Welsh Conservatives have accused the Welsh nationalists of conspiring with the Welsh Labour Government to deliver “yet another difficult” local government settlement for Welsh councils.
There are also warnings that communities in Mid Wales will feel ‘aggrieved and let down’ by the failure of the cabinet’s Lib Dem AM to stand up for the region – with another “damaging set of cuts” for Powys County Council.
Speaking ahead of a debate in the Assembly, Shadow Local Government Minister, Janet Finch-Saunders, said:
“With Plaid Cymru’s backing, the Welsh Labour Government has delivered yet another difficult settlement for Welsh councils.
“It is true that the savage cuts of recent years have been avoided – albeit in an election year – but let’s not forget that even with the new ‘cap’ to cuts of 0.5%, councils have seen an absolute cut in their settlements of almost 7% since 2013/14.
“Council budgets have been devastated right across Wales, particularly in rural areas, and that bill has been simply been passed straight on to the taxpayer.
“The Welsh Government’s relationship with rural Wales - and particularly that with Powys - has never been lower but with a voice from Mid Wales at the cabinet table, those communities would have expected better.
“Sadly, the Liberal Democrat Member for Brecon and Radnorshire appears to have turned her back as her ministerial colleagues drove through another damaging set of cuts for Powys.”
ENDS
