FLINTSHIRE County Council has been number crunching after receiving a disappointing amount of cash from the Welsh Assembly for next year. Civic leaders have been poring over the figures, which represent a 2.7% increase – well below the 5.2% rate of inflation. The immediate reaction of council leader Arnold Woolley on Wednesday was: “It could have been better but it could have been worse. It is too early to predict how this will impact on council tax, but we expect to make an announcement on Friday (today).” Flintshire’s 2.7% increase compares with 4.2% in Carmarthenshire and 1.5% in Gwynedd. Cllr Woolley added: “Anything less than the rate of inflation will give all local authorities, including Flintshire, difficulties. “It’s too early to speculate how the settlement will affect council tax next year, but we aim to be very sharp and efficient. “We hope to be able to comment on the settlement in more detail today (Friday).” Flintshire is already coming to terms with another financial blow. The authority has £3.7m of council tax payers money invested in Icelandic bank Landsbanki, which has collapsed. It is not yet known if the council – and other public bodies in Wales in a similar position – will be able to retrieve their cash. | 
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