Agenda item

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, Councillor Gwynfor Owen will propose as follows:-

Welsh public services are facing a loss of up to £65m due to the increase to national insurance announced by the Labour government in Westminster.

Once again, Welsh Councils will experience an actual loss as the government uses the Barnett formula to determine how much funding is allocated to devolved countries. The Barnett formula is based on population size rather than on need.

It is unfair that Welsh public services will not receive full funding for the increase. This is another example of how Wales is at a total disadvantage as a result of a Labour government in the Senedd in Wales and in Westminster.

As we are still awaiting details from the two governments it is not possible to calculate the exact figure at present, but Cyngor Gwynedd is likely to be at a loss of around £1m, which is an amount we have had to pass on to our taxpayers.

Cyngor Gwynedd is therefore calling on the Welsh Government to demand a fairer method of funding our country from their masters in London.

Welsh public services are facing a loss of up to £65m due to the increase to national insurance announced by the Labour government in Westminster.

Once again, Welsh Councils will experience an actual loss as the government uses the Barnett formula to determine how much funding is allocated to devolved countries. The Barnett formula is based on population size rather than on need.

It is unfair that Welsh public services will not receive full funding for the increase. This is another example of how Wales is at a total disadvantage as a result of a Labour government in the Senedd in Wales and in Westminster.

As we are still awaiting details from the two governments it is not possible to calculate the exact figure at present, but Cyngor Gwynedd is likely to be at a loss of around £1m, which is an amount we have had to pass on to our taxpayers.

Cyngor Gwynedd is therefore calling on the Welsh Government to demand a fairer method of funding our country from their masters in London.

Submitted - the following notice of motion by Councillor Gwynfor Owen under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, and it was seconded:-

Welsh public services are facing a loss of up to £65m due to the increase to national insurance announced by the Labour Government in Westminster.

Once again, Welsh Councils will experience an actual loss as the government uses the Barnett formula to determine how much funding is allocated to devolved countries. The Barnett formula is based on population size rather than on need.

It is unfair that Welsh public services will not receive full funding for the increase. This is another example of how Wales is at a total disadvantage as a result of a Labour government in the Senedd in Wales and in Westminster.

As we are still awaiting details from the two governments it is not possible to calculate the exact figure at present, but Cyngor Gwynedd is likely to be at a loss of around £1m, which is an amount we have had to pass on to our taxpayers.

Cyngor Gwynedd is therefore calling on the Welsh Government to demand a fairer method of funding our country from their masters in London.

The member set out the context to his motion, noting:-

·         That the Central Government contributed 81.8% of the Council's budget in 1997, but by this year, that figure had fallen to 69.5%.

·         That clearly showed how the Westminster Government had gradually changed the way local government was funded, slowly moving from an income tax system, which was progressive tax, to a council tax system, which was a non-progressive tax. That meant shifting the tax burden from the rich to the poor.

·         When the UK Government announced the national insurance rise for employers, they were promised that they would compensate public services for the extra cost they faced.  That had happened in England, but not in Wales.

·         That this was just one example of how Wales is underfunded by the UK Government, and that the Welsh Government should demand that the UK Government change the funding formula, not just for national insurance compensation, but for the financing of our country as a whole.

Support for the proposal was expressed by members on the grounds that there was a need for an appropriate funding system that identified a need and that the Barnett Formula worked against rural communities.

RESOLVED to adopt the motion, namely:-

Welsh public services are facing a loss of up to £65m due to the increase to national insurance announced by the Labour Government in Westminster.

Once again, Welsh Councils will experience an actual loss as the government uses the Barnett formula to determine how much funding is allocated to devolved countries.  The Barnett formula is based on population size rather than on need.

It is unfair that Welsh public services will not receive full funding for the increase. This is another example of how Wales is at a total disadvantage as a result of a Labour government in the Senedd in Wales and in Westminster.

As we are still awaiting details from the two governments it is not possible to calculate the exact figure at present, but Cyngor Gwynedd is likely to be at a loss of around £1m, which is an amount we have had to pass on to our taxpayers.

Cyngor Gwynedd is therefore calling on the Welsh Government to demand a fairer method of funding our country from their masters in London.