Cardiff Council has said it will still consider a controversial proposal to take over St David's Hall, despite receiving a higher than anticipated budget increase. After a 9% increase in funding from the Welsh Government for 2023-24, Cardiff Council's budget gap has been shortened from £53 million to £23.5 million.
The council has revealed that it will ask members of the public about a series of options being considered ahead of the budget for 2023-24, including potentially reducing operating hours at recycling centres, restricting opening times of hubs and libraries, and increasing the cost of school meals. The consultation, which will open online on December 23, will also ask residents about new ways of operating St David’s Hall, the White Water Rafting Centre and the Museum of Cardiff in the Old Library on The Hayes.
Cardiff Council's cabinet member for finance, modernisation and performance, Cllr Chris Weaver, called the 9% increase in funding "very welcome" and "significant". However, he warned that the £23.5 million gap was still a big one to close. He said: "The difference between a £50 million gap and a £23.5 million gap is very significant in terms of what that means for services and council tax and we are very grateful that the Welsh Government has gone as far as it has in trying to support local government.
