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| Councils and schools cash boost | Councils and schools cash boost |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Extra money for local councils and to cut class sizes for three-to-seven year olds are included in the Welsh Assembly Government's three year budget plans. | Extra money for local councils and to cut class sizes for three-to-seven year olds are included in the Welsh Assembly Government's three year budget plans. |
| Finance Minister Andrew Davies said "real improvements" would result from a further £32m for early years education. | Finance Minister Andrew Davies said "real improvements" would result from a further £32m for early years education. |
| Mr Davies said £4.7m extra for councils meant all would get at least 2% more central government cash from April. | Mr Davies said £4.7m extra for councils meant all would get at least 2% more central government cash from April. |
| Local councils said the budget's publication was "little more than an exercise in window dressing". | Local councils said the budget's publication was "little more than an exercise in window dressing". |
| Mr Davies said: "The final budget allocates additional funding...to ensure that all local authorities will receive an increase in assembly government funding of at least 2% next year, bringing the average increase up to 2.4%." | Mr Davies said: "The final budget allocates additional funding...to ensure that all local authorities will receive an increase in assembly government funding of at least 2% next year, bringing the average increase up to 2.4%." |
| Under his draft plans, Powys was set for a 1% increase, with central funding for Anglesey, Blaenau Gwent, Conwy, Gwynedd and Newport originally due to rise by less than the 2% floor now set by the minister. | Under his draft plans, Powys was set for a 1% increase, with central funding for Anglesey, Blaenau Gwent, Conwy, Gwynedd and Newport originally due to rise by less than the 2% floor now set by the minister. |
| The position for front line services is particularly daunting Derek Vaughan, Welsh Local Government Association | The position for front line services is particularly daunting Derek Vaughan, Welsh Local Government Association |
| In a statement Mr Davies said that he wanted more efficiency from authorities. | In a statement Mr Davies said that he wanted more efficiency from authorities. |
| "We will be working with local government to simplify funding arrangements, target areas of underperformance and develop minimum standards of service delivery across Wales," he said. | "We will be working with local government to simplify funding arrangements, target areas of underperformance and develop minimum standards of service delivery across Wales," he said. |
| Mr Davies said a further £14m in the financial year 2009/10 and £18m in 2010/11 to cut class sizes meant there was "substantial new investment in Welsh schools which will deliver real improvements in early years education, where the long-term benefits are greatest". | |
| He explained that, over the next three years, assembly government spending would reach £16bn, more than double the £7bn when the assembly was created in 1999. | He explained that, over the next three years, assembly government spending would reach £16bn, more than double the £7bn when the assembly was created in 1999. |
| The changes he had made, he said, resulted from consulting "widely" on the financial proposals. | The changes he had made, he said, resulted from consulting "widely" on the financial proposals. |
| Hobson's choice | Hobson's choice |
| Welsh ministers had warned "tough" decisions were needed due to less cash coming to them from the UK Government. | Welsh ministers had warned "tough" decisions were needed due to less cash coming to them from the UK Government. |
| Whilst expressing satisfaction that no council would receive less than 2% extra assembly government money, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said it was "sad" the association's warnings "had not been heeded". | Whilst expressing satisfaction that no council would receive less than 2% extra assembly government money, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said it was "sad" the association's warnings "had not been heeded". |
| Leader Derek Vaughan warned: "We face a significant range of difficult choices ahead - it is, however, a 'Hobson's choice' since the only alternative to raising council tax is to cut services. | Leader Derek Vaughan warned: "We face a significant range of difficult choices ahead - it is, however, a 'Hobson's choice' since the only alternative to raising council tax is to cut services. |
| "The position for front line services is particularly daunting with the gap between education funding in Wales and England widening," he added. | "The position for front line services is particularly daunting with the gap between education funding in Wales and England widening," he added. |
| Powys council said the "change of heart" by the assembly government was "good news" but maintained the local authority still had a "difficult task balancing its annual budget". | Powys council said the "change of heart" by the assembly government was "good news" but maintained the local authority still had a "difficult task balancing its annual budget". |
| Liberal Democrat assembly finance spokesperson Jenny Randerson agreed ministers had "merely tinkered to offset the worst aspects" of the local government deal. | Liberal Democrat assembly finance spokesperson Jenny Randerson agreed ministers had "merely tinkered to offset the worst aspects" of the local government deal. |
| Conservative assembly group leader Nick Bourne said "the few changes made to the dismal draft budget have done nothing to disguise the fact that we are facing some serious belt-tightening over the next three years". | Conservative assembly group leader Nick Bourne said "the few changes made to the dismal draft budget have done nothing to disguise the fact that we are facing some serious belt-tightening over the next three years". |
| Assembly members vote on the budget plans next week. | Assembly members vote on the budget plans next week. |