Fears 20,000 council staff may lose jobs

MORE than 20,000 council workers could lose their jobs over the next three years as local authorities battle dwindling finances.

That was the warning from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) who have reiterated long-running complaints that Wales’ 22 authorities have been forced to endure largerscale cuts than other areas, such as health.

Heaping pressure on the Welsh Government ahead of next week’s Welsh Government draft budget announcement, it says councils have “run out of road” in terms of choices – with funding having been slashed by £1bn since the UK Government implemented its austerity programme in 2010.

The Welsh Government says it has been doing all it can to protect councils them from the worst effects of austerity.

But the WLGA says that many authorities are now reporting that schools’ financial woes are as acute as those of social care, resulting in reserves being depleted by budget pressures and several schools now running budget deficits.

In terms of forecast savings required over the next three years, several councils are now saying this will only be achieved by stopping services, reducing the social care and support provided to the elderly and vulnerable and by further cuts to the very services that can help prevent pressures escalating.

There is also particular concern around the increasing demand in children’s social care and the wider care market, with additional worries that areas such as youth services will continue to disappear.

WLGA’s chief executive Steve Thomas said: “There is £1.4bn of investment coming down the M4 from the announcement of £20bn additional spend on the NHS in England.

“The Welsh Government can fully determine this spend.”

Adding that council tax will also have to rise further as authorities strive to maintain statutory services, he said: “If all the £370m available in 2019-20 goes into the NHS, that means that they will have up to a 7% uplift when there was a planned 3.1% increase budgeted already.

“Local government alternatively may struggle to get to a flat cash outcome with huge pressures to meet on pay, demographics and a crumbling public realm.

“Council taxpayers across Wales need respite and the best way for Welsh Government to do this is honour their words on prevention and properly fund local services.”

In response, the Welsh Government said: “We recognise the pressures facing public services in Wales, including local authorities, which is why we have – and will continue to do – all we can to protect them from the worst effects of austerity.

“We will also continue to call on the UK Government to end this damaging and unnecessary policy of austerity.

“In preparing the 2019-20 Budget, we have been giving very careful consideration to the wide range of important services provided by local government and which so many people rely on.”

Further details about spending plans for 2019-20 were due to be released yesterday, October 2.