Local Government

The future of local government services in Wales report (2025)

A shift from universal, preventative services to outsourced provision has widened inequalities, increased costs and weakened local economies
Date posted: 10 December 2025

About the report

Sustained cuts to preventative local services — such as youth work, neighbourhood services and early intervention programmes — have increased demand for more expensive reactive service. 

Since 2008, spending on neighbourhood services has fallen by around 15% in real terms while demand has risen by a similar amount. At the same time, there has been a significant reduction in direct council employment (down around 17% since 2008) with external providers now accounting for nearly half of Welsh council service expenditure.

Methodology

This report was commissioned by UNISON Cymru and produced by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).

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