The warning signs were there but the proposed budget cuts and tax rises for residents of Monmouthshire will be a blow at a time when the cost of living crisis still cuts deep.

It was only four months ago that comments made by the Council’s Leader raised concerns about the possibility of the council becoming insolvent in the next three years. A month later, a council report highlighted a forecast of a budget pressure of £8.8million in the current financial year. The main areas of sustained pressure are in record levels of adult social care placements, demand for expensive and very complex children’s placements, homelessness at previously unknown levels and home to school transport costs increasing through fuel prices.

Casualties of the proposed budget cuts in the 266 page document that will be on the table for the cabinet next week include Gilwern Outdoor Centre, the last of the outdoor centres to survive, who will see its budget cut by a proposed £70,000.

It is also proposed that car park fees will rise by 10% and council tax rise of a whopping 7.5%, the highest rate for many years

Headline proposals are:

Council Tax increase of 7.5%; Cut of £835,000 to schools budgets; Doubling of the schools breakfast club charge to £2 per day; Reduction in subsidy for Gwent Music of £39,000 for music lessons in schools; Staffing review in adult social care to save £1.5million; Car parking charges to rise by 10%; Planning fees to rise by 25%; Garden waste charge to rise by 10%; Food waste bags will no longer be provided; Cuts to leisure centre opening hours; Close Tintern Old Station on Mondays; Cut budget for Gilwern Outdoor Education Centre by £70,000 and a 10% increase in charges for concessionary school transport.

 A four week public consultation will be launched next week.