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/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-wales-politics-13858567

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Welsh councils may be forced to share top officials Welsh councils may be forced to share top officials
(about 2 hours later)
Councils in Wales could be forced to share senior officials under powers being sought by Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant.Councils in Wales could be forced to share senior officials under powers being sought by Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant.
BBC Wales understands he will tell councils a new law would give him the power to direct closer collaboration.BBC Wales understands he will tell councils a new law would give him the power to direct closer collaboration.
He has already criticised councils for not sharing chief executives when front line services are under threat.He has already criticised councils for not sharing chief executives when front line services are under threat.
Council leaders said his job-sharing arguments were "well rehearsed" but not the answer to the threat to services. The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said it was open to a debate on the issue.
"I think the problem here is we've got a poor man's version of local government reorganisation happening," the WLGA's chief executive Steve Thomas.
"There's now a very strong current of thinking within local government that if a minister wants to reorganise local government he should perhaps come out and say so in the most clear possible terms.
"The problem is that he, like us, is caught between a rock and a hard place. It's a very costly thing to do, we've got elections next year and nobody's asked the public about this yet.
"I think collaboration is occurring, it will occur, managers are being shared across local authorities and I think some of the stuff that's been announced this morning is actually on the statute book.
'Fixation'
"I think we've got to be very careful here. The cost of chief executives across Wales is £4m. What we're talking about in terms of the total local government is £5bn."
Mr Sargeant will address a conference of council leaders in Swansea on Thursday.Mr Sargeant will address a conference of council leaders in Swansea on Thursday.
It is understood he will tell the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) of his intention to legislate to make sure he can direct joint council appointments and dictate closer collaboration across council borders. It is understood he will tell the WLGA of his intention to legislate to make sure he can direct joint council appointments and dictate closer collaboration across council borders.
He told AMs on Tuesday that authorities were not considering opportunities to share senior appointments and that he would be having a "frank discussion" with local government leaders.He told AMs on Tuesday that authorities were not considering opportunities to share senior appointments and that he would be having a "frank discussion" with local government leaders.
The way services were delivered must be reformed, without the "cost, delay and upheaval" of full-scale council reorganisations.The way services were delivered must be reformed, without the "cost, delay and upheaval" of full-scale council reorganisations.
Under threat
"One of the things I will be frank about is my frustration at the difference between warm words in principle, and recent action," he said."One of the things I will be frank about is my frustration at the difference between warm words in principle, and recent action," he said.
"The current senior staffing structure of 22 local authorities is unsustainable and outdated."The current senior staffing structure of 22 local authorities is unsustainable and outdated.
"How do we justify the cost of so many chief executives and senior officers when front line services are under threat?""How do we justify the cost of so many chief executives and senior officers when front line services are under threat?"
More than a quarter of local councils independently filled chief executive posts in the past year, with the same pattern for senior directors.More than a quarter of local councils independently filled chief executive posts in the past year, with the same pattern for senior directors.
Mr Sargeant said opportunities for joint appointments were "resisted and often not even considered".Mr Sargeant said opportunities for joint appointments were "resisted and often not even considered".
'Stop talking'
He added: "We are missing opportunities not only to make savings, but more importantly, to recruit the best quality people, from within and beyond Wales, who can help us deliver an ambitious change agenda.He added: "We are missing opportunities not only to make savings, but more importantly, to recruit the best quality people, from within and beyond Wales, who can help us deliver an ambitious change agenda.
"This cannot go on, it is time to stop talking and start delivering.""This cannot go on, it is time to stop talking and start delivering."
WLGA leader John Davies said: "The minister's arguments on joint posts are well rehearsed but to present them as the solution to the threat faced by frontline services is simplistic. But Mr Thomas warned there was a danger of the joint posts debate becoming a "fixation".
"Although well rewarded, for what are tough and challenging roles, the cost of 22 chief executives is approximately £4m out a total budget of £5bn. He added: "The money is actually in services and not posts
"This is not the 'silver bullet' in terms of savings and when the minister expresses his gratitude to public service leaders in Wales it is worth noting that six of the seven chief executives who lead on his own efficiency and innovation programme are from within local government." "What we're trying to discuss with Carl Sargeant is not a structural reorganisation, it's a functional reorganisation. We're looking to take services to a regional level.
"We've got 22 authorities in Wales covering hugely populated valleys areas and very sparse rural areas.
'Reluctant'
"If a debate is wanted and required of local government reorganisation, let's have that debate.
"I think we're in a position where sooner or later we will be talking about reorganisation in Wales but I think in the mean time we've been told two different things.
"We've been told on the one hand that sharing joint posts is a way forward, and we've been told on the other hand that regionalism and taking our services to a different level is the way forward."
Tony Travers, from the London School of Economics, believes sharing officers is a logical step but a big move.Tony Travers, from the London School of Economics, believes sharing officers is a logical step but a big move.
"Many councils in Wales cover very large geographical areas because they are so rural and imagine having a single department running services for two councils over that area," he told BBC Radio Wales."Many councils in Wales cover very large geographical areas because they are so rural and imagine having a single department running services for two councils over that area," he told BBC Radio Wales.
"I think the reason they are often reluctant (to share) and don't do it voluntarily is because they believe that it's more responsive locally to have their own officers and staff - that's how they were set up."I think the reason they are often reluctant (to share) and don't do it voluntarily is because they believe that it's more responsive locally to have their own officers and staff - that's how they were set up.
"The move from that to something where councils are sharing officers may sound obvious and logical but it's quite a big step for them to make.""The move from that to something where councils are sharing officers may sound obvious and logical but it's quite a big step for them to make."