Council leader: Blame Welsh Government for severe cuts

‘HOLD AMs WHO VOTED FOR THIS BUDGET RESPONSIBLE’

COUNCIL ratepayers in Gwynedd should hold Welsh Government ministers responsible for more “severe cuts in vital services” over the coming years, says Gwynedd council leader Dyfrig Siencyn.

Cllr Siencyn reacted angrily to a further cut in the authority’s block grant from central government next year despite increased spending on health and other Welsh Government budgets.

Gwynedd is among 15 councils set to receive less cash during 2019/20, after funding for each local authority was revealed by the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services.

As a result, decision makers in Gwynedd will have to juggle next year’s budget while facing a 0.8% or £1.33m cut from the central pot, while overall council funding across Wales will be cut by 0.3% to £4.21 billion.

The Welsh Local Government Association says the settlement would have “grave implications” for local services.

It also warned of severe consequences for school budgets because of the pressure imposed by wage, pension and population increases.

Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn, yn, pictured, said: “The e Welsh Government have been warned by councils across Wales that this will result in severe cuts in vital services to our citizens and our communities. This will have a direct effect on the lives ves and well-being of the e people of Gwynedd but we will do our utmost to protect those in greatest need.

“The responsibility for these cuts lies with Welsh Ministers who claim they have done their best for local services – but their actions speak otherwise. “They have chosen not to support local services in full knowledge of the consequences. “Those Those Assembly Members who wh vote in favour of this th budget should be held responsible for any cuts to vital se services which will en ensue. Do not co complain to your lo local council – ask yo your assembly me member what they did to defend local service services. The choice is theirs.” WLGA deputy leader Cllr Aaron Shotton (Flintshire), added: “Council leaders have been warning about the deepening impacts of austerity for several years. All councils are again expected to find big cuts in their budgets to balance their books next year.

“At some point soon, one or more councils might have to admit they are no longer able to legally balance their budget, without compromising quality and safety of local services, under such intense pressure.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We have worked hard to offer local government the best settlement possible and have made further allocations to mitigate most of the reduction councils had been expecting.

“We recognise this is a real-terms cut in core funding at a time when authorities face real pressures. It is vital we continue to work together to develop more effective ways of delivering services. We have been able to restore funding to a number of grants and have made a series of other decisions from which councils will benefit directly, which add up to £84m in addition to the local government settlement.”