A Ceredigion plea to chancellor Racheal Reeves for more sustainable funding for local councils has been backed by councillors, despite failed calls to remove criticism of the previous Conservative Westminster government.

A Notice of Motion proposed by Cllr Gareth Davies and seconded by Cllr Caryl Roberts was backed at Ceredigion County Council’s full council meeting on Thursday, October 24, calling on chancellor Rachel Reeves MP “to put local council funding back on a firm foundation”.

The notice of motion read: “Cyngor Sir Ceredigion congratulates the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP on becoming the first woman to be appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK Government.

“We can empathise with her on taking on this challenging role as local councils who’ve had to cope with a disproportionate share of spending cuts during 14 years of ruthless Conservative Govt austerity.”

The motion continued: “We urge the Chancellor in her forthcoming autumn budget to put local government funding back on a sustainable foundation, by drawing on the £10bn available due to the Bank of England’s decision to slow down the pace of its quantitative tightening programme.”

That second paragraph drew political divisions in the chamber at Ceredigion County Council, with Cllr Rhodri Evans saying he was “not comfortable” with “the political part,” adding: “I wouldn’t be happy to put that first paragraph, she [the chancellor] has taken the [winter fuel] benefits from the older people in the county, why should we be congratulating her on that?”

Cllr Ifan Davies also raised concerns about the congratulations, before arguing that austerity may have started before the last Conservative government, referencing the infamous ‘no money left’ note left by the last Labour Westminster government in 2010.

The Welsh government in Cardiff also drew the ire of Cllr Ifan Davies, saying: “If you want to play a political game look at Cardiff airport.”

Cllr Marc Davies also thought the second paragraph should be changed, saying it was important “not to make enemies with anyone,” suggesting the Conservative could be back in power in five years’ time.

“It’s important to remember what was said in 2010: ‘There’s no money left’,” he said, adding: “I hope the chancellor will do as good a job as Mrs Thatcher did in 1979.”

In a spirit of compromise to push the notice forward, Cllr Elizabeth Evans suggested an amendment to remove the “ruthless Conservative Govt austerity” part, stressing: “It’s important as a council we send a clear message to Westminster, and the Senedd; can we please find a middle ground?”

Cllr Gareth Davies said he was “disappointed by the tone of the discussion,” saying the initial sentence was “to show respect” to the new chancellor, adding: “I don’t se a problem with the second paragraph, it’s factually correct.”

He later added: “I’m not ready to change this notice of motion before you today; this notice shouldn’t be a political matter.”

Council chair Cllr Keith Evans said: “As was said, the cupboard was bare after Labour; you could say ‘there was underfunding for years...’.”

Cllr Evan’s amendment was defeated by 17 votes to 13, the main motion to send the letter unchanged backed by 19 votes, with two against and nine abstentions.

'No money left'

The ‘no money left’ note was a private message an outgoing minister traditionally leaves for their replacement when a government changes after an election, by convention not shared and often taking the form of a jokey exchange.

In the case of the 2010 note, which read: "Dear Chief Secretary, I’m afraid there is no money. Kind regards – and good luck! [signed Labour minister Liam Byrne]," that unofficial convention was broken; the note commonly used to criticise Labour economic policy.

For students of history, after Labour’s 1964 victory, outgoing Conservative chancellor Reginald Maudling is said to have written a note for replacement Jim Callaghan saying: “Good luck, old cock, sorry to leave it in such a mess.”