Council Budget Approved – Local Cuts Blamed On Westminster & Cardiff

Wrexham Council’s budget has been approved, which was described as ‘sound and sensible’ by the Council Leader, with a finger pointed at Welsh and UK Government for the reason for local cuts.

The budget for Wrexham Council 2017-2018 was presented and approved today, and covers a net expenditure of £225,323,754 and an increase in council tax at Band D of 2.6% . The budget includes further ‘savings’ or cuts of £4.17 million this coming year.

The budget has been formulated after public consultation in Autumn, including on and offline questions – plus a face to face session when Lead Members ‘set up camp’ outside the Contact Centre on Lord Street.

Wrexham Council say over 1,000 peoples views were gathered during this process and that ‘there was general support form the public for all of the savings proposed outlined’.

Speaking at this morning’s meeting, Leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr Mark Pritchard said: “The Council has had a particularly challenging settlement from Welsh Government. In the final Local Government settlement announced on 21 December 2016 Wrexham County Borough Council had a 0.5% decrease in funding compared to an all Wales increase of 0.2%”

Questions about the budget were raised by Cllrs Graham Rogers, Dana Davies and Andrew Bailey over staffing cuts contained within it, with a figure placed at around 120 Council jobs cut being given in response. That figure will include ‘natural wastage, not filling vacancies, and failing that, going through Council HR processes such as considering redeployment , or retraining staff’.

A Council Officer noted the 0.5% reduction in local government settlement from Cardiff, saying such job reductions are ‘quite reasonable’ in that context.

Cllr Pritchard added commentary to answers to questions saying: “None of us here come into politics to make these decisions. These cuts are forced upon us. The cuts, and they are cuts, devastating cuts, are coming from Government not us.”

Cllr David Bithell pointed out that the Environment Department had recruited 27 extra staff, and had brought various services back in-house, adding: “This has been against all the odds.”

In a point to Westminster and Cardiff he later addressed Cllr Bailey saying: “If yourself wants to make representation to local Assembly Members and Members of Parliament to support us to continually canvas the Welsh Government to get better settlements we would be.

“If we got same settlement as the top authority in Wales we wouldn’t be taking or considering as many cuts this morning. That was imposed on us, did say in my presentation we’ve had a very poor settlement.”

Previously Cllr Pritchard has told us that he believed the settlement figures was a political decision, “I am disappointed we are one of the lowest in Wales. A deal was done at our expense. I am disappointed and annoyed, as we work tirelessly and at times I don’t feel we are playing on a level playing field.

“I think North Wales has been a poor relation for far too long and it is time it should stop.”

Below is a graphic of the settlement figures in Wales, compared to other local authorities:

Following the approval today the Council will include the Police and Community Council precepts once notified, and a ‘composite report’ will be approved by the Council on 22 February 2017