Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
Council reserves rise despite budget cuts, WAO finds
According to a report by the Wales Audit Office (WAO) Welsh councils have increased their financial reserves by £244 million between 2009-2014, despite cuts to their main source of income.
Statistics showed the total reserves held by the 22 Welsh local authorities rose by nearly a third, from £780 million in 2009 to £1.024 billion in 2014. The report maintained that while the figures showed ‘strong financial resilience’, ‘building up reserves with no clear purpose is not an effective use of resources’.
Commenting on the report, Aaron Shotton, Flintshire council leader and Welsh Local Government Association finance spokesman, said: “It recognises an improvement in financial planning at a time when funding for local councils in Wales has contracted by nearly a fifth over recent years.
"These reserves can only be spent once, and will directly reflect the success local authorities are having in planning beyond single-year budget horizons. Local councils must now continue to seek ever greater consistency in their approach.
"We will continue to work with our members, finance professionals and the Welsh government to improve and to deliver the reforms we so desperately need in how local councils are funded."
Latest News
18/04/2024 - 10:19
Pensioners in five Scottish local authorities will be the first to be eligible for a new disability benefit (subject to parliamentary approval of r
18/04/2024 - 09:41
Residents and visitors to Brecon in Wales recently took part in the world's first full-town digital deposit return scheme.
17/04/2024 - 11:58
Applications have opened for a £1.3 million competition to 'transform the transport sector, grow the economy and inspire innovation'.
17/04/2024 - 10:38
The first of Nottingham City Transport’s new electric buses entered service last week (11 April).
16/04/2024 - 10:40
The Scottish Government has announced that more than £9 million will be made available over the next three years to support social care.
Company Focus
Just Lanyards is a subsidiary name of Gifts 2 Impress Limited, who have been trading for over 25 years, we therefore pride ourselves in having endless experience covering all aspects of the promotional merchandise industry.
Event Diary
UKREiiF has quickly become a must-attend in the industry calendar for Government departments and local authorities.
The multi-award-winning UK Construction Week (UKCW), is the UK’s biggest trade event for the built environment that connects the whole supply chain to be the catalyst for growth and positive change in the industry.
Supplier Profiles
At GeoEnergy Design, we're on a mission to disrupt the traditional way heating and cooling ha
Latest Features
Professor Harith Alani, director of the Knowledge Management Institute at the Open University explains how AI can be used for good and bad.
Alex Lawrence, head of health & social care, techUK sets out techUK’s Five Point Plan for CareTech.
