Wrexham Council to ring-fence any future funding for social care

Wrexham Council has confirmed any money it receives as a result of extra funding announced for councils in England will be ringfenced specifically for social care.

In January, the UK Government announced a £600m support package for local authorities in England, with an additional £500m provided to boost social care budgets.

The move has triggered more money for the Welsh Government in what is known as consequential funding.

The UK Government said that it would probably amount to around £25m extra for the Welsh Government, subject to final confirmation.

How that is spent in Wales will be up to Welsh ministers, who said they were initially unaware of the funding and were awaiting further details.

However, Wrexham Council leader Mark Pritchard has called for it to be directly passported to councils to support their budgets.

Speaking at a media briefing this week, he said: “The increase in social care costs across Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom has exploded. The evidence is there and the demand is growing.

“We have made representations to the Welsh Government and to Westminster with regards to social care.

“There was an announcement of £600m which came from Westminster and we’re hoping that what comes to Wales in terms of consequentials will get given directly to local authorities to help support their budgets.

“We believe it could be around about a £1m extra for each authority and that’s the conversations which are ongoing now.

“Welsh Government have always said that we’re their number one priority after the health service so let’s see if that comes directly to us.”

When asked if it would be specifically ringfenced for social care, he added: “If that money comes to us, whatever (purpose) it’s gone from Westminster to Cardiff for, we will absolutely honour that.”

Welsh Conservative Senedd members have previously welcomed the additional funding.

North Wales MS Sam Rowlands said: “Hard-pressed families are staring down the barrel of huge council tax rises because the Labour Welsh Government are shamefully underfunding local authorities.

“It’s imperative that every penny of this funding makes its way to into council budgets and that none of it is pinched by Labour and Plaid Cymru to fund their vanity projects.”

Vale of Clwyd MS Gareth Davies MS said: “This new funding is a huge boost to the provision of social care in Wales.

“With council budgets under intense pressure, this new cash will deliver vital services for those who need them.”