Following a statement in the Welsh Parliament by the Minister for Finance and Local Government yesterday afternoon, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith said: "The proposals in the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill to remove the requirement for councils to publish council tax changes in local newspapers are dangerous and must be abandoned.
"Independent research and the Welsh government’s own impact assessment show that printed local newspapers are an essential platform for ensuring that the public - particularly the elderly, disenfranchised, those living in rural areas, and lower income households - have access to critical information that may have a profound impact upon their lives.
“The industry has also worked to leverage its strong growth in digital audiences with the launch of the Public Notice Portal in May this year.
"The UK government in Westminster has publicly acknowledged the vital importance of local newspapers in communicating public notices and pledged to keep the requirement for councils to publish them in local papers. We now urge the Welsh government to stand up for transparency and accountability and do the same."
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