, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Diolch. Thank you. Obviously, there's a range of questions here, but they're all touching on the same themes, really, aren't they? Just again to say on record here in committee, given the range of the increases this year in the funding formula and the…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
It hasn't really changed a huge amount in the table, particularly, but Judith—
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
So, I think there was a very minor change, wasn't there, and I don't know if Judith wants to just mention how there was a minor—. I think it's quite a minor change.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Sorry, I haven't answered—
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
No, absolutely. So, just to say, in terms of the reserves, you are right that we are seeing a decrease in the number of usable reserves. That's a decrease of usable reserves of around £170 million in the previous year. So, the biggest falls are in school…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
So, yes, there's a lot within that, Carolyn.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Yes, absolutely.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Judith, on this one.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Diolch, Carolyn. I think the WLGA have been really clear and effective in setting out the pressures they're facing. I'd just like to put on record my thanks to them, and to all local authority leaders, for the discussions that we've had through the process as…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
And I think, as an example, when Wrexham have raised that with the committee, and when it's raised with me, I'm really keen not to sit on that evidence as well, and to share that with the Cabinet Secretary for finance, because I think that just having some of…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Yes, I'd just say that I understand that Wrexham gave that evidence and the concern that they would have in that, but just to say as well that the conversations are ongoing at official level with the Cabinet Secretary for finance here and his Treasury…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Thank you, Siân. This is something that comes up in my conversations with local authorities as well. The UK Government has said it will use the ONS definition of public sector, and we certainly recognise organisations and businesses commissioned by public…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Just to say, it's late spring. It's one of these terms isn't it, 'late spring', but I do understand and we are obviously—. You know, this is a decision that’s not within us at the moment, for us to do that. But, as I said, the number that we’re working off in…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
And I think that’s an important point, those discussions being had with local government and within those forums. It’s important to model and make sure that we get it right.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Absolutely. I think that's a really important point, as well, how that's distributed, and perhaps Judith will say a bit more about the funding distribution group and the finance group and how that’ll be formulated, because I think it is important that what…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Yes.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Yes. Sorry, Judith.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Yes.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Diolch, Siân. Really important questions within that. Again, just to say that this is a UK Government decision around national insurance; it's not devolved. The UK Government has confirmed that it will provide funding to public sector employers to cover the…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Perhaps we can provide the committee with a note on that, if that would be helpful.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
That's why I looked at Judith.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Judith.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
I've seen in my own area how important having a biodiversity officer is. It has made a difference to some of the really good examples that have happened. So, I know that those officers do really important work to raise the profile and to support local…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
And I think, just when I'm speaking to—. Perhaps there's a way we can provide you, the committee, with some of the—. All the local authorities have declared—. I haven't seen that myself, so I'd be interested as well. But I think there are also opportunities…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Scrutiny of the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2025-26: Evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government (Local Government)
Such as the Local Places for Nature—
