In a recently released Freedom of Information (FOI) request asking Conwy County Borough Council how much had been spent on marketing, communications, and advertising over the past two years, the figures disclosed were £419,334.99 for 2023/2024 and £319,889.28 for 2024/2025. This brings the total expenditure over the last two financial years to £739,224.27.
The release of these figures has sparked debate about the necessity of this level of spending and the efficiency of expenditure within local government.
This report comes at a time of increasing pressure on Conwy County Borough Council. Concerns have previously been raised over the unusable HGV depot in Mochdre, spending over £3 million so far under a contracted lease, despite the facility being unusable because the floor is too weak to support the vehicles.
There has also been scrutiny over high-cost childcare placements, with the council reportedly spending up to £1 million per year on the social care of a single child. At the same time, the authority has faced accusations of cutting services while increasing council tax, alongside rising expenditure on temporary accommodation.
Janet Finch-Saunders, Senedd Member for Aberconwy said:
“I have consistently called for fairer funding for Conwy County Borough Council so it can deliver the high standard of local services residents deserve, from education and housing to waste collection.
At a time of clear budget pressures and repeated council tax rises alongside reduced services, it is difficult to justify significant spending on marketing when those funds could be redirected towards frontline priorities, we have roads full of potholes and litter bins that don’t get emptied regularly, so priorities need to be looked at.
We need greater transparency from local government and real value for taxpayers’ money. Residents deserve to see their hard-earned contributions improving essential public services, not being diverted to non-essential expenditure.”
Mewn cais Rhyddid Gwybodaeth a ryddhawyd yn ddiweddar yn gofyn i Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy faint oedd wedi'i wario ar farchnata, cyfathrebu a hysbysebu dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, datgelwyd y ffigurau o £419,334.99 ar gyfer 2023/2024 a £319,889.28 ar gyfer 2024/2025. Mae hyn yn dod â chyfanswm y gwariant dros y ddwy flynedd ariannol ddiwethaf i £739,224.27.
Mae rhyddhau'r ffigurau hyn wedi sbarduno dadl am angenrheidrwydd y lefel hon o wariant ac effeithlonrwydd gwariant o fewn llywodraeth leol.
Daw'r adroddiad hwn ar adeg o bwysau cynyddol ar Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy. Mae pryderon wedi’u codi o'r blaen ynglŷn â'r depo HGV ym Mochdre, gyda thros £3 miliwn wedi’i wario hyd yma o dan brydles dan gontract, er nad oes modd defnyddio’r cyfleuster gan fod y llawr yn rhy wan i gynnal y cerbydau.
Bu craffu hefyd ar leoliadau gofal plant drud, gyda'r cyngor yn gwario hyd at £1 miliwn y flwyddyn ar ofal cymdeithasol un plentyn. Ar yr un pryd, mae'r awdurdod wedi wynebu cyhuddiadau o dorri gwasanaethau wrth gynyddu'r dreth gyngor, ochr yn ochr â gwariant cynyddol ar lety dros dro.
Meddai Janet Finch-Saunders, AS Aberconwy:
"Rydw i wedi galw'n gyson am gyllid tecach i Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy fel y gall ddarparu'r safon uchel o wasanaethau lleol y mae trigolion yn ei haeddu, o addysg a thai i gasglu gwastraff.
Ar adeg o bwysau cyllidebol clir a chynnydd dro ar ôl tro yn y dreth gyngor ochr yn ochr â llai o wasanaethau, mae'n anodd cyfiawnhau gwariant sylweddol ar farchnata pan allai'r cronfeydd hynny gael eu hailgyfeirio tuag at flaenoriaethau rheng flaen, pan fo gennym ni ffyrdd sy’n llawn tyllau a biniau sbwriel nad ydyn nhw’n cael eu gwagio'n rheolaidd, felly mae angen edrych ar flaenoriaethau.
Mae angen mwy o dryloywder gan lywodraeth leol a gwerth gwirioneddol am arian trethdalwyr. Mae trigolion yn haeddu gweld y cyfraniadau y maen nhw wedi’u gwneud yn arwain at well gwasanaethau cyhoeddus hanfodol, yn hytrach na chael eu dargyfeirio at wariant nad yw'n hanfodol."
