Cautious Welcome To Draft Financial Settlement

Denbighshire County Council has given a cautious welcome to the provisional financial settlement by Welsh Government, with the proposed settlement slightly better than expected, but remains challenging. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council will see an increase of 0.5% , the first increase since 2013/14. This will help to ensure that the Council can deliver its priorities and avoid further cuts next year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance, said: “The Council will need to consider the proposed settlement in greater detail. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“What it generally means is that the savings we have already identified for 2017/18 will be sufficient and the Council will not need to find any further cuts for the next financial year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“An increase in funding is always to be welcomed, but we need to consider this good news in the context of continuing increases in the Council’s costs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Thompson-Hill added: “We have worked tirelessly over recent years to prepare and respond to the financial challenges, whilst minimising the impact of cuts and protecting key frontline services as far as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have also worked to be more efficient as a Council, streamlining our services to be as effective as possible in the current economic climate, whilst continuing to provide value for money services and maintaining our position as being one of the highest performing councils in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“That commitment to maintaining the best possible services for Denbighshire residents continues.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​