As Shadow Minister for Communities, Local Government and North Wales, I had a useful online ‘Teams’ Meeting with Chris Llewelyn, Chief Executive of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), for an update on concerns about the medium and long term impact of Covid-19, on lessons learned about what Local Authorities have done well and what they can do differently, on my discussions with Local Authorities and other partners in North Wales, and on wider local government matters.
Although the Supplementary Budget announced by the Labour Welsh Government last week includes £78 million to support Local Government for the loss of income experienced as a direct result of the pandemic, and to help maintain the sector’s financial resilience and mitigate against cuts in services, much of this support at a national level has only been lined up until the end of June.
As such, the 22 Council Leaders have written to the Finance Minister in the Welsh Government seeking 4 things: Council Tax Reduction Scheme support, with more people in need of this at this time; Council Tax collection support, where they expect fewer people will be able to pay their council tax liability ; the £23m consequential from the UK Government ‘Track and Trace’ money to be passed through quickly; and for longer term certainty for July onward of the loss of income funding.
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has stated that Councils across Wales face losing out on around £170m of previously budgeted for income due to the lockdown. It is vital that the Finance Minister addresses this and I am therefore calling on her to respond to the letter from the Local Authority Leaders urgently.
Other engagements included a virtual ‘Zoom’ meeting with Denbigh Self-Advocacy Group for people with Learning Disabilities, which was also opened up to questions from people with Learning Disabilities across North Wales, organised with charity North Wales Advice and Advocacy Association (NWAAA). I was questioned about support for people with Learning Disabilities and wider concerns that the COVID-19 Pandemic is not treating everyone the same and that people with Learning Disabilities are not receiving the support they need.
After Friday’s announcement by the First Minister on the easing of lockdown restrictions, I was contacted by many constituents, expressing concern about the Welsh Government’s confused and arbitrary ‘five mile rule’, and sectors, from Wedding Venues to Dental Practices, about the serious impact on them of the cross-border divergence with England.
Stay safe. If you need my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.