Responding to the budget settlement for the county, a Senedd member has spoken out.

Laura Anne Jones MS has said that “Monmouthshire Council once again the worst funded in Wales”

The Welsh Labour Government’s 2025/26 draft budget has seen Monmouthshire Council receiving a lower increase in funding than any other Council in Wales.

Monmouthshire Council was awarded only an extra 2.2% which will amount to a real terms cut in funding and could cause council tax rises said LAJ Senedd Member for SW East today.

Laura the Conservative Shadow Minister for Local Govt spoke out after receiving a letter from the Council stating that they would need an extra £3.5 million to simply cover the cost of National Insurance increases. These increases combined with inflation mean that the total amount of money the council has to spend on public services will be reduced.

Responding to the budget Laura said: “It’s a disgrace that despite Wales receiving an extra £1.5 billion from the Westminster Labour Government, Monmouthshire are facing a real terms cut in their budget.”

“It is not right that after years of cuts to councils, Monmouthshire are now facing the brunt of the mismanagement of the budget.”

“For too long the Labour led Council have allowed the Welsh Labour Government to leave them struggling to afford Welsh government schemes, it is time for them to stand up and prevent further cuts.”