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| Councils shake-up could save £650m, Andrews says | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Cutting the number of councils could save up to £650m over 10 years, the Welsh government has claimed. | |
| Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews confirmed plans to cut the 22 councils to eight or nine. | |
| The proposals to bring back bigger councils are broadly similar to pre-1996 arrangements. | The proposals to bring back bigger councils are broadly similar to pre-1996 arrangements. |
| The Draft Local Government (Wales) Bill published on Tuesday forms the basis of consultation but will not become law before the assembly election next May. | |
| 'Vision' | |
| Mr Andrews said: "Our vision for local government is for activist councils, engaged in delivering modern, accessible, high quality public services with their local communities. | |
| "This Draft Bill sets out a programme of reform to secure the future of local government in Wales. | |
| "We want to see councils which are vibrant, strong, flexible, open and transparent - councils with vision, great leadership and passion, working effectively with the public service workforce and their communities to improve services, improve lives and improve places. | |
| "There is a real opportunity here for local government to make significant savings for taxpayers and if councils work together, plan well and involve their staff there is the opportunity for savings even greater than the £650m we have identified. | |
| "This means more money for front line public services, more money to invest in communities and more money to support local economic prosperity." | |
| The Welsh government predicted the mergers could pay for themselves within two or three years, and that additional savings could be achieved by the sale of surplus assets. | |
| Mr Andrews has previously called the case for fewer local authorities "compelling" but the plans have been criticised by the body representing local authorities, some Labour council leaders and an ex-Labour minister. | |
| Dyfed would be brought back by re-merging Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, and West Glamorgan would return by joining Swansea once more with Neath Port Talbot. | Dyfed would be brought back by re-merging Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, and West Glamorgan would return by joining Swansea once more with Neath Port Talbot. |
| Cardiff would merge with the Vale of Glamorgan, while a merger between Caerphilly, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Newport and Monmouthshire would create Wales' biggest council, with a population of nearly 600,000. | Cardiff would merge with the Vale of Glamorgan, while a merger between Caerphilly, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Newport and Monmouthshire would create Wales' biggest council, with a population of nearly 600,000. |
| Bridgend would join Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil. | Bridgend would join Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil. |
| In the eight-council model, Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy would merge, as would Denbighshire, Wrexham and Flintshire. | In the eight-council model, Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy would merge, as would Denbighshire, Wrexham and Flintshire. |
| The alternative would see Conwy and Denbighshire merging. | The alternative would see Conwy and Denbighshire merging. |
| Consultation on the plans is open until 15 February, with a bill due to be presented to the assembly in the autumn if Labour is still in power after the election. |