COUNCIL chiefs warned of “no fat left to cut” with leisure centres and libraries across Wales facing the threat of closure due to “unprecedented” financial constraints.

The Senedd culture committee took evidence from councils on October 24 as part of an inquiry on the impact of cuts on the arts, culture and sport.

Emily Owen, deputy leader of Conwy Council, said: “Everything’s on the table that isn’t statutory at the moment, we’re in that much of a difficult financial situation.”

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), the national voice of Wales’ 22 councils, warned spending on culture, recreation and libraries has fallen by up to 43% over a decade.

Cllr Owen said: “Last year, our economy and culture service had a 20% cut and the year before it had an 11% cut. That’s a serious amount of money that has gone from services.”

With the WGLA warning of a £432m funding gap across Welsh councils, Cllr Owen told the committee the council is trying to avoid closing leisure centres.

“We strongly believe that once they’re gone, they’re gone,” she said.

The Labour councillor cautioned cuts have had a considerable direct impact on participation of the most vulnerable people amid a mental health epidemic.

“It’s really not good,” she said. “If we’re having to remove facilities and access for people to be able to manage their mental health and wellbeing … we are having a really big impact.”

She pointed to plans to turn Venue Cymru in Llandudno into a culture hub, hosting library services, tourist information and welfare benefits advice.

Huw Thomas, leader of Cardiff Council, warned the scale of the budget gap leaves councils little latitude to continue to fund loss-making facilities they are not legally required to provide.

Cllr Thomas, who is culture, arts and leisure spokesperson for the WLGA, told the committee Cardiff is facing a £60m gap in the coming year.

He said: “We’re at the toughest point of budget setting I think we’ve experienced even in 14-15 years of austerity.”

Setting out the scale of the deficit, the Labour councillor told committee members the city’s combined annual budget for parks and libraries totals about £12m.

He said the council felt obliged to move away from a £1m-a-year subsidy for St David’s Hall.

Cllr Thomas cautioned it is increasingly difficult to find savings after 14 years of austerity, adding that councils are overwhelmingly prioritising services in areas of higher poverty.

He made a case for additional funding for Cardiff as the capital, raising the example of other cities in the UK receiving help with policing costs for major events.

Sarah Ecob, head of culture at Conwy Council, said: “We’re fighting really hard to keep our buildings and our services open in a backdrop of extremely severe financial difficulties.”

She expressed concerns about a lack of longer-term investment in facilities, warning: “We still have leisure centres that are desperately, desperately in need of major capital funding.”

Amanda Davies, managing director of Byw’n Iach which runs 12 centres across Gwynedd, cautioned: “There’s no fat left to cut. We’re running on a basis of individual staff running some facilities – you can’t cut back further … it’s not possible.”

Ms Davies raised concerns about a crisis in terms of ageing leisure facilities across Wales, with increasing costs and some centres set to close for maintenance.

Asked about cultural venues, Roland Evans, assistant head of economy at Gwynedd Council, said numbers are yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.

He warned that without the shared prosperity fund (SPF), which replaced EU structural funds, the council would be facing a “cliff edge” with little arts and museums activity.

Ms Ecob echoed this, saying: “The SPF has absolutely rescued us this year.”

She warned core staff are “very much under threat” when the funding comes to an end, which would have knock-on impacts in terms of applying for grants.

Mr Thomas agreed about the importance of the SPF as he similarly raised concerns about uncertainty surrounding funding beyond March 2025.

JOIN us at the PAVS Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Funding Fair on Thursday, 14th November, at the Queen’s Hall, Narberth. The Funding Fair will run from 11:00am to 3:00pm, offering a valuable opportunity for community groups to connect directly with funding officers and explore a range of grant opportunities.

Navigating different priorities, application forms, and changing criteria can be challenging when applying for funding. This event offers a chance to discuss your project ideas directly with funders, gain insights into current grants, and receive expert tips on crafting successful applications.

PAVS members are invited to attend the AGM starting at 9:00am, which includes a light breakfast. The meeting will highlight the achievements of 2023/2024 and outline the Association’s future plans.

From 11:00am, the Funding Exhibition will showcase local and national funding opportunities, featuring exhibitors such as the Bluestone Foundation, Port of Milford Haven, South Hook LNG, the National Lottery Community Fund, and WCVA. This annual gathering is an excellent chance for funders to learn more about local projects, bringing to life the ideas detailed in grant applications.

Participants are encouraged to bring a summary of their project ideas and identify the funders they wish to engage with. The PAVS Third Sector Support Team will be on hand, offering guidance on PAVS support services, PAVS Managed Funds, and other valuable resources.

Attendance is free, and tickets can be reserved through Eventbrite by searching “PAVS Funding Fair,” via the booking link on the PAVS website (www.pavs.org.uk), or by emailing [email protected] for more information. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow your community projects!

MILFORD Haven Town Council will convene on Monday (Oct 28), at 7:00pm, at the Milford Haven Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets Unit, Unit A, Havens Head Business Park. The session will also be accessible remotely for councillors and members of the public upon request, as per the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

The agenda includes a range of important discussions, starting with a public Question and Answer session. The Mayor, Councillor W. D. Elliott, will then deliver news updates and outline recent engagements. Following this, councillors will proceed with minutes approval from the previous meeting held on 14th October 2024.

A focus will be placed on reports and recommendations from recent committees, including the Grant Review Sub-Committee and the Cemetery Working Group. Additional matters include updates on cemetery maintenance, the September Cemetery Report, and discussions on the town’s Anti-Racism Policy & Plan.

The council will also review social media and website updates, alongside planning matters. Though planning applications and notifications are for information only, they are anticipated to generate interest.

Key decisions are expected regarding applications for financial assistance. Among the applications up for consideration are funding requests from Milford Haven School and the New Xenon Theatre Company, both deferred from the last council meeting.

Members of the public and councillors are encouraged to participate, with remote access available to ensure broader engagement.