County's services spared as budget axe falls elsewhere

CARMARTHENSHIRE Council has received one of the best budgetsettlements in Wales.

The Provisional Local Government Revenue Settlement was publishedlast week by the Assembly Government, following the announcement ofthe draft budget.

It shows that Carmarthenshire Council will face a cut of 1.3 percent over the coming year.

This places it in the top five of the 22 Welsh authorities interms of the smallest budget cuts.

In England, local government is facing a cut of 7.1 per cent ayear for the next four years.

Cut The average cut for Wales is 1.4 per cent, with Ceredigionand Pembrokeshire facing cuts of 0.7 per cent and 1.7 per centrespectively.

Carmarthenshire Council will receive Pounds 249 million in corefunding from the Assembly Government in 2011-12 to support services,equivalent to Pounds 1,349 for every man, woman and child living inthe area.

In addition to this, Pounds 11.4 million will be available tosupport capital projects in Carmarthenshire.

The council will also receive specific grants to support a rangeof activities including early years and post-16 education, refusedisposal and recycling.

Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant pledged more cash wouldgo to schools and social services over the next three years.

Mid and West Wales Plaid AM Nerys Evans said: "It's welcoming tosee that the overall cut for councils in Wales is much lower thanpreviously anticipated.

"The Welsh Government has prioritised the needs of children, theelderly and vulnerable people, which has meant that a level ofprotection has been secured for social services and schools."

A spokeswoman for Carmarthenshire Council said: "We are pleasedthat the Welsh Assembly Government has recognised the importance offrontline local government services to the people of Wales, and hasprotected schools and social care."

Protected She warned: "There will still be very difficultdecisions to be made over the next three months or so as we striveto find many millions of pounds of savings and deal with the everincreasing pressures on adult social care, children's services andschools.

"Carmarthenshire Council will be seeking to protect the mostvulnerable members of society, support the education of our youngpeople and continue to regenerate our housing and economy."