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| What will Welsh councils' budgets be? | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Councils are largely unprepared for the scale of cuts coming their way, claims the body which represents them. | Councils are largely unprepared for the scale of cuts coming their way, claims the body which represents them. |
| The warning from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) comes before individual council budgets are revealed by ministers on Wednesday. | The warning from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) comes before individual council budgets are revealed by ministers on Wednesday. |
| Last week ministers announced local government funding in Wales would be cut by 5.81% in real terms next year. | Last week ministers announced local government funding in Wales would be cut by 5.81% in real terms next year. |
| One council has already announced plans to shut more than half its libraries and close day centres. | One council has already announced plans to shut more than half its libraries and close day centres. |
| On Monday Rhondda Cynon Taf council was the latest to announce plans for deep cuts, saying it needed to save £56m over the next four years. | On Monday Rhondda Cynon Taf council was the latest to announce plans for deep cuts, saying it needed to save £56m over the next four years. |
| Its cost-saving proposals also included children starting full-time school a year later. | Its cost-saving proposals also included children starting full-time school a year later. |
| Last week the Welsh government announced its draft budget with the Welsh NHS receiving £570m of extra funding over three years. | Last week the Welsh government announced its draft budget with the Welsh NHS receiving £570m of extra funding over three years. |
| The decision left less money available for local authorities. | The decision left less money available for local authorities. |
| Total local government spending in Wales will fall from £4.648bn this year to £4.466bn next year, a cut in cash terms of 3.91%, or 5.81% in real terms, after allowing for inflation. | Total local government spending in Wales will fall from £4.648bn this year to £4.466bn next year, a cut in cash terms of 3.91%, or 5.81% in real terms, after allowing for inflation. |
| Their budgets will be around 9% lower in real terms between now and 2015-16. | Their budgets will be around 9% lower in real terms between now and 2015-16. |
| In a report for the assembly's finance committee, the WLGA tells assembly members: "While local government is aware of the deteriorating situation regarding the Welsh government budget, it is probably unprepared for the scale of reductions that is likely to be visited on local finances for 2014-15." | In a report for the assembly's finance committee, the WLGA tells assembly members: "While local government is aware of the deteriorating situation regarding the Welsh government budget, it is probably unprepared for the scale of reductions that is likely to be visited on local finances for 2014-15." |
| The association said most medium-term plans councils had published were based on more optimistic indications they had from Welsh minsters last year. | The association said most medium-term plans councils had published were based on more optimistic indications they had from Welsh minsters last year. |
| The document warned that "seasoned finance practitioners" at councils were worried that they had less than six months to plan the steeper cuts in time for the new financial year in April. | The document warned that "seasoned finance practitioners" at councils were worried that they had less than six months to plan the steeper cuts in time for the new financial year in April. |
| "The extent to which sensible service and workforce planning can be achieved in such a short period has to be questioned," the WLGA said. | "The extent to which sensible service and workforce planning can be achieved in such a short period has to be questioned," the WLGA said. |
| It added that local councils in England and Scotland had been given more time to get their financial houses in order. | It added that local councils in England and Scotland had been given more time to get their financial houses in order. |
| The WLGA will discuss its report with assembly members on the assembly finance committee on Thursday. | The WLGA will discuss its report with assembly members on the assembly finance committee on Thursday. |
| Before that, Local Government Minister Lesley Griffiths will reveal on Wednesday each local authority's individual budget. | Before that, Local Government Minister Lesley Griffiths will reveal on Wednesday each local authority's individual budget. |
| Go bust | Go bust |
| Finance Minister Jane Hutt has said the Welsh government was "supporting and cushioning" local government over the last three years in anticipation of the cuts. | Finance Minister Jane Hutt has said the Welsh government was "supporting and cushioning" local government over the last three years in anticipation of the cuts. |
| Meanwhile, the Welsh Conservatives have criticised Cardiff council for recruiting five assistant directors with salaries of £80,000 a year days after a senior cabinet member gave a warning about the state of its finances. | Meanwhile, the Welsh Conservatives have criticised Cardiff council for recruiting five assistant directors with salaries of £80,000 a year days after a senior cabinet member gave a warning about the state of its finances. |
| Last week senior Cardiff councillor Russell Goodway, cabinet member for finance, said the authority would struggle to cope with cuts. | Last week senior Cardiff councillor Russell Goodway, cabinet member for finance, said the authority would struggle to cope with cuts. |
| He said the council was finding it hard to absorb £20m in cuts this year, let alone another £50m in 2014-15. | He said the council was finding it hard to absorb £20m in cuts this year, let alone another £50m in 2014-15. |
| He also warned that two councils in Wales could go bust as a result of the cuts next year. | He also warned that two councils in Wales could go bust as a result of the cuts next year. |
| A spokesman for Cardiff council said the latest recruitment campaign was part of a restructuring exercise of senior management which was announced by the local authority last year. | A spokesman for Cardiff council said the latest recruitment campaign was part of a restructuring exercise of senior management which was announced by the local authority last year. |