Monmouthshire County Council leader Councillor Peter Fox has described the 4.3 per cent cut in the authority's funding as a 'colossal blow' which will have far reaching effects on the people of the county.

Leighton Andrews, the Welsh Government's Public Services Minister last week announced that Monmouthshire Council will receive funding totalling £93.619 million from the Welsh Government in 2015-16 for its revenue support grant with only two councils - Ceredigion and Powys losing more from their settlement.

The Minister said the total Government funding of £4.124 billion represents a decrease of 3.4 per cent on what they received last year on a like for like basis, but with Monmouthshire's cut almost one per cent above that, it seems the county has once again drawn the short straw in relation to the percentage of funding it is set to receive for the next financial year.

Only Ceredigion and Powys (4.5% and 4.4%) have had more biting cuts with Conwy equalling the Monmouthshire settlement.

This means that Monmouthshire is now the the third lowest funded county in the country with only Anglesey and Merthyr Tydfil receiving less money from the Welsh Government.

The Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, Peter Fox, has slammed this as 'unfair' and said it will represent a 'huge hit' to local people.

"The announcement that Monmouthshire will have its funding cut by a massive 4.3 per cent is a colossal blow to the council and to the people we serve. This means that the council will need to find savings over the next three years of around £27 million. This presents almost incomprehensible challenges.

"It also means that Monmouthshire will be set to receive the lowest funding per resident of any Welsh council.

"I cannot understand why Monmouthshire's residents should be so disadvantaged. We will get £1,018 per person to deliver all of our services when neighbouring authorities will receive between £380 to £560 more for each of their residents. It's just not fair."

The Minister has addressed the difficulties for local authorities across the country, and said that the Welsh Government is doing all it can to buffer the effect of cuts from the UK Government

"The settlement I am announcing is challenging but this is a consequence of the large scale budget reductions being imposed by the UK Government. 

"The Welsh Government's budget for 2015-16 will be around 10 per cent lower in real terms compared with 2010-11.  However, unlike England, we have protected Local Authorities in Wales from the bulk of these cuts over the past five years," said Mr Andrews

"Spending on local services in England has decreased by around seven per cent in cash terms, while in Wales it has increased by three per cent . I am providing an additional £10 million in recognition of the importance of strong local social services to the long-term success of the health service in Wales and will continue to protect schools' funding in line with our commitment to provide an increase in resources at one per cent above the overall change in the Welsh Budget."

Councillor Fox however says that the time has come for the Welsh Government to take responsibility for these cuts, and the harm they will do to public services.

"We hear too often that this is all down to Westminster but the Welsh Government can no longer continue to simply blame others for the level of cuts that now threaten the sustainability of our local public services. There are conscious choices being made in Cardiff Bay which are placing local services under threat as never before.

"It is time for the Welsh Government to stop the 'spin' about local funding and accept that further cuts of this scale run the risk of creating comprehensive failure across many of the most highly valued public services delivered by local government in Wales," said Councillor Fox.

"The idea that a distant local government reorganisation, which at minimum is three financial years away and will cost millions to implement, offers any salvation from these problems really does strain credibility,"?he added.

Now all councils will be faced with the struggle to find room for these cuts within their budgets and, while times will be difficult, Leighton Andrews is urging councils to consider the affect on households.

Mr Andrews said, "When local authorities draw up their budget plans for next year I expect them to look at all income streams, including council tax and income from fees and charges.

" In setting council tax levels I urge them to balance the funding challenges they face with consideration of the financial burden facing households." 

But there has been concern expressed by the Welsh Conservatives about the inevitable impact this will have on hardworking families and increases to their bills.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Local Government Janet Finch-Saunders AM, said, "This is a tough Labour settlement – that much is very clear.

"Supported by the Liberal Democrats, this demanding budget will mean difficult decisions and a forensic scrutiny of council spending.

"Efficiency must be prioritised, wasteful spending rooted out, tax collection rates radically improved and services delivered in more imaginative ways. Transparency is key to this and all councils should follow the lead of Conservative-led Monmouthshire, where expenditure is published online.

"Welsh Conservatives have long called for Labour to introduce a council tax freeze in Wales, as there has been in England since 2010.

" This would have eased the pressure on hardworking families and facilitated the prevention of huge hikes in bills. We fear today's settlement will lead to more rises and further pressure on household incomes."

But within Monmouthshire, Councillor Fox has said that he and the team at the council would be working hard to talk to the community, as evidenced by the recent public engagement sessions, to help find a solution to the difficult situation. However he did note that due to the 'dire circumstances' of the cuts, some services may be at risk.

Councillor Fox said, "We are working closely with our local communities to help shape a response to the significant financial challenges we face.

"It is clear that people care deeply about their local public services and we will try our hardest here to preserve those services, but things are bound to give and some services will need to change for sure."