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3.5% cut to councils' funding

Wales' 22 councils have found how much money they will receive from the Welsh Government for 2013-14. It says the overall reduction in their allocation is £150m - that's 3.5 per cent - compared this year.

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WLGA: Councils facing 'unprecedented' funding cuts

The Welsh Local Government Association, which represents councils here, says today's figures show "local government in Wales is facing unprecedented funding reductions."

It is "urging the public to recognise the difficulties that their local councils face, and to work with them to help prioritise the services that are so vital to community wellbeing."

This is by far the worst financial settlement for local government since devolution, and local councils will only be able to rise to the challenge if they are free to make local decisions in the best interest of their communities.

Every council in Wales is committed to innovating and changing the way that local public services are delivered but this can only be achieved with less central regulation and prescription.

Whatever councils do, these cuts mean that the public services delivered by local government in Wales will look significantly different within the next 3 to 5 years.

Communities throughout Wales will have to revise their expectations significantly in terms of what services they can realistically expect their local councils to deliver, and local councils and their communities will need to engage in some very difficult discussions on what services should be prioritised.

– Councillor Aaron Shotton, WLGA Deputy Leader
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3.5% cut to councils' funding

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