The overall decrease in the Local Government Settlement for 2011/12 is -1.4% with Wrexham receiving a decrease of -1.2%.
Councillor Alun Jenkins, Lead Member for Finance & Asset Management said, “It is good news that Wrexham has received a settlement marginally above the average. Council services are under particular pressure in the current year with increased demand in areas such as benefits, home care and children’s services. This increased demand is at a time when income in areas such as economic development and planning is dropping as a result of the recession.
However, in terms of the settlement for Wrexham County Borough Council on a per capita basis, then Wrexham are ranked 19th out of the 22 authorities. If the Council received support nearer the average level, then this would result in an additional £16 million to supplement Council services”.
The Council will be responding to this provisional settlement during the formal consultation period which ends on 4 January 2011.
The Council will strive hard to keep council tax at as low a level as possible as it has done in previous years.
Councillor Aled Roberts, Leader of the Council commented, “I recognise it is not an easy settlement but given the work already carried out by officers and members over the past 6 months we will strive to minimise the impact on front line services. We will need to continue to make further efficiencies and change the way in which we deliver some of our services.”
