Welsh Lib Dems urge Welsh Gov to provide extra funding to councils

Today (2^nd of March 2024) at their Spring party conference in Cardiff, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh Government to provide extra funding for Local authorities in Wales.

According to estimates from the Welsh Local Government Association, councils in Wales are facing funding pressures of £720m in 2024-25, with real term funding for Local government’s being 12% lower in 2023-24 than it was in 2009-10.

The Welsh Lib Dems are now calling on the Welsh Government to put in place a long-term plan to work towards restoring real terms local government funding to 2009-10 levels.

Commenting, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:

“Our local authorities here in Wales have been left to deal on their own with a severe funding gap, created by the financial mismanagement of the UK Conservative government.

I know many councils have had to make some difficult decisions when it comes to their budgets for this coming financial year, which is why we have passed this motion today.

We as a party are calling for extra funding for our struggling local authorities here in Wales, to stem the tide of public service cuts and increases in council tax.

The Welsh Government must finally get their act together and put in place a long-term manageable plan to help restore local government funding back to where it was in 2009/10.”

Commenting, Welsh Lib Dem PPC for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney Jackie Charlton said:

“I am extremely proud that we have passed this motion today calling for extra funding for local authorities across Wales.

It is no secret that councils across Wales have been presented with the difficult task of setting their budgets for the upcoming financial year in the shadow of an economic crisis that has gripped this country.

Difficult decisions around cutting public services and raising costs have sadly become the reality for many councillors in Wales facing an astronomical funding gap.

The UK Conservative government, through blatant disregard, have completely crashed our economy. And have forced ordinary working people to pick up the pieces and tidy up a mess created by years of Tory government.