FIGURES showing that 86 per cent of Barry Town Council's bought-in services are from companies based in Wales have been welcomed.

Plaid Cymru councillor Ian Johnson said he was pleased with the figures, and urged the Vale council to "raise its game" to "reach the same levels of investment in our local communities".

Newly published figures show that 86 per cent of Barry Town Council spending is with Welsh firms and 20 per cent of the services were from companies located in Barry itself.

This compares with 54 per cent of Welsh Government services bought from companies in Wales.

Of the council’s £484,513 spend on services, £96,999 was from companies in Barry, with a further £321,356 from other companies in Wales.

Buttrills ward councillor Ian Johnson said: "Town and community councils raise their money from the local community so it is important that, where possible, we use and promote local businesses.

“Where we can employ quality and high-standard local companies to provide services then we are creating jobs and, through that employment, money goes back into the local community and spent on other services.

“Plaid Cymru wants to increase the amount of this procurement spending in Wales from the Welsh Government’s current 54 per cent to 75 per cent - this would create more than 40,000 new jobs in Wales.

“I am pleased that Barry Town Council is already ahead of the game. This amount sets a high benchmark for the future, which we hope will be sustained.

“The Vale of Glamorgan Council must now raise its game to reach the same levels of investment in our local communities.”