Welsh Government Say No Council Mergers – But ‘More Service Sharing’
Controversial plans to cut the number of Welsh councils from 22 to just eight or nine have been formally scrapped – however local authorities could soon be sharing more services.
The announcement was made today by Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Mark Drakeford, who outlined plans for the future of local government reform in Wales.
Plans to merge Welsh councils were initially announced in late 2014 by the then Minister for Public Services, Leighton Andrews.
Under Mr Andrews proposals the number of councils in Wales would have been reduced from 22 to eight or nine. Such proposals would have seen Wrexham merge with Flintshire or a merger between Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire – dubbed Clwyd 2.0 !
These proposals were rejected by Wrexham Council who stated they are ‘strong enough to stand alone‘.
However the proposed reorganisation of local government was thrown into flux in May 2016, when Mr Andrews lost his seat to Plaid Cymru Leader, Leanne Wood in the Assembly elections.
Since then there had been uncertainty over the future of Welsh councils. However during a BBC Wales interview in late May 2016 it had been mooted by First Minister Carwyn Jones that the mergers in their proposed form would not go forward.
Spoof map sent to us in 2015 by @moley_mole
Today the future of local government was outlined by Mr Drakeford, who dismissed forced mergers by stating there will be ‘no change to the existing number of local authorities’.
The Welsh Government however would support voluntary mergers if plans were put forward.
Confirmation that council elections would take place as scheduled in 2017. Elections for all councils, unless voluntary mergers took place, would also go ahead in 2022.
Under proposals set out today, local authorities would work together to deliver key services.
Firmer plans will be released in the coming months, however it is anticipated that services such as education and social services would be based on the Welsh health board boundaries.
In the case of North Wales this would cover the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board areas of
Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd and Wrexham.
While some local authorities already work together voluntarily to deliver some services, Welsh Government state that ‘this new way of regional working would be systematic and mandatory’.
In an update to Assembly Members today, Mr Drakeford said: “Councils are delivering their services against a backdrop of austerity or what the Institute for Fiscal Studies have called an “extraordinary ten or more years of retrenchment in public service spending”.
“Austerity creates pressures and one of the key questions for me is how we can make our local authorities more resilient to deal with these pressures. That’s why local government reform is a requirement, not a choice.
“Over the summer, I visited all 22 local authorities and met with the Welsh Local Government Association, Trades Unions and others.
“I have listened to their views and we now have an approach on a possible way forward. This would retain existing local authorities – the “front door” through which people access services – but with key services being delivered regionally.
“Behind this front door, we would have an enhanced level of mandatory and systematic regional working. This will give local authorities more resilience in terms of staffing and finance and also ensure that services are planned and delivered on the right scale.
“It has been suggested to me that we have two models to deliver these services; one based around City Regions covering strategic transport, land-use planning and economic development and another aligned to health boards for services such as education improvement, social services and public protection.”
He added: “Of course, some authorities may wish to build their resilience further by voluntarily merging and we will support them to help make that happen.
“We will also make improvements to community councils in the short term, and establish an independent review to look at the future role of this tier of local government.
“I am conscious local government has been through a period of extended uncertainty about its future and the corrosive impact this has on morale.
“In June I announced that councillors elected to existing councils in 2017 will serve a full five-year term to 2022. Today, I am able to announce that there will be elections to these councils – less any which merge voluntarily – in 2022. This confirms a permanent five-year election cycle and provides local government with a ten-year stable platform from which to take forward reform.
“I want to be clear today that we are setting out on this journey with a new determination. I’m prepared to see progress over a sensible and practical timeframe, but progress must be made.
“By the New Year, I hope to have identified, with local government, recognised Trade Unions and other partners, a viable way forward.”
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