Posted: Tue 20th Mar 2018

Welsh Government put council mergers back on the table (again) – including joining Wrexham with Flintshire (again)

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 20th, 2018

The Welsh Government have announced new plans which they say would “strengthen local government in Wales” – including the merging of Wrexham and Flintshire Councils.

An early days Green Paper consultation has been published by the Welsh Government today – setting out proposals to again explore the possibility of creating larger and “stronger” councils.

The Welsh Government say that Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services Alun Davies has spent the past few months visiting local authority leaders across Wales to learn more about the ‘unprecedented challenges they face and how these challenges are impacting on the future sustainability of services’.

As a result today’s Green Paper sets out for debate possible options on how this can achieved – from ‘voluntary mergers’, to a phased approach with early adopters merging first, followed by other authorities, to a ‘comprehensive merger programme’.

The proposals aim to ensure councils are able to continue to provide excellent essential services by providing the support, recognition and reward for the crucial role they play in our democracy.

Within the document there are proposals to reduce the number of councils in Wales from 22 to 10 – echoing a similar proposal that was shelved just a couple of years ago.

As with the proposals first mooted in 2014, Wrexham Council would be lined up to merge with neighbouring local authority Flintshire Council.

Wrexham Council notoriously stood firm against any merger plans, with Council Leader Mark Pritchard stating in September 2014 that the local authority would “not bullied into a merger with Flintshire County Council by Cardiff.”

The controversial plans for council mergers appeared to be binned off in 2016. However it was acknowledged by First Minister Carwyn Jones that there was still a “need to reorganise local government to make local government stronger and to make our town and community councils stronger.”

The Green Paper published today sets out three options – voluntary mergers, a phased approach – which would allow early adopters to merge in 2022, and a single merger programme taking place in 2022.

This would mean anyone standing for election in 2021, would potentially be elected to a ‘Wrexshire Council”.

In a statement issued today Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, Alun Davies, said unless radical steps are undertaken the “role of local government will increasingly be one of managed decline”.

“I believe in public service and the fundamental role local government plays in communities across Wales,” said Mr Davies.

“Wales needs strong, effective, empowered local authorities which can weather continued austerity and build local democratic structures fit for future generations. I do not believe that our local authorities, as currently constituted, can fully play this role; and I am not alone.

“Councils have been clear that services are wearing down to the point of collapse and there is a general acceptance that things cannot carry on as they are and a general acknowledgement that more money, even if it were available, would not solve the problem.

He added: “I also know local government has made real efforts to change, adapt and invest for the future but I also understand that in the face of UK Government cuts, there are limited options to ensuring the future sustainability of local services.

“Unless we do something radical in response to these challenges we all recognise, the role of local government will increasingly be one of managed decline.

“The next step must be game-changing. I believe there are many in local government who understand this and I am committed to working with them to secure change.

“I have already announced proposals to increase participation and improve the democratic process for everyone in Wales, today I am launching a consultation on further re-invigorating the local government landscape.”

The Cabinet Secretary also noted that it is “important as part of this debate to have an agreed template for a future footprint for local government, which any merger must be consistent with. This would ensure that any changes are aligned with the boundaries other public services operate on”.

The Green Paper sets out an approach which reflects the thinking of the Williams Commission and feedback from previous consultations to stimulate discussion to arrive at an agreed approach.

Alun Davies continued, “I recognise there are a number of challenges in creating larger, stronger authorities; but these challenges are not insurmountable.

“If we do proceed with one of the options for creating larger authorities in the future, we will provide early practical support to local authorities.”

The topic of mergers was mentioned briefly during a democratic services scrutiny committee earlier this month, when Cllr Derek Wright asked if there was scope for a regional scrutiny committee to question the likes of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Speaking at the time Council Leader Mark Pritchard referred to the mooted council reorganisation as something that had “risen from the ashes”.

We have contacted Wrexham Council and are awaiting further comment on the new proposals.



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