NDM8459 - Opposition Debate
Tabled on 17/01/2024 | For debate on 24/01/2024To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the vital role that councils play in delivering public services across Wales and the funding challenges they face.
2. Acknowledges that the Welsh Government is receiving record levels of funding from the UK Government.
3. Notes that councils have over £2.75 billion in useable reserves.
4. Regrets that councils are consulting on council tax rises of up to 25 per cent for the 2024-2025 financial year.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) commission an independent review of the Welsh local government funding formula;
b) work with local authorities to use their useable reserves to keep council tax as low as possible; and
c) require any local authority proposing a council tax rise of over 5 per cent to hold a local referendum and obtain a yes vote before implementing the proposed rise.
Tabled By
Amendments
Delete all after point 2 and replace with:
Regrets:
a) the chronic underfunding of Wales by successive UK governments which impacts local authority budgets; and
b) estimates of a £750 million funding gap by 2027 which will further entrench deprivation and inequality.
Believes that local government finances in Wales are on an unsustainable trajectory without a fair funding model from Westminster.
Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) formally request the UK Government to review the Barnett funding model on the basis of Welsh societal needs to support all budget areas, including local authority funding;
b) urgently bring forward detailed plans which will put local authorities and all public services on a sustainable footing; and
c) provide guidance on how the current Revenue Support Grant floor relates to the local government settlement for 2024-25, and develop a strategy to ensure that the Revenue Support Grant is applied consistently through subsequent financial years.
Calls on the UK Government of the day to always implement a fair funding formula which enables the Welsh Government to adequately fund local authorities.
Tabled By
Delete points 1 and 2 and replace with:
Recognises the vital role local authorities play in delivering public services across Wales, the significant increases in the local government settlement over the past 2 years, the protection of the 3.1 per cent increase for 2024-25, and the funding challenges authorities nevertheless face.
Acknowledges that the Welsh Government budget for 2024-25 is now worth up to £1.3 billion less in real terms than when it was set in 2021.
Tabled By
Delete point 5 and replace with:
Notes that the Welsh Government will:
a) continue to develop and maintain the Welsh local government funding formula in partnership with local government; and
b) continue to recognise the importance of local democratic decision making on council budgets and public services.