South Wales Fire and Rescue Budget Proposals Approved
A commissioner of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) Authority has said there is a “line in the sand” and it has to “cut its coat according to its cloth” while discussing next year’s budget. Baroness Deborah Wilcox…
Merthyr Tydfil School Attendance Latest
MORE than 400 Merthyr Tydfil pupils improved their school attendance after receiving fines for unauthorised absences or holidays during term time last year. A report for Merthyr Tydfil Council’s learning and local government education services committee on Monday, March 3,…
Merthyr Tydfil Council Charges Set to Rise by 2.5% in 2026
THE amount Merthyr Tydfil Council charges for its services is set to go up by 2.5% next year but some areas will see no change for now. Councillors previously approved a fees and charges policy that stated that all non-regulated…
Restoration Scheme Revealed for Former Merthyr Opencast Mine
Plans for a new restoration scheme for the Ffos y Fran opencast coal mine in Merthyr Tydfil have been revealed, Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd has applied for a revised scheme for the final restoration of 285 hectares of land that…
Councillors to Consider 5.5% Rise in Council Tax
Plans to increase council tax in Merthyr Tydfil by 5.5% next year will go before councillors. This would mean that the amount paid to Merthyr Tydfil Council for a band D property would be £2,083.21 for 2025-26 and would mean…
Merthyr Council Plugging Budget Gap with Reserves
Merthyr Tydfil Council is using £1.5m in reserves to plug its budget gap for next year due to its commitment to protect schools, to have an acceptable level of council tax increase, and avoid significant service cuts, councillors have been…
Mountain Ash Sixth Form Set for Closure
The sixth form at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School will be closed with students moving to Aberdare Community School. Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council’s cabinet approved the proposals at a meeting on Wednesday, February 19. It also sees a change to…
New Welsh Medium Primary School for Llanilid
A new Welsh medium school is set to be built to serve a major development in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT). To meet the demand for school places in future years, the plan is to establish a new Welsh medium primary…
Council Tax Increase on Horizon for Cynon Taf Residents
A 4.7% council tax increase for Rhondda Cynon Taf residents is now on the table for next year to give the council resources to prepare for and respond to future major weather events. Updated budget proposals for 2025/2026 recommended to…
Councillors Oppose Coffee Shop Plans
Councillors have opposed plans for a new Starbucks drive-through and electric vehicle charging points on the border of Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) and Caerphilly. The application for an electric vehicle ultra-rapid charging hub including a coffee-shop with drive through on…