This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-34385932
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Council plan is 'colossal waste' of cash and 'botched' | Council plan is 'colossal waste' of cash and 'botched' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Attempts to reorganise local councils in Wales have been both a "colossal waste of money" and "botched", the Lib Dems and Conservatives have said. | |
| The Liberal Democrats accused Labour ministers of spending £130,000 on a commission and ignoring its findings. | The Liberal Democrats accused Labour ministers of spending £130,000 on a commission and ignoring its findings. |
| In June, ministers announced plans to cut the number of councils from 22 to eight or nine, after a commission they established recommended up to 12. | In June, ministers announced plans to cut the number of councils from 22 to eight or nine, after a commission they established recommended up to 12. |
| Ministers warned Welsh Tories planned to "slash" council budgets. | Ministers warned Welsh Tories planned to "slash" council budgets. |
| The criticism of efforts by Public Services Minister to merge councils came as AMs prepared to debate the Local Government Bill in the Senedd. | The criticism of efforts by Public Services Minister to merge councils came as AMs prepared to debate the Local Government Bill in the Senedd. |
| Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show the Welsh government spent £130,332 on the work of the cross-party Williams Commission, led by the former chief executive of the Welsh NHS Paul Williams. | Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show the Welsh government spent £130,332 on the work of the cross-party Williams Commission, led by the former chief executive of the Welsh NHS Paul Williams. |
| Party local government spokesman Peter Black said: "For Labour ministers to spend over £130,000 to set up a commission, only to then completely ignore its recommendations, is a colossal waste of money. | Party local government spokesman Peter Black said: "For Labour ministers to spend over £130,000 to set up a commission, only to then completely ignore its recommendations, is a colossal waste of money. |
| "Labour ministers have been stubborn on this issue from the outset - it's their way or else." | "Labour ministers have been stubborn on this issue from the outset - it's their way or else." |
| "Sometimes they seem to forget that they failed to get a full mandate at the last election, and that they don't have the right to rule like a majority government with only half the seats," he added. | "Sometimes they seem to forget that they failed to get a full mandate at the last election, and that they don't have the right to rule like a majority government with only half the seats," he added. |
| Any changes to the number of councils will be made after the 2016 assembly election and political parties are expected to set out their future vision for local government in their manifestos in the spring. | Any changes to the number of councils will be made after the 2016 assembly election and political parties are expected to set out their future vision for local government in their manifestos in the spring. |
| Meanwhile, figures released to the Welsh Conservatives by 15 of the 22 local authorities showed they spent a combined £36m on redundancy payments in 2014/15 - up from around £24.5m in 2013/14. | Meanwhile, figures released to the Welsh Conservatives by 15 of the 22 local authorities showed they spent a combined £36m on redundancy payments in 2014/15 - up from around £24.5m in 2013/14. |
| Almost £12m was spent by Cardiff council - the largest council in Wales - while the lowest spenders were the Vale of Glamorgan council who paid out £276,000. | Almost £12m was spent by Cardiff council - the largest council in Wales - while the lowest spenders were the Vale of Glamorgan council who paid out £276,000. |
| Shadow local government minister Janet Finch-Saunders said: "More than £100m has been spent on council redundancies in the last three years, but that figure could be the tip of the iceberg if Labour press ahead with their botched plans for council mergers." | |
| 'Marker-pen assault' | |
| The Conservatives also announced plans for any mergers to require approval from voters in a referendum. | |
| AMs will vote on the idea, in an amendment to the Local Government Bill, on Tuesday. | |
| Mrs Finch-Saunders said it would "put power back in local hands" after "Labour's marker-pen assault on our communities". | |
| "Instead of taking people with him the minister has ploughed ahead with his unpopular plans, risking great upheaval, less localised services and an attempt to banish many of Wales' proudest communities from the map altogether," she said. | |
| A spokesman for Mr Andrews said: "Tory cuts in Westminster have forced local government to make tough decisions to make long-term savings. | |
| "Now in Wales the Tories want to slash local government budgets by a further 12%. That would mean huge council tax hikes, the loss of all non-statutory services and mass redundancies across Wales. | "Now in Wales the Tories want to slash local government budgets by a further 12%. That would mean huge council tax hikes, the loss of all non-statutory services and mass redundancies across Wales. |
| "The cost to our local authorities and our communities would be devastating." | "The cost to our local authorities and our communities would be devastating." |