Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is urging Welsh Government to do more to help struggling local authorities in North Wales.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Local Government Minister, was commenting after he questioned Rebecca Evans, the Minister for Finance and Local Government over a warning by the Leader of Denbighshire County Council that it faced bankruptcy.
In a leaked letter to fellow councillors, Council Leader, Cllr Jason McLellan warned that Denbighshire faces a shortfall of £20-26m for 2024/25 and the council will now need to look at increasing council tax and cut both services and jobs in a bid to make ends meet.
He said:
I questioned the Minister on discussions being had with the leader of Denbighshire County Council following the warning that the council is facing bankruptcy.
I have often raised the need for an independent review of the funding formula, as there are some councils sitting on hundreds of millions in reserves while others risk bankruptcy - this seems incredibly unfair.
I was left unsatisfied that the Minister has any significant plans to assist the council and would not commit to an independent review into the funding formula.
I now worry for the people in the area as they potentially face council tax hikes and another round of cuts to their much-needed services.
Mae Sam Rowlands AS wedi mynegi pryder am rybuddion bod un o gynghorau'r Gogledd yn wynebu methdaliad
Mae Sam Rowlands, Aelod o Senedd Cymru dros Ogledd Cymru, yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i wneud mwy i helpu awdurdodau lleol y Gogledd sy'n cael trafferthion.
Roedd Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol yr Wrthblaid, yn gwneud sylw ar ôl iddo holi Rebecca Evans, y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth ynghylch rhybudd gan Arweinydd Cyngor Sir Ddinbych ei fod yn wynebu methdaliad.
Mewn llythyr a ddatgelwyd yn answyddogol i gyd-gynghorwyr, rhybuddiodd Arweinydd y Cyngor, y Cynghorydd Jason McLellan fod Sir Ddinbych yn wynebu diffyg o £20-26m ar gyfer 2024/25 a bydd angen i'r cyngor nawr edrych ar gynyddu treth y cyngor a thorri gwasanaethau a swyddi mewn ymgais i gael dau ben llinyn ynghyd.
Meddai:
Fe wnes i holi'r Gweinidog am drafodaethau sy'n cael eu cynnal gydag arweinydd Cyngor Sir Ddinbych yn dilyn y rhybudd bod y cyngor yn wynebu methdaliad.
Rwy'n aml wedi codi'r angen am adolygiad annibynnol o'r fformiwla ariannu, gan fod rhai cynghorau yn eistedd ar gannoedd o filiynau mewn cronfeydd wrth gefn tra bod eraill mewn perygl o fethdaliad - mae hyn yn ymddangos yn hynod annheg.
Roeddwn i'n anfodlon nad oes gan y gweinidog unrhyw gynlluniau sylweddol i gynorthwyo'r cyngor ac na fyddai'n ymrwymo i adolygiad annibynnol i'r fformiwla ariannu.
Dwi nawr yn poeni am bobl yr ardal gan eu bod o bosibl yn wynebu codiadau i’r dreth gyngor a rownd arall o doriadau i'w gwasanaethau angenrheidiol.
