Focus on priorities, not frivolities in tight budget says Jenny Randerson
9.40.36am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 12th Dec 2007
Welsh Lib Dem Finance spokesperson Jenny Randerson today warned that government budget plans to squeeze funding for councils would hit core services such as education and health.
Jenny said: "It's universally acknowledged that this is a difficult budget settlement. But if councils get a poor deal, essential services they provide will suffer and council tax will go up, hitting hard-working families.
"Even prominent Labour and Plaid council leaders have publicly called for more support from the Government - a below inflation increase in money from the Assembly will mean council budgets actually drop.
"The Labour-Plaid Government must abandon some of the more glitzy aspects of their programme - Welsh schoolchildren need money for teachers not laptops first of all.
"Whilst we are on a tight budget it is telling that the major roads, the Welsh office and the reserves have all received healthy increases but local government has received a paltry increase.
"There is money that can be moved into key services, all the government has to do is listen to us."
Ends/Diwedd
Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 82b Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BX.
Published and promoted by Jenny Randerson AM, 99 Woodville Road, Cardiff CF24 4DY.
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.
|
