PRESS RELEASE

Commenting on the warning from Cardiff Councillor Russell Goodway that some local authorities in Wales may go bust due to the Welsh Labour Government’s budget deal with Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said:

“Labour, the nationalists and Lib Dems have agreed a very challenging settlement for local authorities in Wales, which will result in difficult choices.

“Local authorities should resist the easy route of cutting frontline services or forcing up Council Tax bills for hardworking families, but should consider whether they can improve transparency, eliminate wasteful spending and look at different ways of working.

“Welsh Councils would do well to follow the lead of Conservative-led Monmouthshire Council by publishing every pound of expenditure online, which can help deliver value for money by rooting out waste.

“Councils in Wales would have greater flexibility had Carwyn Jones’ Labour Government agreed to pass on a Council Tax freeze to hardworking families, which the Conservative-led UK Government had funded in each of the past three years.

"While Russell Goodway’s warning of bankruptcy may reverberate around county halls, it is vital that councils open up their books and consider how they can deliver more for less without reverting to the easy solution of penalising hardworking people.”

ENDS