WELSH councils need multiyear funding deals to rebuild services following years of austerity, says a Unison Cymru report published today.

The union warns that there are “no short-cuts” as it calls for a new approach to allow local authorities to invest in early support for families and protect the workforce from constant upheaval.

Gwynedd branch secretary Gwawr Eilian said: “Councils have been starved of funding for years and suffered from multiple rounds of job cuts.

“We’re stretched to the limit just trying to cope with the increased demand for our services.”

Unison Cymru head of local government Darron Dupre said: “Investment in council services strengthens communities and means people are happier and healthier.

“As this report shows, failing to fund local government just stores up problems down the line.

“It will now take proper funding and long-term planning to fix the problems of austerity and rebuild public services. There are no short cuts or easy answers.”

The union commissioned the Future of Local Government Services in Wales report, which was written by the Association for Public Service Excellence.

It argues that slashing funding of vital services can create problems in the long run that ultimately cost more money to fix than was saved in the first place.

The report also warns that short-term financial settlements and repeated rounds of cuts make it harder for councils to plan for the future, retain experienced staff and maintain high service standards.

Last week, local authorities in England and Wales warned that their finances were at “breaking point,” with more councils expected to fall into bankruptcy in the future, as they face a nervous wait to discover their government funding this month.