A Deputy Labour Minister has been challenged to explain why his Welsh Labour Government has stood back whilst council taxpayers in North East Wales have faced staggering rises in their Council Tax bills in recent years.
The move comes after Ken Skates AM made bizarre comments in a local newspaper column, related to council tax and local government funding, which North Wales AM Mark Isherwood has branded "insulting to the people of North East Wales."
Ken Skates AM questioned the need to reform local government funding in Wales - at odds with findings from the Assembly's own Finance Committee, and despite the difficult settlement provided to many Local Authorities in North East Wales in recent years.
He also spread fears of taxpayers having to "pay more" on council tax - despite, under his own Government's watch, council tax rates in Wales spiraling at a much quicker rate than other UK nations.
North Wales AM Mark Isherwood AM said:
"This astonishing hypocrisy, and misleading statements, from a Welsh Government Deputy Minister are insulting to the people of North East Wales.
"The cross-party Finance Committee - sat on by three of his Labour colleagues - have backed-up our calls for a fundamental review of the way local government funding is calculated.
"With Labour set to vote in favour of a settlement which delivers a much tougher settlement to Denbighshire and Wrexham than other areas of Wales, Welsh Conservatives will continue to support a fair funding system.”
Shadow Local Government Minister Janet Finch-Saunders AM, said:
"Despite being given almost £100million to offer hard-pressed households a Council Tax freeze by the UK Government, Labour Ministers stood back as people across North East Wales, and the rest of the country, have faced hefty rises in their Council Tax.
"Between 2010/11, and 2015/16, people in Conwy, Denbighshire and Wrexham are £661, £553, and £514, worse off respectively because of Labour’s decisions on council tax. Households who have had to pay higher bills will see straight through this Welsh Government scaremongering."
