise of 3.6%

Councillors in Rhondda Cynon Taf have approved a 3.6% increase in council tax - the smallest rise in Wales so far.

It means the bill for a Band D property will rise by £51 to £1,457, excluding police and community council charges.

The authority's Labour leaders claim there will be no significant cuts in services, but some charges will go up.

The council is getting a cash increase of 0.8% in Welsh Government funding, more than most authorities in Wales but still below the rate of inflation.

It covers about three-quarters of the council's budget of £483m.

The Welsh Government said it had offered councils "the best settlement possible in this ninth year of austerity".

Presenting the budget, council leader Andrew Morgan said: "We are not setting here a huge list of cuts."

However, he voiced concerns over whether an increase in teachers' pensions would be funded by UK Government, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Morgan said some authorities may be forced to lay off teachers and other staff to meet any extra costs.