Labour pledge to use funding for ‘best interests’ of Carmarthenshire residents

Carmarthenshire Labour has responded to the Welsh Government budget, making clear that the funding being passed to local councils is made possible by decisions taken by the Labour Government in Westminster.

At a time when councils across Wales face unprecedented pressure on services, additional funding for local government has been enabled by Labour’s commitment to supporting Wales through fair funding settlements and targeted investment.

Cllr Deryk Cundy, Leader of the Labour Opposition on Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “People deserve clarity. The money being provided to councils comes from the Labour Government in Westminster, working with Welsh Labour. Supporting a budget is not the same as providing the funding.

“Our responsibility at county level is to ensure that this Labour-provided funding is used effectively, transparently and in the best interests of residents.

“We will rigorously examine decisions to make sure money reaches frontline services and delivers real improvements for communities.”

This funding provides vital support for services such as social care, education, highways and community provision.

While Plaid Cymru has stated it will support the Welsh Labour budget in the Senedd, Carmarthenshire Labour is clear that support for a budget does not equate to delivering the funding itself.

The resources being passed to councils originate from the Labour Government in Westminster and are made available through Welsh Labour’s budget settlement.

Carmarthenshire Labour says it is important that residents are given honest and accurate information about where council funding comes from.

Carmarthenshire Labour has also confirmed that it will closely scrutinise how this funding is spent locally by the Plaid-led administration.

Carmarthenshire Labour says it will continue to hold the administration to account to ensure that public money delivers value, protects essential services, and supports the people who rely on them most.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Joel James MS said: “Successive Labour Welsh Government budgets, which Plaid Cymru allowed to pass, have prioritised wasteful projects, depriving local government of much-needed funding.

“The Welsh Conservatives are clear: cut the waste, review and replace the woefully out-of-date funding formula to address the fact that some councils are sitting on hundreds of millions in reserves, and introduce local referendums to protect the public against inflation-busting council tax rises.”

Plaid Cymru was approached for comment.