Chancellor urged to put local government funding back on a sustainable footing

Arian

Plaid Cymru councillors are urging the new Chancellor to put local government funding back on a sustainable footing.

A motion by Cllr Gareth Davies, seconded by Cllr Caryl Roberts, will go before Ceredigion County Council on Thursday 24th October asking the Labour government for fairer funding for local councils. This is similar to a motion that was passed by Carmarthenshire County Council a few weeks ago.

Ceredigion County Council has now lost out on £70m over the last decade in real terms and this is a very worrying time for all councils and their staff, with many now on the brink of financial disaster. Additional revenue funding is urgently needed for essential services such as Social Care, Children's Services, Schools, Highways and Culture and Leisure.

Councillor Gareth Davies says,

“Since I became a councillor in 2004, and especially in the last 12 years, we have had to make cuts time and time again in order to balance our accounts. The council has also put many things in place to improve the efficiency of the Council's work. But the truth is, we have reached the bottom of the barrel, and we are now looking for any possible savings. The situation is very distressing.”

Seconding the motion, Cllr Caryl Roberts, said

"The amount of savings and cuts that Local Governments have to make is heartbreaking and that is just to protect the statutory services. If the Labour Party does not want to pay the debts of more local authorities as they go bankrupt, sustainable and fair funding is needed."

As well as proposals from Ceredigion Council and Carmarthenshire Council, Plaid Cymru’s Finance Spokesperson, Heledd Fychan MS will hold a press conference at 9.30am on Tuesday 22nd October ahead of the UK government Autumn Statement.

She will be outlining the party’s calls – not just on the UK Labour Government, but on the Labour Welsh Government too, on Wales’ needs within the Autumn Statement.

The Plaid Cymru opposition party debate will be held on Wednesday 23 October.

The Welsh Government's budget will be published in December.