THE Welsh Government budget settlement for the coming financial year has been announced with Ceredigion having the lowest percentage increase of any authority in Wales.

Julie James, minister for housing and local government, announced the provisional Aggregate External Finance (AEF) for local authorities for 2021-22 with core revenue funding of £4.651 billion across Wales - a rise of 3.8 per cent

Pembrokeshire’s allocation is just above the Welsh average, while Carmarthenshire has been awarded the average figure

Following adjustments for transfers, Ceredigion sees the lowest percentage increase, at two per cent, across Wales' 22 local authorities with a 2021-22 provisional AEF of £109,658,000. Last year's figure was £107,545,000.

Pembrokeshire’s provisional AEF for 2021-22 of £179,387,000 is a four percent rise. It is ranked seventh in Wales based on the amount the funding has increased, which is almost £7million more than last year’s settlement of £172,502,000.

Carmarthenshire is ranked 13th in Wales in percentage increase terms after being awarded £284,820,000, up from £274,355,000 last year - a rise of 3.8 per cent.

A letter from Julie James to local authorities said: “My announcement outlines my intention to set local government core revenue funding for 2021-22 at £4.651 billion.

"This means, after adjusting for transfers, overall core funding for local government in 2021-22 will increase by 3.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis compared to the current year.

"While I know local government has been facing significant pressures, particularly arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, I hope that this increase, building as it does on a significantly improved settlement in 2020-21, enables you to continue to support and deliver critical and valued local services."