A number of schemes using the private finance initiative were undertaken by Welsh local authorities and local health boards in the period between 1995 and 2008. Detailed information relating to these schemes is published periodically by the UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

We are continuing to deliver EU funds in line with our objectives for growth and jobs agreed with the European Commission. We have so far invested £1.37 billion, 66 per cent, of our allocation and we are committed to investing the remaining funds within the scope of the UK Government’s guarantee.

Financial powers to local authorities in North Wales will form part of the finance framework to accompany local government reform.

The 2017-18 financial settlement provided local government with its first cash increase since 2013-14.

My priority for Torfaen for the next 12 months is that the authority builds further from last year’s auditor general assessment which concluded that the council had ‘clear strategic vision driven by open and inclusive leadership and is actively developing its corporate arrangements to deliver improved outcomes

The majority of local authority administrative services are delivered in-house, with outsourcing only accounting for around 3 per cent of all service delivery methods and outsourcing to the private sector only around 1 per cent.