Bridgend Borough Council has to make savings of £35.3 million over the next 4 years under the most likely scenario, due to the reduction being imposed by the UK Government, as a result of the reduction to the Welsh Government block grant funding. This is addition to the reduction in funding over the last 5 years, which amounts to £ 40 million. The unprecedented scale of reduction to the budget amounts in total to £75.3 million or equivalent of over £1000 per household within the Borough.

Although, in my view this council has been subjected to a number of inspections over the last two years and no major concerns have been raised, which cannot be addressed and areas of improvement have or are being addressed. In my opinion this could put enormous pressures on our services and may mean we are unable to fulfil our statutory duties.

It is my opinion Bridgend Borough Council via Welsh Government should receive a fair funding from the UK Government, so this council can achieve its goals in manner that means that our residents, who we were voted to represent. Instead of facing reductions in budgets that are having an impact on an essential range of services and could play a vital role in the health and well-being of the people we serve.

That Council considers

· that Bridgend condemns the potential £ £75.3 million reduction in its budget imposed by the UK Government, as a result of the reduction in the block grant funding from Westminster, to Welsh Government, which in turn means reduction to Bridgend Council budgets.

· To campaign for a fairer funding grant for Bridgend Council from UK Government.

· Bridgend Council will continue to be open and honest about the scale of the reduction and the damage they could do to our local communities.

. The leader writes to Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary State for Wales and requests fairer funding for Bridgend Borough Council and its residents.

Councillor D White made the following Notice of Motion to which he gave an introductory speech explaining why he had made the proposal. He also asked that a Recorded Vote be taken on the Notice of Motion:

“Bridgend Borough Council has to make savings of £35.3 million over the next 4 years under the most likely scenario, due to the reduction being imposed by the UK Government, as a result of the reduction to the Welsh Government block grant funding. This is addition to the reduction in funding over the last 5 years, which amounts to £ 40 million. The unprecedented scale of reduction to the budget amounts in total to £75.3 million or equivalent of over £1000 per household within the Borough.

Although, in my view this council has been subjected to a number of inspections over the last two years and no major concerns have been raised, which cannot be addressed and areas of improvement have or are being addressed. In my opinion this could put enormous pressures on our services and may mean we are unable to fulfil our statutory duties.

It is my opinion Bridgend Borough Council via Welsh Government should receive a fair funding from the UK Government, so this council can achieve its goals in manner that means that our residents, who we were voted to represent. Instead of facing reductions in budgets that are having an impact on an essential range of services and could play a vital role in the health and well-being of the people we serve”. He proposed that Council:

• condemns the potential £75.3 million reduction in its budget imposed by the UK Government, as a result of the reduction in the block grant funding from Westminster, to Welsh Government, which in turn means reduction to Bridgend Council budgets.
• campaigns for a fairer funding grant for Bridgend Council from UK Government.
• continues to be open and honest about the scale of the reduction and the damage they could do to our local communities.
• asks the Leader to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary State for Wales requesting fairer funding for Bridgend Borough Council and its residents.

Following comments made by a number of Members on the Notice of Motion, an electronic vote was taken on whether or not a Recorded Vote should be taken on this Notice of Motion. The results were as follows:

For                                     Against                            Abstention

39                                       2                                      2  

Therefore Council agreed that a recorded vote be taken on the Notice of Motion, the results were as follows:-

For                                     Against                             Abstention  

Cllr P A Davies                  Cllr A Pucella                   Cllr M Clarke

Cllr G Thomas                   Cllr M Voisey                   Cllr S Dendy  

Cllr J H Tildesley               Cllr K J Watts                   Cllr A Williams

Cllr D White                       Cllr R Stirman                  Cllr E Venables

Cllr N Burnett                     Cllr L Walters

Cllr R Collins                      Cllr S Vidal

Cllr P Davies                      Cllr T Giffard

Cllr J Gebbie

Cllr R Granville

Cllr S Baldwin

Cllr J Radcliffe

Cllr T Thomas

Cllr T Beedle

Cllr R Penhale-Thomas

Cllr D K Edwards

Cllr J Williams

Cllr R Shaw

Cllr G Howells

Cllr B Sedgebeer

Cllr J P Blundell

Cllr C Smith

Cllr D G Owen

Cllr J R McCarthy

Cllr M Kearn

Cllr D Lewis

Cllr J E Lewis

Cllr J C Spanswick

Cllr P J White

Cllr D Patel

Cllr H J David

Cllr H M Williams

Cllr C E Smith

Cllr R Young

RESOLVED             That Council agreed to accept the Notice of Motion made by Councillor David White as detailed in Agenda item 11.