Janet Finch-Saunders AM has highlighted highlight the unfairness of the approach adopted by Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party towards local government funding in Wales, in a National Assembly for Wales debate.
The draft local government settlement proposes inexplicable variances in funding for different Councils across Wales, with those based in rural areas hardest hit.
Proposals include damaging cuts for Powys (-4.1%), Ceredigion (-3.4%), Monmouthshire (-3.1%) and Ceredigion (-2.8%).
Welsh Conservatives will today call for an overhaul to the formula that allocates local government funding in Wales.
Shadow Local Government Minister, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, said: “For many communities across Wales, this settlement could have a devastating impact on local public services and council tax rates.
“Wales urgently needs an overhaul of the formula that allocates local government funding – and Welsh Conservatives are ready to deliver that change; rather than persist with the same old Labour ideas which simply aren’t working.
“Rural areas have had enough of being hit disproportionately by Welsh Government settlements.”
The debate will also seek to lift the lid on the veil of secrecy which surrounds Labour Minister’s latest proposals for local government funding.
First Minister Carwyn Jones has refused to tell the people of Wales whether a budget deal struck with the Liberal Democrats was supposed to include support for the local government settlement, whilst Wales’ Public Services Minister has failed to meet with the WLGA or rurally-based Councils to properly discuss possible funding solutions.
Shadow Rural Affairs and Agriculture Minister Russell George AM added:
“Labour’s approach to local government funding has been chaotic, mired by a veil of secrecy and symptomatic of a Government which has run out of steam, and run out of ideas.
“They’ve caused great uncertainty in many parts of Wales – and the lack of engagement which has taken place with the WLGA, and rural councils, is astonishing, and shows total disregard for the distinct needs of our rural areas.
“Welsh Conservatives will not support a settlement which continues to unduly penalise so many communities across our country.”
