Local AMs call for budgets to reflect needs of people of Wales

4.53.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 25th Oct 2006

Local Welsh Liberal Democrat AM's, Kirsty Williams and Mick Bates, have forced the Labour Assembly Government to re-think their budget proposals for Wales.

In a fiery debate in the Senedd chamber this week, opposition parties united to defeat the Government's draft budget, which had proposed cutting support to farmers and local services in Powys.

Kirsty Williams said: "This is the first step in helping rebuild farming and local services in Powys. The Labour party in Cardiff Bay have consistently undermined the rural economy, the slashing of Tir Mynydd by 40% being the latest example, while effectively forcing the closure of frontline services through underfunding.

"While Mick and I will do all we can to defend local services at the Assembly, and I do not feel the Government's settlement is adequate to protect them, Powys County Council must also examine how it is operating. After years of centralisation, I want to see local services back under local control, with financial assistance like the concurrent functions operating in Montgomeryshire.

"It is no secret that education and social services in Powys are under threat through lack of funding, and I am concerned that the council does not defend them robustly enough. School budget cuts, library closures, social service expenditure - these are the things that matter to the people of Powys, and politicians forget this at their peril."

Notes:

The Assembly Government's budget was debated at the Assembly yesterday, and voted down by the opposition. Among their requests for inclusion in a revised budget were a reversal of Tir Mynydd cuts, and more money for ambulances, carers, care homes and schools. A full transcript of this, and all other Assembly debates, can be found at the National Assembly for Wales website (www.wales.gov.uk).

The Assembly's Local Government Minister announced the Provisional Local Government Settlement today, which awards Powys a 3.7% increase for 2007-08 compared to 2006-07, lower than the Welsh average increase of 4.3%.