9. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Local government funding

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:39 pm on 29 March 2023.

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Photo of Sam Rowlands Sam Rowlands Conservative 4:39, 29 March 2023

Thank you again, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm delighted to open this debate today on local government funding. As our motion outlines here today, we propose that the Senedd first of all notes that local authorities have an estimated £2.75 billion in useable reserves, recognises the vital role that local authorities play in delivering public services across Wales and the funding challenges that they face, and regrets that the average council tax rise in Wales for the next year is 5.5 per cent. Also, we call on the Welsh Government to commission an independent review of the Welsh local government funding formula, that the Welsh Government work with local authorities to use their useable reserves to keep council tax as low as possible, and require any local authority proposing an excessive increase in council tax to hold a referendum and obtain a 'yes' vote before implementing the proposed rise. Let's be very clear, the funding of councils in Wales to enable them to deliver the services that our residents expect is wholly in the gift of the Welsh Government, who currently choose to provide around three quarters of local government's funding. The rest, in the main, as we know, is funded through council tax demands.