Leader’s fears over WAG cash
Council services will suffer and jobs losses are likely following the low settlement from the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). That is the view from the leader of Torfaen Council, Bob Wellington.
Councils across Wales have similar views and are frustrated at WAG’s settlement for this year and the next two years. The settlement is the main pot of money paid to each council in Wales every year and has a direct effect on council tax levels.
Torfaen will receive an increase of just 2% this year.
Councillor Wellington said: "it seems unlikely that we will be able to increase funding in our Corporate Plan priorities of education, vulnerable people, housing, waste management and community safety. It will be more a case of protecting them this year.
"In order to do this we have set ourselves a target to save £1 million in efficiency savings to be achieved in such areas as asset management, energy, procurement, and a support services review.
"WAG have not taken into account factors such as the increased landfill tax. We have been working hard to encourage residents to recycle their waste but there is no consideration of the extra landfill cost."
The Welsh local Government Association described the provisional settlement as "appalling".
Councillor Derek Vaughan (Neath Port Talbot), WLGA leader, said: "Every council across Wales wants to protect their frontline services and their main concern is to minimise the impact on the public. The draft budget will not allow us to do that. Unless the Assembly Government can find some way to increase the funding to local councils then we are going to see sharp increases in council tax across Wales, possible job losses and cuts to key front-line services such as schools, roads and social care."
The Welsh Assembly all party Finance Committee concluded: "The Committee has grave concerns that the current local government settlement is inadequate to safeguard core services."