Caerphilly county borough council has unanimously agreed to stand alongside Trade Unions in demanding an increase in funding for local authorities from the UK Government.
The Leader of Caerphilly CBC, Cllr Sean Morgan, submitted a Notice of Motion at a meeting of Full Council this week, urging all elected members to support a call for the UK Government to provide a full increase in funding support for local authorities.
Data from the Local Government Association (LGA) has identified a decrease in UK Government funding of almost 60 percent between 2010 and 2020. Cllr Morgan has pledged to do all he can to support the community through the cost of living crisis and at the meeting he urged councillors from all sides of the chamber to lend their support.
Members voted unanimously at the meeting to back the Notice of Motion and the council will now work with GMB, Unison and Unite to apply pressure on the Government to take urgent action.
Cllr Morgan said, “The cost of living crisis is putting a huge pressure on the community and, as elected members, we have an obligation to do all we can to improve the lives of our residents. Many people are already facing impossible decisions, such as choosing between buying food or paying spiralling bills – it is clear that we cannot sustain this position for much longer.
“Councils deliver so many key services, providing critical support to residents – and this was particularly apparent throughout the pandemic. Council staff led the way by working within our communities to protect some of the most vulnerable people and also ensure council services continued to be delivered.
“The damaging impacts of the pandemic are now clear to see due to an increase in expenditure and a significant loss of income. Public sector pay has fallen behind private sector pay and council staff are now also facing significant pressure.
“I want to assure everyone that we are taking swift and positive action to deliver change and I will continue to represent the best interest of the community and our public services.”
