Agenda item

‘That this Council

1)    Welcomes the increase in the Local Government Revenue Settlement which will see Carmarthenshire County Council’s funding allocation increase by 9.2% in 2022/23.

2)    Agrees with the Leader of this Council when he recently said: “I very much welcome this settlement from Welsh Government, which is one of the best councils will have seen for a long time. It is testament to the constructive and regular dialogue which has been had with ministers and wider Members of the Senedd, which has certainly been appreciated by council leaders.”

3)    Supports the Welsh Government’s determination to protect local government services as much as possible despite its own budget being £3bn lower by 2024/25 than it would have otherwise been had it increased in line with the economy since 2010/11.

4)    And subsequently regrets that the Conservative UK Government continues to underfund public services, in general, and those in Wales in particular, and agree that all this Council’s Political Group Leaders jointly write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging him to restore funding to Welsh Government to at least the real terms equivalent of its 2010 level.’

Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor John James:-

‘That this Council

1)  Welcomes the increase in the Local Government Revenue Settlement which will see Carmarthenshire County Council’s funding allocation increase by 9.2% in 2022/23.

2)  Agrees with the Leader of this Council when he recently said: “I very much welcome this settlement from Welsh Government, which is one of the best councils will have seen for a long time. It is testament to the constructive and regular dialogue which has been had with ministers and wider Members of the Senedd, which has certainly been appreciated by council leaders.”

3)  Supports the Welsh Government’s determination to protect local government services as much as possible despite its own budget being £3bn lower by 2024/25 than it would have otherwise been had it increased in line with the economy since 2010/11.

4)  And subsequently regrets that the Conservative UK Government continues to underfund public services, in general, and those in Wales in particular, and agree that all this Council’s Political Group Leaders jointly write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging him to restore funding to Welsh Government to at least the real terms equivalent of its 2010 level.’

The motion was duly seconded.

The following amendment [underlined text] to the motion was proposed by Councillor K. Broom and was duly seconded:

‘That this Council

1)    Welcomes the increase in the Local Government Revenue Settlement which will see Carmarthenshire County Council’s funding allocation increase by 9.2% in 2022/23.

2)    Agrees with the Leader of this Council when he recently said: “I very much welcome this settlement from Welsh Government, which is one of the best councils will have seen for a long time. It is testament to the constructive and regular dialogue which has been had with ministers and wider Members of the Senedd, which has certainly been appreciated by council leaders.”

3)    Recognises that in addition to service cost pressures in areas such as social care, there is significant risk to our funding position as the Welsh Government explicitly requires Local Authorities to accommodate the risks of future pay awards, unprecedented inflationary pressures (such as gas and electricity costs which are expected to rise by 20%), ongoing Covid-19 related costs and continuing income reduction, and additional employer contributions as a result of the UK Government’s planned National Insurance rise from April 1^st 2022.  

4)    Supports the Welsh Government’s determination to protect local government services as much as possible despite its own budget being £3bn lower by 2024/25 than it would have otherwise been had it increased in line with the economy since 2010/11. However we recognise that the Welsh Government settlement to this Council has significantly reduced in real terms since 2010, taking little account of the pressures from wage inflation, pension increases and other service pressures.

5)    And subsequently regrets that the Conservative UK Government continues to underfund public services, in general, and those in Wales in particular, and agree that all this Council’s Political Group Leaders jointly write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging him to restore funding to Welsh Government to at least the real terms equivalent of its 2010 level.’

The Proposer and Seconder of the Amendment were afforded the opportunity of speaking in support thereof and outlined the reasons for its submission, as set out in the Amendment.

The proposer of the Motion was afforded the right of reply and outlined the reasons for its submission, as set out in the Motion.

Council was advised that if the Amendment was carried it would become the substantive motion.

Following votes it was 

RESOLVED that the Motion, as amended, be supported.