Revising the current funding formula to ensure all local authorities receive the funding they deserve is ‘crucial’ post-pandemic, says the MS for Monmouth.
Peter Fox MS, who is also the Shadow Minister for Finance, called on the Welsh Labour Government Finance Minister, Rebecca Evans MS, this week to address the current “funding black hole” facing many councils, including Monmouthshire County Council.
Mr Fox said:
“As a past long standing council leader, I have seen the growing disparity between funding and reserves of various councils, and have argued that the current system is out of date and requires review.
“We currently see variations in funding per capita from £1,000 to over £1,700 per person, with an expectation for lower-funded councils to just keep turning to increases in Council Tax to block the shortfalls – but this isn’t sustainable.
“Monmouthshire County Council-- as well as many other local authorities--has been starved of the funding that it deserves.
“This out-of-date system needs replacing urgently with a new, sustainable and fair-funding method.”
ENDS/
