Title

WALES

Welsh councils warn of 'financial tipping point' due to cuts

Six Welsh council leaders have written to the Welsh government warning them that without a change to the way local government is funded there will be ‘substantial cuts’ to frontline services.

Six Welsh council leaders have written to the Welsh government warning them that without a change to the way local government is funded there will be ‘substantial cuts' to frontline services.

The letter, signed by all the local authority leaders sitting on the North Wales Regional Leadership Board, read: ‘Teachers, social workers, librarians and all manner of other workers delivering local services will all be subject to job losses without increased funding for local authorities.'

The letter argued that councils have been hit by a number of factors outside of their control, including revenue support cuts and legislation that requires more services that are not fully funded by the Welsh Government.

It also highlighted the pressures created by the increase in demand from an ageing population, and the rising workforce costs from nationally agreed pay and pension awards.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: ‘We have done our best to protect local government in Wales from the worst of the austerity cuts imposed by the UK Government over the last decade.

‘As a result of the UK Government's ongoing austerity agenda, the Welsh Government's budget this year is almost £1bn lower in real terms than in 2010/11.

‘We will continue to work with local government to deliver the best possible settlement for people in Wales.

'However, with Brexit and no clarity about our budget beyond April 2020, we are all facing unprecedented uncertainty about the future.'

WALES

Planning for the future of planning

By Dr Wei Yang | 24 July 2025

Dr Wei Yang presents the case for investing in tools that improve transparency, efficiency and inclusivity, to support a modernised planning system fit for t...

WALES

Let the electorate decide what they are willing to pay for

By Heather Jameson | 24 July 2025

'Fiscal devolution – particularly for council tax – has a lot going for it', says Heather Jameson.

WALES

LGA hits back at Reform UK critics

By Dan Peters | 24 July 2025

The Local Government Association (LGA) has insisted it is ‘more important than ever the sector has a strong single voice’ after criticism from Reform UK figu...

WALES

Warning against forced return to 'autocratic' cabinet system

By Dan Peters | 24 July 2025

Labour-led Sheffield City Council has warned against a forced return to the ‘autocratic, top-down decision-making cabinet system’.

Popular articles by William Eichler