Welsh Conservatives have renewed their calls for the local government funding formula to be reviewed, following the release of new figures which outline a stark postcode lottery in spend-per-head across Wales.
The Party has long emphasised how rural communities have consistently been hit hardest by successive local government settlements, with Monmouthshire County Council given the harshest deal by the Welsh Government.
Now, new figures detailing the cost of running local authority services for 2016/17, show that, as a consequence of that poor settlement, gross revenue expenditure per head in Monmouthshire is £378 behind the Welsh average – at £1,890 - and £621 behind Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Spend-per-head in Flintshire, Wrexham, Vale of Glamorgan, Powys and Pembrokeshire also trails substantially behind the Welsh average.
Welsh Conservative local government spokesperson, Janet Finch-Saunders AM said:
“These statistics show the raw deal many communities get in Wales as a consequence of Labour’s local government settlements.
“For years, Welsh Conservatives have called for a fundamental review of the formula which determines the local government settlement, and the Welsh Government must front up to these new figures and accept that discussion is now needed.
“The Welsh Government claims the system is under continual review – but statements have become like Groundhog Day for many of our communities; hit hardest by annual raw deals.”
Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay added:
“Having been handed the worst settlement in Wales, and a 3% cut for 2016/17, the people of Monmouthshire have yet again been treated with disdain by Labour Ministers.
“These new figures show the impact of successive poor settlements for the people of Monmouthshire, despite the heroic efforts of the local council to deliver better services with less resources.
“With the Welsh Government recently confirming that those Councillors elected next year will serve a full five-year term, it is clear urgent action is needed to address this chronic underfunding, whatever Labour’s future plans for Monmouthshire may be.”
ENDS
Notes :
The new figures can be found here: http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/local-authority-revenue-budget…
A Written Question from the Welsh Government refers to the settlement being under review.
Janet Finch-Saunders (Aberconwy): Will the Minister confirm whether the formula for the Local Government Settlement will be reformed during the Fifth Assembly term? (WAQ70443)
Mark Drakeford: The Local Government Settlement funding formula is developed in consultation with local government through the Distribution Sub Group (DSG). The formula is kept under a continual programme of review and improvement in agreement with the Finance Sub Group of the Partnership Council for Wales.