11 December 2007
Welsh councillors from across Rural and North Wales have voiced their concerns today against their punitive budget settlement increases for 2008-2009.
The Welsh Local Government Association has made it clear recently that ‘no council is spared from next year’s punitive budget outcome’. However, it is rural and north Wales councils which bear the heaviest burden as a result of the draft budget outcome.
Powys County Council, Conwy County Borough Council and Isle of Anglesey County Council all have budget settlements below 1.5%. Also, in South Wales, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, officially the most deprived area in Wales only received a 1.8% increase which will be reduced even further next year.
Speaking in advance of the Assembly Government’s debate today on the draft budget, Cllr Michael Jones (Powys), WLGA Independent Group Leader said:
“Rural Wales may figure massively on the map of Wales but it has slipped out of the minds of Assembly Ministers. I despair when I hear Ministers talking about a commitment to our rural communities and yet constantly underfunding health and local government services in our areas. The size and remoteness of councils like Powys make it very expensive to provide such services, yet this year we get a 1% rise which will barely cover our new responsibilities around the Rights of Way legislation. I fully support the WLGA’s call for a 1.5% “floor” for Powys, Conwy and Anglesey but there is need for a detailed examination of rural underfunding as this current crisis situation is unsustainable.”
Cllr Richard Parry Hughes (Gwynedd), WLGA Plaid Cymru Group Leader said:
“Gwynedd County Council has seen the lowest culminative set of rises over the past three years and this will also project forward over the next three years. The distance between Llangefni and Cardiff feels much wider as a result of this dismal budget increase. It is vital that all Assembly Ministers reflect upon what this budget means for communities in North Wales. Gwynedd has shown that it will make tough choices when it comes to schools and services yet the Assembly Government’s draft budget totally fails to recognise the other challenges we face. Council employees in Gwynedd contribute hugely to north Wales’ communities and their jobs in teaching, home care and in maintaining the local environment are vital. However, this budget is hardly enough to cover the cost of salary increases let alone the pressures that it will place upon every single service delivered across local government.”
Whilst formula changes to be phased in over the next three years have had some impact on this year’s budget settlement for rural and North Wales councils, the true problem is under funding by the Assembly Government of core services. The WLGA has called for a floor to take the three lowest councils up to a 1.5% increase. This is still well below inflation but would cost only £1.8m of additional Assembly Government funding to achieve.
Ends