Rural Wales hit “disproportionately” by Local Government Settlement
Commenting on the publication of the Welsh Government’s draft local government settlement, Shadow Local Government Minister – Janet Finch-Saunders AM – has called for a rethink of the formula used to calculate funding allocations.
There was also criticism from the Welsh Conservatives that rural communities in Wales had been “disproportionately hit” by Labour’s settlement.
Councils throughout Wales have received challenging settlements, with rural communities seemingly the hardest hit; each of the five local authorities to face the biggest cuts were predominantly rural areas.
Powys, for example, saw it’s allocation cut by 4.1%. Cardiff, meanwhile, by just 0.1%.
Shadow Local Government Minister, Janet Finch-Saunders, said:
“Local authorities in Wales face another tough settlement from the Welsh Government and hardworking families throughout Wales will now face an anxious wait to see if their council tax bills have to rise as a result.
“It’s clear that the whole formula needs to be reconsidered, with an inexplicable variance in cuts between local authorities.
“What won’t come as a surprise is that rural communities have once again been hit disproportionately by this Labour Government.
“The Welsh Labour Government’s relationship with rural Wales is at an all-time low. It’s government by the city, for the city; with not a single full cabinet member who represents a rural part of Wales. They just don’t get it.”
