BLAENAU GWENT County Borough Council is set to receive an above the Wales average increase in funding from the Welsh Government for 2025/2026.
On Wednesday December 11, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jane Bryant issued a written statement providing details of the provisional Local Government Settlement in Wales for 2025/2026.
Blaenau Gwent is set to receive a 4.8 per cent increase, which puts it near the top of the local government funding table in fourth place out of the 22 Welsh authorities, as the average rise throughout Wales will be 4.3 per cent.
This equates to an increase of £7.092 million and will see the county borough funding rise from £147.44 million this year to £154.532 million for next year.
The difference of £37 million that takes this year’s total council budget up to £184.7 million comes from Council Tax collection, grant funding and income from fees.
AN above average funding increase for the next year from the Welsh Government has been welcomed by Blaenau Gwent council leader, Steve Thomas.
Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jane Bryant issued a written statement providing details of the provisional Local Government Settlement in Wales for 2025/2026.
Blaenau Gwent is set to receive a 4.8 per cent increase, which puts it near the top of the local government funding table in fourth place out of the 22 Welsh authorities, as the average rise throughout Wales will be 4.3 per cent.
This equates to an increase of £7.092 million and will see the county borough funding rise from £147.44 million this year to £154.532 million for next year.
The difference of £37 million that takes this year’s total council budget up to £184.7 million comes from Council Tax collection, grant funding and income from fees.
Labour’s Cllr Thomas said: “This announcement is positive and a much-improved position when compared to our initial assumptions.
“We are pleased that with this settlement the Welsh Government is acknowledging the immense pressures that continue to face councils in Wales, as we work to deliver services valued by our communities.
“However, there remains significant challenges ahead and services will need to adapt to ensure we can overcome the challenges faced across our communities.
“We will now look at the settlement in more detail to see exactly what it means for our budget, and we will continue to engage with our residents to identify their priorities.”
Ms Bryant MS said: “In 2025-26, local authorities will receive £6.1 billion from the Welsh Government Revenue Support Grant and non-domestic rates to spend on delivering key services.
“This means the core revenue funding for local government in 2025-26 will increase by 4.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis compared to the current year.
“The additional funding provided through the autumn budget is welcome as we emerge from the prolonged period of austerity imposed by previous UK Governments, as well as a range of economic crises such as spiralling inflation.
“Our overall settlement for 2025-26 is more than £1 billion higher than it would have been under the previous UK Government.
“As we have developed the draft Budget 2025-26, which was published yesterday, we have again prioritised protecting core frontline public services as far as possible, supporting the hardest hit households and prioritising jobs.
It is expected that the Cabinet will publish its own budget proposals for 2025/2026 in the new year with all councillors to have their say and vote upon it in late February of early March.
It is expected that the Labour cabinet will publish its own budget proposals for 2025/2026 in the new year with all councillors to have their say and vote upon it in late February of early March.