COUNCIL leaders have been left ‘stunned’ after the Welsh Government announced even more cuts to local government budgets next year

Flintshire Council is one of the worst hit in Wales after Local Government Secretary Alun Davies revealed it would receive a one per cent funding reduction, equivalent to almost £1.9 million.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Wrexham Council will also have its budget brought down by 0.6 per cent, which represents a drop of £1.05m.

The authority’s leader Mark Pritchard (Ind) said he was shocked by the figure, which means the council will now need to make cuts worth £9m in 2019/20.

He said: “I am stunned the Welsh Government has reduced the resources available for essential local government services.

“In Wrexham, this settlement will require the council to make around £9m of cuts.

“Wrexham has the 18th lowest funding per head of population.

“The council will continue to work hard to reduce the impact of these cuts from Welsh Government on the people of Wrexham county borough.”

The Welsh Local Government Association said the settlement would have ‘grave implications’ for local services.

It also warned of severe consequences for school budgets because of the pressure imposed by wage, pension and population increases.

Flintshire leader Aaron Shotton (Lab) said that some of the 22 Welsh local authorities might decide they can no longer legally balance their budgets.

Cllr Shotton, the Welsh Local Government Association’s deputy leader, said: “Today’s provisional settlement is grossly inadequate for the funding needs of local councils.

“The councils in North Wales will be particularly badly hit under this planned budget with three councils – Conwy, Flintshire and Ynys Mon – at the foot of the annual funding ‘league table’.

“At some point soon one or more councils might have to admit that they are no longer able to legally balance their budget, without compromising the quality and safety of local services, under such intense financial pressure.

“Council leaders have been warning about the deepening impacts of austerity for several years.

“Welsh Government has failed to match its rhetoric of support with its budget.”

Councils now have until November 20 to respond to the provisional settlement when the government’s consultation period comes to a close.

In response to the concerns raised, Mr Davies said: “Last week we set out the context for this year’s local government settlement – the uncertainty surrounding arrangements for leaving the European Union, the forthcoming UK Autumn Budget and the UK Government’s planned spending review in 2019, as well as the continuing constraints on public spending.

“All of these factors form the backdrop for local authorities’ own budget-setting processes for the coming financial year.

“We have worked hard, across government, to offer local government the best settlement possible in this ninth year of austerity.

“The UK Government will publish its budget on October 29.

“In the event of additional funding being made available to Wales, local government will be a key priority for that funding.”