8/ RGT: What discussions has the Minister had with Council leaders regarding the Welsh Government’s local government budget settlement?

Janet Finch-Saunders:

Minister, the TaxPayers’ Alliance has outlined 201 ways for local authorities to work smarter and more efficiently, for example, by sharing office space, and cutting spending on advertising and council-run newspapers. Guilford council has saved £10,000 a year just by re-assessing its subscriptions to magazines. In view of the poor settlement that you have awarded to our local authorities, what guidance have you given to our local authorities with regard to prioritising efficiency and smarter working patterns, as opposed to cutting services or passing on the burden in council tax increases to our hard-pressed families?

Lesley Griffiths:

The poor settlement, as you call it, is in direct response to the huge budget cuts this Government has suffered from the UK coalition Government. In relation to guidance, you will be aware that I am a massive advocate of good and best practice, and, if any of the 201 ways outlined by the TaxPayers’ Alliance are good practice, I would hope that all councils and local authorities would look at them. I have told them that I do not want them to salami-slice services; it is really important that they look at transformational change. It is a very challenging settlement; I would be the first to say that. As they go through their budget discussions, I hope that they will look at that.