Monmouthshire County Council today received confirmation from the Welsh Government of the provisional 2.3% increase in core funding it will receive next year. The average for the whole of Wales is 3.1%.  

The proposed increase is challenging for the Council and its residents, following estimates showing that inflation and growth in demand will significantly exceed the increase provided. 

Council estimates suggest that inflation and the growth in demand for services, such as social care, would require an increase expenditure of over 10% to maintain existing levels of services. 

Cllr. Mary Ann Brocklesby, Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, said: “We must remain pragmatic as we continue to work through a challenging period, not just for Monmouthshire, but for the country. As always, we will put our residents first as we strive to set a robust and fair budget.” 

Cllr. Ben Callard, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “The scale of the challenge we face is greater than we have ever faced before. We will meet this challenge and we will be fair and open in how we set our budget for the coming year. This will allow us to continue to focus on our priorities as set out in our community and corporate plan.” 

The Council’s draft budget proposals will be considered by Cabinet at a meeting on January 17, 2024 and will then be released for public consultation. 

Local community and partner organisations will have an opportunity to share their views on the proposals, further information will be provided in due course on the Council’s website – https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/