BLAENAU Gwent's council boss has joined the outcry over the Assembly's "miserly" financial settlement for local authorities.

As we reported yesterday, other Gwent council leaders are unhappy about their share of the cash handout towards running front-line services next year.

Blaenau Gwent is getting one of the lowest increases, just 1.5 per cent, in Wales and is due to receive £104.6 million from the Assembly.

Council leader Des Hillman said they were joining with other councils to fight "unfair and iniquitous" proposals that would hit services for some of the most deprived communities.

"We are challenging the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) to tear up this disgraceful plan to choke off our funding."

Cllr Hillman said the people of Blaenau Gwent wanted an explanation about why the council, which was working as hard as any to make economies and provide better services, was being cut to the bone.

Inflation was running at more than five per cent but the Assembly government planned to pass on a meagre 1.5 per cent to Blaenau Gwent and two other councils - Powys and Anglesey.

Yet the proposals revealed some councils will receive an increase in funding three times the "basement" rate being handed down to Blaenau Gwent.

"Together with the Leaders of Powys and Anglesey, I will be seeking action from the WLGA to find out why they are not taking action to defend local services in our communities."

He added he was already in talks with Blaenau Gwent’s AM Trish Law and South East Wales AM Mike German about taking our case to the National Assembly.

Announcing the settlement, Dr Brian Gibbons said the Assembly was committed to providing the necessary resources for local authorities to ensure they were able to maintain vital key services.