‘Labour must increase funding for Welsh local authorities’ – Plaid Cymru

THE Welsh Government should increase the funding floor from 2% to at least 3% to alleviate financial pressures currently faced by Councils across Wales, Plaid Cymru have said.

Additional consequentials of around £25million will be given to Wales following a last minute announcement from the UK Government to bail out English Councils facing a cash crisis.

Labour failed to support Local Government and to protect public services in their draft budget announcement before Christmas, as Local Authorities across Wales continue to face unprecedented pressures.

While there is no guarantee consequentials from England will be allocated to Local Government in Wales, Plaid Cymru will be urging Labour to direct the money to Councils and raise the funding floor to at least 3%.

As Councils in Wales will be approving their budgets at the end of February and are already in consultation with the public on how money may be spent, Labour must provide urgent clarity on their intentions in spending consequentials.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Finance and Local Government, Peredur Owen Griffiths MS said:

“Plaid Cymru will be pressing for urgent clarity from the Labour Government regarding how additional funds will be spent in Wales. Consequential funds of around £25million must be used to raise the funding floor to at least 3%, which would significantly benefit many local authorities where day-to-day services are potentially at risk, particularly those in rural areas. This must be done swiftly before councils approve their budgets at the end of February.

“In the long term, this announcement again proves how unfair the current funding settlement is for Wales – having to rely on political decisions in England to fund essential services provided through Local Government. Plaid Cymru will continue to fight for fairer funding for Wales.”