MP, AM & GROUP LEADER SLAM POOR POWYS SETTLEMENT

2.17.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 20th Oct 2009

WAG Stance Placing Council/LHB Merger Process At Risk Say Politicians

Brecon & Radnorshire's MP, Roger Williams, AM Kirsty Williams and Powys County Council Welsh Lib. Dem. Group Leader, Cllr. Leslie Davies, have all expressed their deep concern about the future of services and the impact on council taxpayers in Powys, following the Welsh Assembly Government's announcement today of a bare 1% increase in Powys County Council's provisional funding (settlement) for 2010/11.

Commenting on the settlement, Roger Williams said:

" This is the third year in a row that Powys County Council has suffered at the hands of the Assembly Government. At a time when the Assembly Government wants the County Council to merge with the Powys Local Health Board, it has administered a kick in the teeth to the Council that must not only threaten services and but could place that whole project at risk."

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Kirsty Williams added:

" This settlement is indicative of the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government's attitude to rural areas. It is very noticeable that, with the exceptions of Ceredigion and Denbighshire, all other rural authorities in Wales will receive very poor settlements next year. We all know that the financial crisis means that public spending will have to be restrained next year, but it seems that the rural areas of Wales will have to pay the heaviest price for that restraint."

Group Leader Cllr. Leslie Davies added:

" From the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government's statement it is clear that the only reason Powys will be getting just a 1% increase is because of the 'floor' that Powys AMs Kirsty Williams and Mick Bates helped to negotiate for this year's funding, after the Council was faced with a potential zero% settlement. The budgetary position facing the Council is dire. We face very some tough decisions, but we will do everything we can to maintain front-line services, while keeping any Council Tax increase as low as possible. Our priority must be to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities through these difficult times."