Please, Brian Gibbons, I want some more
Following on from an earlier post it seems that three Welsh councils, Anglesey, Conwy and Powys are reaching for their bowls.
The councils with the lowest grant rise in Wales are to appeal to an assembly government minister for an increase.
Powys, Anglesey and Conwy councils, which are scheduled to receive between 1% and 1.1%, will press for at least a 1.5% rise next year.
Local Government Minister Brian Gibbons was described as anticipating a "constructive discussion" with them.
Last month, the assembly government said grants across Wales were "tight" but called it a "realistic deal".
The latest meeting comes a week after a cross-party delegation from Powys Council held talks with mid Wales AMs.
The delegation, which will meet Dr Gibbons in Cardiff on Wednesday, is being led by Powys Council and also includes the Welsh Local Government Association.
What are the chances of the response being, "You've got to pick a pocket or two"?
Posts
7 comments:
"constructive discussion" This is where one side gets their own way and the other is left disappointed.
Whatever happens you can be sure that the pocket picked will be the council tax payer, either directly in the form of higher tax or diminished services. Gosh, I'm starting to sound like one of those people from that awful Taxpayers Alliance group.
DC - You're right - we will all be hit in one way or another next year.
I imagine the words tight settlement will be used often at that meeting.
They may as well bang their heads against a wall. If he gives 0.5 percent to them, the others will come running and beg for more.
Give 'em nothing .... waste, waste, waste ..... sack half the underemployed office staff and watch services improve.
As one ex-Powys councillor said last week .. the hardest work there was looking busy.
But the only way that they can get any extra is by introducing a floor of 1.5%. This will have to come out of the local government settlement and will mean less for other authorities. Some of us remember the time when Powys received money for the free bus pass scheme but then spent it on other services because of a lack of buses in the county. If the county dealt with its surplus places it would have more than enough for other services. The councillors were elected to run the show and they should get on with it instead of going with the begging bowl to Cardiff. I wonder how muh the trip cost the hard pressed taxpayer.
We all have to learn to live within our means, and particularly at this time of the year.
Post a Comment