Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay has called on the Welsh Government to review the way it calculates local authority funding, saying the region is unfairly treated.

The Conservative AM hit out at the scheme, which he says leaves Monmouthshire and rural areas shortchanged by cuts to local authority grants set for the coming financial year.

In his role as Shadow Finance Minister, Mr Ramsay recently questioned the Welsh Government on how it would mitigate for a two per cent cut to local government budgets.

Speaking at the Assembly on Tuesday [jan 19], he said, “The two per cent cut is going to cause serious hardship, but worst of all that hardship is unevenly spread, and will disproportionately affect rural authorities.”

Under the Welsh Government’s proposals for 22 local authorities, Monmouthshire County Council’s budget is to be slashed by 3.1 per cent, or £2.9m. Ceredigion’s shortfall totals 3.4 per cent, whilst worst-hit Powys will receive the biggest cut at 4.1 per cent.

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