Member of Parliament for Delyn, Rob Roberts has asked all Flintshire County Councillors and local politicians to co-sign a letter being sent to the Minster for Finance and Local Government, asking Welsh Government to review the funding formula of Local Government.
Despite an increase to the Welsh Government budget by £2.5 billion per year on average over the next three years, council tax being raised cumulatively over the last five years by 30.39%, and an additional 3.95% increase being approved for the forthcoming year (2022/23) Flintshire County Council remains one of the poorest Local Authorities in Wales.
The Council is currently rated 20 out of 22 councils in Per Capita funding, receiving £1,476 per capita, compared to neighbouring Denbighshire who is rated 4th, receiving £1,808 per capita in the Welsh Local Government Funding formula.
Flintshire has been consistently at the bottom of the formula table since its introduction over 20 years ago and even the Leader of Flintshire County Council, Cllr Ian Roberts recently criticised the formula used to calculate how much money it receives to provide services as the council struggled to balance its books.
Commenting on the situation Rob said:
“It is clear the current formula is either no longer working or the formulation being used is completely flawed and it is time for it to be independently reviewed.
“I absolutely recognise the efforts made by other politicians and political parties have gone to raising awareness of this issue, but I firmly believe it is time we put our political differences aside and work together to ensure residents of Flintshire get a better deal.”
“Even if Flintshire got the average of all the Welsh councils, it would mean more than £20m extra funding to Flintshire per year.”
Mr Roberts has drafted a letter to be sent to Rebecca Evans MS, Minister for Finance and Local Government outlining the impact this is having on the county and asking for the formula to be reviewed with the aim of getting a fairer deal for residents of Flintshire.
He has written to Delyn and Alyn & Deeside County Councillors, Member of Parliament for Alyn & Deeside Mark Tami MP, Member of the Senedd for Delyn Hannah Blythin MS, and the North Wales Regional Members of the Senedd Mark Isherwood MS, Sam Rowlands MS, and Carolyn Thomas MS asking them to add their signature to the letter in support of the residents they serve. At the point of publication 10 supporting signatures have been obtained, these are:
Cllr Clive Carver – Hawarden
Cllr Mared Eastwood – New Brighton
Cllr Carol Ellis – Buckley Mountain
Cllr Veronica Gay – Saltney Stonebridge
Cllr Hilary McGuill – Argoed
Cllr Rita Johnson – Flint Oakenholt
Cllr Tudor Jones – Caerwys
Cllr Brian Lloyd – Mold West
Cllr Tim Roberts – Trelawnyd & Gwaenysgor
Cllr Arnold Woolley – Buckley Bistre East
Disappointingly, 16 County Councillors have refused to sign the letter and there are a number of responses outstanding.
Continuing, Rob said:
“I whole heartedly thank those who have joined me in signing this letter and I am encouraged by those who have signed that they are putting the needs of their residents and the local area above party political lines.
“I urge those who haven’t signed already to consider what is best for residents in their wards and constituencies and I would welcome a change of mind.
“I sincerely hope that we can continue to work together collaboratively on this issue to ensure a better, fairer deal for our constituents in the future.”
The letter was sent by email to the Minister at 5pm on 17th March 2022. Mr Roberts awaits a response.