Monmouth MP David Davies has demanded answers over why Monmouthshire County Council is facing a 4.4 per cent cut in funding from the Welsh Government despite the UK Government’s annual block grant increasing.
The grant is given to Wales every year by the UK Treasury and from this the Welsh Government provides funding for local authorities.
Mr Davies has written to Finance Minister Jane Hutt questioning the amount of money being handed out to Monmouthshire County Council after figures he obtained from the Wales Office revealed the Welsh Government has seen increases in the funding it receives from Westminster.
In 2008-09, the block grant was £14,242 million and increased to £14,872 million in 2012-13. It is set to rise to £15,096 million in 2015-16.
“While I understand the need to make reductions in public spending and fully support the Coalition Government’s economic policies to tackle the national debt, I cannot understand the 4.4 per cent cut that the Welsh Government is imposing on Monmouthshire County Council,” said Mr Davies.
“This reduction in the annual settlement has in turn left the council with no choice other than to look at closing popular local services, including the libraries in Gilwern and Usk, in order to fill a £9 million budget shortfall.
“The Welsh Government will no doubt suggest cuts in local government spending are being forced on them by the Coalition Government’s deficit reduction plan, but this is untrue.
“I demand to know where the Welsh Government has spent the increase in money it has received and whether it is being spent on pet projects, rather than on local authorities like Monmouth.
“The cuts are unfair on Monmouth considering it is the most fiscally well run local authority in Wales and already the lowest funded.
“I wonder whether the Labour-led Welsh Government is simply imposing cuts on the Conservative-led Monmouthshire County Council for political ends.
“Whatever the reasons, my constituents have a right to know why their public services are being put at risk by Monmouthshire County Council being forced to possibly shut valuable resources to bridge a financial gap created by the Welsh Government.”
*The figures showing details about the block grant the Welsh Assembly Government receives from the UK Government can be found here.