The health of local government finance directly influences the health of local public services in Wales. 

The future is challenging. Continued austerity, sustained budget cuts and an out of date finance system are all placing council services under huge financial pressure. 

With the publication of ‘Ambition for Change: Aiming Higher’ by an Independent Commission on Local Government Finance, we have a blueprint of practical reforms that could transform how local public services are financed.

The need for reform is urgent. We need to reduce the cost of national bureaucracy, engage local tax payers in how their money is spent, invest more into vitally important preventative services and place local councils at the heart of local economic growth and well-being. 

Working with a wide range of professional groups, the WLGA’s finance work covers the whole range of funding issues affecting local councils, national parks and fire and rescue authorities in Wales.

We work in partnership. We work with the Welsh Government through the Finance Sub Group to ensure the Local Government Finance Settlement reflects the needs of public services.  We support the Distribution Sub Group to ensure the needs of our diverse communities are taken into account.

Our aim is to ensure our local public services receive the financial support they deserve.

For more information contact: Jon Rae