Council cash settlement 'reasonable'

Although details of council tax changes are not likely to be made public by councils until next year, some councils have already made initial pronouncements.

While some expressed a cautious welcome to their share of the finances - which average a 6% rise across Wales - others were sharply critical and have warned of "significant" rises in council tax.

A sample of local authority responses is outlined below.

Blaenau Gwent - �92.6m, 7% rise

The council said: "While the headline figures would appear to indicate a very slight improvement over the provisional settlement, officers are currently working with the data to establish the full implications of any change."

Cardiff - �322.4m, 4.5% rise

Councillor Mark Stephens said there was "little reassurance" and a "bleak" outlook for Cardiff residents from the settlement.

"A settlement of just 4.5 per cent, one of the lower increases in Wales, below the average of 5.5 per cent and compared with the highest of 7.4 is frankly inadequate.

"Cardiff has been badly hit by the fall in our social services SSA allocation at a time when we are facing an overspend in this crucial area.

"We cannot afford to let the most vulnerable people in our society suffer as a result of the financial position we are faced with."

He added residents had already been warned that for the council just to "stand still", a rise of around 10% in council tax, without taking into account house rebandings, would be necessary.

Carmarthen - �205.6m, 5.3% rise

Director of resources Roger Jones said: "It is clear that local government is facing a very difficult year in respect of its budget and it is likely that some hard decisions will be necessary.

"While we welcome the additional funding from the Welsh assembly passed down from Gordon Brown, this is still a tough settlement."

Conwy - �123.3m, 4.1%rise

A council spokesman said: "In overall terms, it's pleasing that the assembly has passed on all the money identified by Gordon Brown to provide support.

"However, in Conwy's case we have still had a below average settlement that will cause some concern as to how we'll meet our service requirements against our council tax levels."

Gwynedd - �143.2m, 4% rise

Council leader Richard Parry Hughes said: "As anticipated this is an extremely bad settlement for the residents of Gwynedd.

"It is now difficult to see how the council can avoid a significant increase in council tax if we are to maintain services for the residents of Gwynedd."

Neath Port Talbot - �164.8m, 6.4%rise

Council leader Derek Vaughan said: "We are delighted that this year our lobbying has been successful and extra funding has been awarded.

"I welcome the announcement that Neath Port Talbot will receive an extra �2million in grant from the Welsh assembly government.

"We were unhappy with the provisional settlement which top sliced �480,000 from our budget to give to other local authorities.

"This extra money can now be used to limit council tax rises and pay for improved frontline services that make a difference to people."

Swansea - �250m, 5.3% rise

Council leader Chris Holley said: "Swansea's position is little changed from the minister's earlier provisional announcement on 2 November, except for a share of the extra �7.4m for Wales included in the Chancellor's pre-budget statement.

The settlement still falls well short of Swansea's and other local authorities' needs.

"Keeping the increase in council tax within the aspiration expressed by the minister is going to require the council to take some tough decisions."

Torfaen - �110.3m, 6.4% rise

Marlene Thomas, executive member for resources, said: "The council remains of the view that [the settlement] does not fully recognise all new legislative burdens and spending pressures that it will be required to finance in 2005/06.

"Notwithstanding these concerns, the council is committed to ensuring its services represent value for money and council tax implications are minimised."

Wrexham - �133.5m, 3.8% rise

Wrexham council leader Neil Rogers commented: "The council have received an increase in the amount that was published in the provisional settlement in early November.

"This additional money is welcomed although it remains a tough settlement for Wrexham County Borough Council.

"We are working to determine the implications on the council tax for next year but first we will need to set the council's budget.