11 December 2007
The WLGA has called on the Assembly Government to head off the impending crisis in schools, social care and other key services when it debates the draft budget in Assembly plenary today.
The proposed settlement for councils for core services is set at 2.3%, a below inflation increase for many councils, with increases for some councils well below 2%. Whilst there are additional specific grants for councils, these only cover new services and initiatives as a result of the Government’s ‘One Wales’ commitments and do not fund existing core services such as schools or social care. This was recognised last week by the Assembly’s all-party Finance Committee which stated that the “Committee has grave concerns that the current local government settlement is inadequate to safeguard core services.”
Councillor Derek Vaughan (Neath Port Talbot), WLGA Leader, stated:
“The WLGA has put forward a realistic alternative budget to protect frontline services, which does not impact on our colleagues in vital health services and more fairly shares the growth available between all services. We have also conclusively answered any charge that our reaction this year is merely ‘annual pantomime’.”
“The opportunity is now in place for the Assembly Government to take note of our proposed alternative budget and increase the Revenue Support Grant to councils. If agreed, it will still be a massively challenging budget, but it will at least show a greater commitment to front line services and council tax payers.”
“Inevitably, the new government will wish to fund its ‘One Wales’ priorities and this is set in the context of the very tight Comprehensive Spending Review, however, these priorities need not be at the expense of existing public services. Budgets are all about strategic priorities and what is most disappointing is that this budget ignores some of the fundamental local services which are not only the bedrock of devolution, but of public life in Wales.”
“We have also produced extensive evidence that the lack of transparency in this year’s budget process has meant that tried, tested and trusted processes established with previous Assembly Ministers to construct the local government settlement have been unwisely set aside.’
Ends
Notes for Editors
- WLGA’s ‘A Budget for Front line services- an alternative to the Assembly Government Draft Budget’ is available at http://www.wlga.gov.uk/content.php?nID=;pID=1950;lID=1
- Media O&A on Draft Welsh Assembly Government Budget and Provisional Finance Settlement (2008/09)
For more information contact: Natasha Weeks