CEREDIGION council will benefit from the second-highest funding percentage increase in Wales, under provisional funding figures announced by the Welsh Government.

After years of suffering from some of the highest funding cuts across the 22 Welsh councils, finance Cabinet secretary Mark Drakeford announced provisional figures that would see the council receive a funding increase of 0.8 per cent.

Only Gwynedd, with a 0.9 per cent increase, has seen a higher percentage increase.

It is likely to be a cut in real terms, however, taking into account inflation of 1.5 per cent.

But while Mr Drakeford has announced a funding increase for Ceredigion, there was disappointment in Powys after a funding cut of 0.5 per cent was announced - the joint highest cut in Wales alongside four other authorities.

Both Ceredigion and Powys councils have seen funding cuts amongst the highest in Wales in recent years, but the announcement by Mr Drakeford contained good news for Ceredigion.

Under the provisional settlement, which will now go out to consultation, Ceredigion would receive funding of £97.8m in 2016/17, an increase of £750,000 from the figure of just over £97m in 2015/16.

In a letter to the 22 local authorities in Wales, Mr Drakeford said there was an overall increase in funding for councils for the first time since 2013/14, although 10 of the 22 councils will receive a funding cut if the provisional figures are confirmed.

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