Last minute tinkering does little to ease pressure of Councils – Plaid Cymru Council leaders.

Councils are “in an impossible position”, forced to cut services and increase Council tax, as a result of the Labour Welsh Government’s budget, Plaid Cymru Council leaders have warned.

Responding to the final budget, the Leaders of Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd, Ynys Môn and Ceredigion councils said that “last minute tinkering” will do little to ease pressures on already fragile services.

After learning of the Labour government’s final plans, Darren Price, Nia Jeffreys, Gary Pritchard and Bryan Davies said:

“It has been clear for some time that Councils would be put in an impossible position, forced to cut services, and increase Council tax.

“Regrettably, that remains the case and this last-minute tinkering from the Labour Welsh Government does little to ease the pressure on already fragile services.

“Plaid Cymru council leaders warned in December of the perilous financial outlook for local services.

“We cautioned Ministers that the average 4.3% increase for councils announced for next year clearly falls short of meeting the pressure on council budgets.

“Despite an additional £30m being made available for social care, the fact that it isn’t included in the base line doesn’t afford councils the opportunity to mitigate the upcoming increases in Council Tax.

“The increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions announced by the UK Government last year is also a huge cause of concern for councils. The Welsh Local Government Association has estimated that the cost to local authorities stands at £109m, and this cost will not be fully met. That represents yet another cost pressure to councils’ already squeezed budgets.

“If the Labour Welsh Government’s “partnership in power” with their counterparts in Westminster is to mean anything, then the Spring Statement at the end of March will give Wales a cash injection we so desperately need to make up for decades of unfair funding.”