Barnett formula
A good executive last night with Jonathan Reeves elected to chair the Association. Jonathan has already shown a deft touch in handling matters and has great plans for moving things forward.
There is a lot of anger still with the local Lib Dems who are seen as having scuppered the rainbow alliance. I spoke about the challenges ahead in this third assembly term; I wanted to discuss the forthcoming review of the Barnett formula with members.
Now that we are to have this review, and I think a case can be made quite fairly for looking at the funding formula after 30 years, it is important that we ensure that any findings are acted upon. It is unrealistic and indeed unfair to stand by, for example, if the review should demonstrate that Scotland is over- resourced and Wales is short changed. This admittedly is speculative but it is certainly a possible outcome. There is also the matter of fairness to England too.
I look forward to hearing how the red green alliance intends to tackle this and on what timescale.
The other major concern that came up at the meeting is the need to protect local services– hospitals, schools, post offices and police presence. This is a key challenge. At the start of the twenty first century it is simply not realistic to seek to persuade people that it is progress to travel further in cars (which we are trying to dissuade people from using) to access public services.
