Labour's budget turns the screw in Monmouthshire

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Oct 2006

Labour's local government settlement will lead to cuts in services in Monmouthshire, warned local Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Michael German today. Mr German, who is the party spokesperson on Local Government issues, said:

"The Welsh Assembly Government says Monmouthshire county council will receive 4.8% more funding than last year.

"However, this increase is less than the increased cost of delivering services, due to inflation, pay rises and increased responsibilities. This the council will receive less money in real terms than they do at present.

"Worse still, Monmouthshire will receive the lowest amount of money per head in Wales from the Labour Assembly Government.

"Labour has backed Monmouthshire Council into a corner. The only way the council will be able to balance the books is by making cuts in frontline services.

"Labour claim to be offering more money in one hand, and are taking it away with the other."