Gwynedd Council Finances Improve Slightly Still Remain Very Poor

Gwynedd Council’s finances are still struggling. The chief executive described them as “very poor” now. They got more money than expected recently. The money came from the Welsh Government, but a big budget problem remains, though.

The council met to talk about cuts. These cuts would save £519,000, helping with the 2024/25 budget. Welsh Government funding rose by 3.2%; however, this was still less than needed for services.

Dafydd Gibbard, the chief executive, said funding was “better than anticipated.” The deficit went from £22m to £8m. He called that a “very substantial deficit”, and said that savings plans are smaller this year.

The council already cut a lot of spending, and more saving chances are “almost gone.” They achieved £74m in savings over 14 years. Now, the council can only make cuts, and every cut affects people in Gwynedd.

Staffing costs are rising significantly. The UK government raised National Insurance. This adds £4.5m to the council’s expenses, considering the council employs about 6,000 people.

The cabinet approved the £519k savings plan. This plan will help with next year’s budget, and departments must now “move forward” with it.

Cuts include raising pest control fees. Fleet Services will see reduced resources, and Grounds Maintenance will get less funding. The chief executive can adjust the cuts, after speaking with the council leader.

The chief executive expressed his frustration. He said everyone hates making these choices, but they must face reality. The council doesn’t have any other option.

The situation is “very poor,” he stressed. It improved, but it’s still not good news. They moved from “catastrophic” to “very poor.”

Nia Jeffery leads the council. She acknowledged the budget shortfall, and said they must make changes to balance it. She feels this goes against helping residents.