Lead question: CC - "Will the Minister make a statement on the guidance given to local government on consultation with the public?"

Janet Finch-Saunders:

Minister, despite the measure, it is fair to say that, in some local authorities, residents and taxpayers are usually the last to know about some of the decisions that are taken—senior executive pay being one of them. However, you have rightly referred to Monmouthshire County Council, which, despite a substantial cut in its settlement, has stepped up to the mark and has taken the innovative step of holding five separate community consultation events throughout October to allow residents to share their views on the financial challenges facing the county. Do you agree that this is an excellent example of consultation and engagement with the public, and will you endorse this as best practice across local authorities in Wales?

Lesley Griffiths:

I referred in my answer to Christine Chapman to the fact that I thought Monmouthshire was one of the ones that had engaged well. Whatever cut it has received from us in its budget settlement, the Welsh Tories would have cut its budget far more—probably double, with the 12.5% that you would have used to decimate our public services in Wales.