Labour councillors refuse to support call for essential extra funding for social care, schools and highways

The Labour opposition group on Carmarthenshire County Council have been slammed for failing to support a motion calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to provide fair funding in her budget on October 30th to place cash-starved local councils back on a sustainable footing.

‘This means that Labour councillors support the fiscal rules laid down by the previous Tory government,’ said Cllr Alun Lenny, who proposed the motion. ‘I’m staggered that they turned down this opportunity to lobby for more money to support essential services like social care, schools and highways. Residents are fully entitled to question their stance.’

In moving the motion Cllr Lenny, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “Due to chronic government under-funding Carmarthenshire County Council is now £120m worse off, in real terms, than we were a decade ago.

“It’s important to remember that we depend on the Revenue Support Grant, which comes from UK Government via the Welsh Government, for about 70% of our funding, with most of the rest being topped up by the Council Tax.

“We urge the new Labour Chancellor to provide extra funding to meet the huge increase in demand for adult social care and children’s services, for our schools, highways and a whole host of other services on which our residents depend daily. We also urge her to provide for inflationary pressures on local government budgets, and to ensure that pay settlements which are set centrally should be fully funded by central government.”

In seconding the Motion, Cllr Denise Owen warned that failing to address local authority under-funding would have serious consequences.

“Local councils have borne the brunt of cuts, while struggling to provide vital services in the community. If this trajectory continues, the ability to maintain these basic public services will be significantly compromised.

“This is an extremely worrying time for all councils and their staff, with many now teetering on the brink of financial disaster. As UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said, countless essential services and very many vital jobs are at risk, with terrible consequences for communities across Britain.

“It is both a moral and practical imperative for the Chancellor to act in the Autumn Budget to ensure that local councils can continue to serve our communities. Failure to do so risks catastrophic consequences for social welfare, economic stability, and public infrastructure.”

Despite Labour’s lack of support, the motion was passed with a resounding majority due to the backing of Plaid Cymru and Independent councillors.


Discover more from Carmarthenshire News Online

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

You cannot copy any content of this page