This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-29497589
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ministers should keep out of budget cuts, says Denbighshire leader | Ministers should keep out of budget cuts, says Denbighshire leader |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A council leader has called for Welsh ministers not to interfere in local authority budget cuts decisions. | A council leader has called for Welsh ministers not to interfere in local authority budget cuts decisions. |
Hugh Evans, leader of Denbighshire council, said statutory services should not be immune from cuts if there are ways to run them more efficiently. | Hugh Evans, leader of Denbighshire council, said statutory services should not be immune from cuts if there are ways to run them more efficiently. |
"Give us the opportunity to do it on our own. Don't interfere is the message I would suggest to the Welsh government," he said. | "Give us the opportunity to do it on our own. Don't interfere is the message I would suggest to the Welsh government," he said. |
The Welsh government said it was up to councils how they allocated resources. | |
Councils will find out on Wednesday what their budget for 2015/16 will be. | Councils will find out on Wednesday what their budget for 2015/16 will be. |
Previously, the council said the draft local government settlement indicated that it will have to make £8.5m in cuts. | Previously, the council said the draft local government settlement indicated that it will have to make £8.5m in cuts. |
Short-changed | Short-changed |
Speaking on BBC Wales' Sunday Supplement, Mr Evans said the anticipated settlement will mean the Denbighshire authority will have to cut jobs. | Speaking on BBC Wales' Sunday Supplement, Mr Evans said the anticipated settlement will mean the Denbighshire authority will have to cut jobs. |
"We've always driven budgets by safeguarding jobs and protecting frontline services; this level of cuts will not allow us to do that. There will be, sadly, redundancies. | "We've always driven budgets by safeguarding jobs and protecting frontline services; this level of cuts will not allow us to do that. There will be, sadly, redundancies. |
"We'd like to be given the opportunity to make cuts in services which are essential by doing things in a different way." | "We'd like to be given the opportunity to make cuts in services which are essential by doing things in a different way." |
He said the council will also look at introducing and increasing charges for services. | He said the council will also look at introducing and increasing charges for services. |
Mr Evans, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) independent group leader, also said north Wales is being short-changed when it comes to spending on infrastructure projects. | Mr Evans, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) independent group leader, also said north Wales is being short-changed when it comes to spending on infrastructure projects. |
"There's a projection over the next three or four years, roughly, about £1.4bn investment in south Wales and it's really concerning that in terms of capital investment that we're earmarked for £10m investment somewhere in north Wales and that's the message from the draft budget." | "There's a projection over the next three or four years, roughly, about £1.4bn investment in south Wales and it's really concerning that in terms of capital investment that we're earmarked for £10m investment somewhere in north Wales and that's the message from the draft budget." |
Connectivity | |
A Welsh government spokesperson said it was the responsibility of local authorities to "allocate resources in a way that best meets the needs of their residents". | |
"The draft budget 2015-16 set out how we will allocate £1.4bn of capital to deliver on our priorities and boost jobs and growth across the length and breadth of Wales," the spokesperson said. | |
"As part of this, we are providing an additional £10m to improve transport connectivity in north Wales, while we have already announced £12m in 2015-16 for safety improvements to the A55 Tunnels and £5m for the redevelopment of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. | |
"North Wales will also benefit from the additional £32m investment in housing, £5m to promote green growth across Wales and £10m for the next generation broadband programme." |
Previous version
1
Next version