, Plenary
Topical Questions
Thank you very much for that answer.
, Plenary
Topical Questions
2. What consultation has the Minister held with local authorities across Wales before the Welsh Government allocates consequential funding to local authorities in Wales following the UK Government's announcement in January 2024? TQ987
, Finance Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting
So, under Standing Order 17.42, we resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of this meeting. Is everybody content? Thank you very much. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
So, I think there's positivity around the table and power to your elbow when it comes to that, because, I think, it's important. In all our conversations with the third sector, I think that certainty of funding is important. I know we've drifted off on this…
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
No, that's fine. You have the last word, Rhianon. There we are.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Thank you. And I'll bring Rhianon in for the last question, and then we'll come to time. Thank you.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
As long as they tick their key performance indicators, then it's a lighter touch to—
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
And I think your point about grants is interesting there as well, because grants can be given and taken away fairly quickly, without an awful lot of scrutiny of them, so that's another aspect, especially impacting the third sector, in particular, and local…
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
It's hard to balance the two out, because from a prudent use of public money standpoint, which is what we're about, testing that, and the Government's understanding of how they're going to allocate budgets, it's finding that balance of too many 'what ifs' and…
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Just finally, just a thought. This is again a framework Bill, and we've talked about them and we talk about them a lot in this committee because of the financial impact of them, and going back to what Mike was saying, it's how you measure success when it…
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Because the knock-on effect on local authorities and their tax take and then, obviously, the way that the revenue support grant is worked through, it has knock-on effects on beyond just the council tax system, hasn't it? Because it has a knock-on effect on…
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Going on to Mike's comment about Ynys Môn and other parts, especially in rural Wales, where house prices might have jumped considerably and there could be a change in bands that could be quite dramatic in some places, have you given any thought to…
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
But it's the redistribution element.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Am I right in saying that looking at bands is a net-neutral change? You're not looking to raise extra revenue.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
And—. Sorry, Mike, I'll come in after you.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Mike.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Carry on, Mike, I think Peter's finished. Yes.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Okay. Thank you. Peter.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
So, it's complementing it, rather than subverting it or adding to it.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Casting our minds back to the tax Acts and—we discussed this a lot in detail then—the general avoidance regulations, where does that dovetail into some of the work here? Does it add to it, or are we re-legislating for something that we've already got, or just…
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Okay, thank you, Rhianon. Peter.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
Rhianon, have you got any further questions, or—?
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
—down the line. I know Mike wants to come in on this question.
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
But it would be a potential benefit of this Bill to enable you to be able to do that kind of thing—
, Finance Committee
Financial Implications of the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill: Evidence session
In the secondary legislation.
