6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the delivery of public services by local authorities? OAQ(5)0073(FLG)

I thank the Member for that question. Good public services play a vitally important role in the lives of all citizens in Wales. The Welsh Government continues to protect funding for all local authorities, so that vital services such as social care can go on being provided.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that reply. Another vital service that is provided by local authorities is adequate street lighting in urban areas. Will the Cabinet Secretary agree with me that Powys County Council seem to have embarked upon a rather bizarre policy of not replacing street lights that go out during the winter in places like Llanidloes because they’re engaged in a long-term plan to upgrade street lighting to more energy efficient LED lighting? Whilst nobody can object to the long-term objective, is it not unacceptable that my constituents have to grope around in the dark over large parts of Llanidloes because the county council won’t replace light bulbs?

I thank the Member for drawing that to my attention. It’s not a matter that I’d heard of previously, and I’m very happy to make inquiries of the local authority about it. On the more general point, I of course agree with him: this Government makes a very significant investment through our invest-to-save scheme in assisting local authorities to upgrade lighting in that way, which not only provides a better level of lighting and a more environmentally friendly form of lighting, but produces considerable savings for local authorities in the longer run.