The Welsh Local Government Minister has been severely criticised for again providing Powys County Council with the worst revenue support grant settlement in Wales.
The comments were made during a debate in the National Assembly on the Welsh Government’s final funding settlement for local government for the next financial year. Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, stated that the Council was under extreme financial pressure, highlighting the fact that the local authority had received the lowest settlement of any council in Wales over the last six years and that this year’s settlement had proved no different. He also charged the Minister of not being flexible and understanding to particular local needs, following government
cuts to two key grants – the Learning Disabilities Resettlement grant and the Supporting People grant – and its refusal to cover sizeable legal costs, which will be generated by a public inquiry into five large-scale wind farm developments that were refused planning permission by the Council last year.
Commenting, Mr George said:
“Once again Powys County Council finds itself bearing the brunt of the Welsh Government’s final funding settlement for local authorities.
“The leader of the Council has already said that the authority is facing extreme budgetary pressure due to external factors and this settlement – again the lowest in Wa
les – is not going to help that situation.
“Everyone understands the tough financial position the whole country is in and I believe local authorities are prepared to rise to the challenge and do more for less.
“However, there also has to be a flexible and understanding approach from central government in ensuring local authorities are properly resourced to address specific loca
l needs.
“I don’t believe the Welsh Government has taken that into account in its current funding allocation to Powys, nor has it by refusing to cover £2.8m of legal costs that the authority will have to set aside to pay for the public inquiry into five large wind farm applications – applications made because of Welsh Government policy.”
The Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group on Powys Council, Cllr Aled Davies, also expressed concerns that Powys was being unfairly dealt with.
He added:
“The Council’s budgets are under greater pressure in Powys, we have a larger elderly population than other local authorities and services are difficult and more expensive to deliver in a large rural area and no account has been taken of this.
“This year it will receive 0.3% increase in funding compared to a Welsh average increase of 1.5%.
“The Council Leader has indicated to me that the Cabinet will need to find £5m of savings this coming financial year to cover the shortfall and that it is likely to have to carry on finding a similar level of savings every year for the foreseeable future.
“While prioritisation and tough choices will have to be made by the Council leadership, continued squeezing from the Welsh Government in this way is unsustainable because it will potentially jeopardise front-line services.
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