North Wales post offices boosted by Assembly funding

North Wales AM Janet Ryder has praised news that 10 post offices across North Wales are among those awarded a total of £1.5m from the Post Office Diversification Fund.

She said the Welsh Assembly-funded scheme would lead to the equivalent of 57 full-time jobs at 75 post offices throughout Wales - a clear example of how the Welsh Assembly Government was committed to communities.

The Plaid Cymru AM said: 

"The UK London government has neglected the Post Office network and closed far too many of our community post offices in Wales. What a refreshing difference in attitude to see the Welsh Government taking positive action to safeguard and support post offices because we recognise their importance in our communities."

This is the second round of funding which is designed to help sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses diversify and improve their Post Offices. A total of £1.1million for sixty three post offices was announced in July.

The £4.5million fund, which will run for three years and is open to every sub-post office in Wales, aims to help with business and marketing advice, advertising, training and some set-up costs for new services. Funding can also be applied for improvements such as creating better access to buildings, upgrading computer equipment, improving security or providing better signs for the outside of premises.

Twelve Post Offices have been awarded grants of up to £5,000 each for small capital projects such as new air conditioning or security systems and sixty three have been awarded up to £20,000 each for larger capital projects such as renovation, improving access or installing facilities for new services. Thirty-four of the Post Offices have also received up to £15,000 in revenue funding which will help employ new staff or increase staff hours to provide more services.

Janet Ryder said:

 “I am delighted that so many Post Offices across North Wales have been able to take advantage of the fund and that it is already making a difference to businesses and communities alike. The enterprises we are now supporting are excellent examples of how Post Offices can provide so many other services for the communities they serve."

Huw Roberts, Director of Welsh Affairs for Royal Mail said:

 “One in seven of Post Offices have now been directly helped by the Fund. We are delighted to be working with the Welsh Assembly Government on this scheme – it can only be good for the community and the service we provide.”

NOTE: Of the 75 post offices receiving help, 10 are in Janet Ryder's North Wales regional constituency. They are:


Llanfairtalhaiarn PO, Conwy
Cerrigydrudion PO, Conwy
Llangollen PO, Denbs
Meliden Rd PO, Denbs
Wepre PO, Flints
Hawarden PO, Flints
Flint PO, Flints
Ffynnongroyw PO, Flints
Glyn Ceiriog PO, Wrexham
Town Hill PO, Wrexham

Wrexham tops WAG budget settlement

This went out to the local press in Wrexham:

Wrexham will receive the highest increase in Assembly Government funding for Welsh councils in the latest round of funding announcements.

The 3.1% increase for 2010-11 has been welcomed by Plaid Cymru's North Wales AM Janet Ryder. She said: "Wrexham doesn't qualify for the EU Convergence Fund and has been badly hit by job losses in the past year. Therefore it's good to hear that Welsh Government funding for the council in the coming financial year is the highest in Wales."

She added: "The picture across North Wales is a mixed one - some councils are receiving below the 2.1% average increase while others, like Denbighshire and Wrexham, are above average. Because of UK government cuts in budgets, there's no doubt that many councils will struggle to maintain services.

"What's important to note is that the Welsh Government has seen a less-than-expected block grant from London because of UK government cuts but is ensuring that cuts are minimised for local councils. This is where the frontline services are and these are the services we need to protect and safeguard. That's why the Welsh Government has ensured that councils overall are getting the same funding increase as the Assembly itself."

 Wrexham Council will receive £162 million from the Welsh Government, an increase of £7 million, but the Plaid AM is concerned that the long-term funding settlement for Welsh councils could look bleak. 

Janet Ryder launched a passionate attack on the way funding is allocated to Wales. She said: "The Plaid-Labour government in the Assembly has had to use money held in reserve to help at this vital time. That is because London governments have consistently underfunded Wales because of the flawed Barnett Formula. This formula means that Labour in London is holding back money that should come to Wales. The independent Commission chaired by Gerald Holtham identified this spending gap and said that, until the funding formula was reviewed, no further cuts should be imposed on Welsh funding. This has been ignored and that ultimately means that frontline services such as health, education and social services will feel the pinch.

 "Plaid has campaigned for many years for a fair funding formula to ensure that Wales gets the money it needs. Unless that is addressed, next year's settlement is likely to be followed by more severe cuts."

The full settlement is detailed below:

	WELSH LOCAL GOVERNMENT SETTLEMENT 2010-11
	Provisional
	Table 1a: Increase in AEF								?000s
	Local Authority		2009-10  Final AEF?		2010-11 Provisional AEF?		% increase		Rank
	ISLE OF ANGLESEY		93,595		94,531		1.00%		21
	GWYNEDD		168,441		170,197		1.04%		20
	CONWY		144,405		146,042		1.13%		19
	DENBIGHSHIRE		134,698		137,920		2.39%		6
	FLINTSHIRE		183,618		186,989		1.84%		12
	WREXHAM		157,409		162,294		3.10%		1
	POWYS		179,219		181,012		1.00%		22
	CEREDIGION		98,978		101,042		2.09%		9
	PEMBROKESHIRE		159,957		162,181		1.39%		17
	CARMARTHENSHIRE		247,315		251,678		1.76%		13
	SWANSEA		296,521		302,028		1.86%		11
	NEATH PORT TALBOT		195,419		198,861		1.76%		14
	BRIDGEND		176,092		180,723		2.63%		4
	THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN		148,613		152,161		2.39%		7
	RHONDDA CYNON TAFF		340,172		348,653		2.49%		5
	MERTHYR TYDFIL		85,654		87,343		1.97%		10
	CAERPHILLY		248,483		254,083		2.25%		8
	BLAENAU GWENT		107,958		109,593		1.52%		16
	TORFAEN		129,087		131,169		1.61%		15
	MONMOUTHSHIRE		97,790		98,904		1.14%		18
	NEWPORT		191,062		196,974		3.09%		2
	CARDIFF		382,753		394,093		2.96%		3
	Wales		3,967,239		4,048,471		2.05%
	Footnote :1. 2010-11 figures include the transfers in and out of the settlement, 2009-10 figures are therefore adjusted to include the 2009-10 value  to allow comparison at local authority level. This results in a slight difference (0.02%) when compared with the overall  increase in funding before the inclusion of transfers.