AS Monmouthshire County Council confirmed a near five per cent council tax rise this week one angry councillor attacked plans to increase the price of school meals by 45p, and introduce a £1 daily charge for school breakfast clubs.

A budget amendment issued by Labour group leader Councillor Dimitri Batrouni which proposed increasing rates for those with second homes was shot down by councillors.

“In the end, the Labour group gave the Conservatives a clear choice: to charge extra for empty second homes left vacant for six months and not to charge hardworking families in Monmouthshire for childcare at ‘free’ school breakfasts,” said Councillor Batrouni.

“Unfortunately, they chose to continue with the charge for the childcare for breakfasts. I cannot understand that decision. We need to support the hardworking families of Monmouthshire, not make their life more difficult.”

Council leader Peter Fox rebuffed the claims, saying that Monmouthshire County Council had to make ongoing ‘difficult decisions’ owing to successive dwindling budgets handed down from Welsh Government. ??

Having read out a letter from a ‘single mother’ who claimed the charges would cost her an extra £100 per month, Councillor Batrouni was backed by Councillor Tudor Thomas, of Abergavenny’s Priory Ward.

Speaking to the Chronicle after the meeting, Councillor Thomas said, “These new charges may only be a small fee, but that is a daily fee, and one that will add up, especially for those on a lower wage. ?

?“If someone has three children, for example, that’s an extra £15 a week they would have to find just to cover the breakfast club, alone. I feel unhappy that the council has had to do this.”??

Councillor Richard John, cabinet member for children and young people, said the council had to make ‘tough decisions’. ?