Council Merger Map Binned – First Minister Has ‘Open Mind’ For New Plan

The planned Council mergers appear to be binned, with the new First Minister saying he is going to enter discussions with other parties to find common ground on fresh proposals.

In a radio interview with Vaughan Roderick on BBC Radio Wales the new First Minister Carwyn Jones said he ‘understood the arithmetic’ of the election result and ‘there would not be tribalism for tribalism sake’.

The topic of Council mergers was raised, an issue locally that had seen a merger of Wrexham Council with Flintshire and even Denbighshire proposed.

At the 10 minute mark of the interview Local Government reorganisation is discussed, with Mr Jones asked if the previously planned changes are ‘full steam ahead’.

Below is a spoof map that was circulated back when the plans were first unveiled. At the time there was rumours that a delegation, including then Minister Leighton Andrews who lost his seat at the recent election, visited Wrexham and put forward the merger plans in blunt terms. We understand there was an indelicate presentation of plans lasting a couple of minutes at most involving desk banging and no actual discussion. It appears from the comments of the First Minister the new plans will be more inclusive to views aside from Cardiff.

Carwyn Jones added in the BBC interview: “The map that was published before the election is not going to proceed” adding later that the map would “…not gain support across the Assembly, but we do need to find a way forward.”

“There is an acknowledgement in the parties that there is a need to reorganise local government to make local government stronger and to make our town and community councils stronger.”

“What I would like to do is to begin discussions with the other parties and see what common ground there is and move to a situation where we’ve got stronger local government.

Stating the map is off the table and Welsh Government would like to lead any new plans, he added: “I think it has to be an all Wales approach but as to what that approach looks like we have an open mind and are happy to discuss with the other parties.”