Anger at rising council administration costs, whilst budgets for roads and libraries fall

Questions are being asked of Welsh Local Authorities after it emerged that spending on ‘central administration’ will rise by £11 million this year.

The figures are from the Welsh Government’s own data resource – Stats Wales.

Over the same period, spending in other key areas is to fall across Wales as a whole, substantially.

For example, on ‘Roads and Transport’ overall spend will fall by £2.73 million in 2017/18. Whilst for ‘Libraries, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Recreation’ budgets will contract by almost £4 million.

Criticism is all the more targeted due to a much touted drive by Welsh Labour Government towards a more streamlined local government setup in Wales.

Sadly, years of uncertainty appears to have contributed to the problem, according to the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders.

She said:

“Councils across Wales have questions to answer over how wisely this money is being spent, if the central running costs are having to rise at a time when spending on vital public services like infrastructure and libraries are falling.

“It’s inconceivable that spending on central admin should be rising at all – but to see the budgets for things like libraries and road repairs falling at the same time is unacceptable.

“With Welsh Government having unleashed a whirlwind of uncertainty in recent years following botched plans to reform councils, I do have some sympathy for councils – especially in rural areas like the Vale of Glamorgan and Monmouth who already face a tough financial settlement.

“But taxpayers will be watching councils closely to ensure that their council tax receipts are spent wisely, and on the right priorities.”