Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Fflint Wrecsam, has called for assurances that people will not be worse off if there are changes to council tax.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, Welsh Conservative spokesperson for Finance expressed his concern over any moves to revalue properties.
He said:
There is clearly growing public concern around the potential revaluation of properties and the introduction of new bands.
Households across Wales are already under real pressure from the cost of living. Many will therefore be worried about changes to the system leading to higher bills, at a time when they can least afford it.
Any revaluation must be approached with real caution, being transparent, evidence-based and subject to full consultation with the public and with local authorities.
People would also expect reassurances that this would not be a tax-raising exercise in disguise, but a fair and balanced reform of the system.
They will want clear detail on the impact of any changes, who would pay more, and crucially how the Welsh Government intends to prevent unfair pressures on ordinary households.
Mr Rowlands asked Elin Jones, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, to give an assurance that, if they went ahead with the council tax revaluation, ordinary households will not be left worse off as a result.
The Minister said the Welsh Government was currently considering whether to carry out a council tax revaluation and if changes were to be made, they would need to be done with caution and ensuring that people are consulted fully and are aware at all times of the implications of any changes to them directly.
Sam Rowlands AS yn poeni am y posibilrwydd o ailbrisio’r dreth gyngor
Mae Sam Rowlands, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Fflint Wrecsam, wedi galw am sicrwydd na fydd pobl ar eu colled os bydd newidiadau i'r dreth gyngor.
Yn y Senedd, mynegodd Mr Rowlands, llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig dros Gyllid ei bryder am unrhyw gamau i ailbrisio eiddo.
Meddai:
Mae'n amlwg fod pryder cyhoeddus cynyddol ynghylch y posibilrwydd o ailbrisio eiddo a chyflwyno bandiau newydd.
Mae aelwydydd ledled Cymru eisoes dan bwysau gwirioneddol oherwydd costau byw. Felly, bydd llawer yn poeni y bydd newidiadau i'r system yn arwain at filiau uwch, ar adeg pan na allant fforddio hynny.
Ac fe fyddech chi'n cytuno, wrth gwrs, fod yn rhaid bod yn ofalus iawn wrth ystyried unrhyw ailbrisiad, a bod rhaid iddo fod yn dryloyw, yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth ac yn destun ymgynghoriad llawn â'r cyhoedd a'r awdurdodau lleol.
Byddai pobl hefyd yn disgwyl sicrwydd nad ymarfer cudd ar gyfer codi trethi a fyddai, ond diwygiad teg a chytbwys i'r system.
Byddant eisiau manylion clir ar effaith unrhyw newidiadau, pwy fyddai'n talu mwy, ac yn hollbwysig, sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu atal pwysau annheg ar aelwydydd cyffredin.
Gofynnodd Mr Rowlands i Elin Jones, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid, am sicrwydd na fydd aelwydydd cyffredin ar eu colled o ganlyniad.
Dywedodd y Gweinidog fod Llywodraeth Cymru ar hyn o bryd yn ystyried a ddylid cynnal ailbrisiad o’r dreth gyngor ac os bydd newidiadau yn cael eu gwneud, byddai angen eu gwneud yn ofalus a sicrhau yr ymgynghorir yn llawn â phobl a’u bod yn ymwybodol bob amser o oblygiadau unrhyw newidiadau iddyn nhw’n uniongyrchol.
