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Council mergers in Wales must bring 'profound change' Council mergers in Wales must bring 'profound change'
(about 1 hour later)
Merging Welsh councils must lead to "profound change" in how they work, Local Government Minister Lesley Griffiths has warned.Merging Welsh councils must lead to "profound change" in how they work, Local Government Minister Lesley Griffiths has warned.
She told the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) conference in Llandudno a "cosmetic re-drawing" of boundaries is not enough.She told the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) conference in Llandudno a "cosmetic re-drawing" of boundaries is not enough.
In January, the Williams Commission recommended the 22 councils be reduced to between 10 and 12.In January, the Williams Commission recommended the 22 councils be reduced to between 10 and 12.
It said fewer councils would be able to deliver services more efficiently. But Ms Griffiths faced a scathing attack from the WLGA's leader.
Bob Wellington said it was becoming increasingly apparent to him that there cannot be "English-style cuts combined with Welsh government style ambition".
Welsh Labour could decide this Saturday how many councils it wants, at a meeting of its executive committee.Welsh Labour could decide this Saturday how many councils it wants, at a meeting of its executive committee.
First Minister Carwyn Jones has called for a "substantial" reduction in the number of authorities.First Minister Carwyn Jones has called for a "substantial" reduction in the number of authorities.
On Thursday, Ms Griffiths said: "Reforming local government is about more than a cosmetic redrawing of the map of council boundaries to achieve economies of scale.On Thursday, Ms Griffiths said: "Reforming local government is about more than a cosmetic redrawing of the map of council boundaries to achieve economies of scale.
"While the financial forecasts are not good and local authorities will face more challenging scenarios next year and in the longer term, funding is not the driver for this reform."While the financial forecasts are not good and local authorities will face more challenging scenarios next year and in the longer term, funding is not the driver for this reform.
"Larger authorities would make more of the money available for the front-line services, but this reform is about much more."Larger authorities would make more of the money available for the front-line services, but this reform is about much more.
"It must be a catalyst for profound change so local authorities are fit for this century.""It must be a catalyst for profound change so local authorities are fit for this century."
The minister also confirmed the next council elections will be held in 2017 based on the existing authorities, but councils wanting to merge early could face the electors in their new form a year later.The minister also confirmed the next council elections will be held in 2017 based on the existing authorities, but councils wanting to merge early could face the electors in their new form a year later.
Analysis by BBC Wales political editor Nick ServiniAnalysis by BBC Wales political editor Nick Servini
The context of this gathering is hugely significant. Council leaders and chief executives are coming together at a time when plans are being made to put around half of them out of work. Reorganisation will also ensure that the bodies they run will cease to exist in their current form.The context of this gathering is hugely significant. Council leaders and chief executives are coming together at a time when plans are being made to put around half of them out of work. Reorganisation will also ensure that the bodies they run will cease to exist in their current form.
Council leaders are warning of the desperate financial challenges ahead. The Welsh government says that's exactly why we need to cut down on the overheads associated with having 22 separate management structures.Council leaders are warning of the desperate financial challenges ahead. The Welsh government says that's exactly why we need to cut down on the overheads associated with having 22 separate management structures.
But many also say the financial situation is exactly why there should not be reorganisation because it's expensive and a diversion when the focus should be on delivering services.But many also say the financial situation is exactly why there should not be reorganisation because it's expensive and a diversion when the focus should be on delivering services.
'Power struggle''Power struggle'
There is also a subtext. There is thinly-veiled contempt for the assembly among some in local government. They see reorganisation as a power struggle between them and an assembly that wants to flex its muscles.There is also a subtext. There is thinly-veiled contempt for the assembly among some in local government. They see reorganisation as a power struggle between them and an assembly that wants to flex its muscles.
Two days after the WLGA conference, Labour's Welsh executive committee meets in Cardiff for talks which could see the party set out for the first time the council map it wants to take shape.Two days after the WLGA conference, Labour's Welsh executive committee meets in Cardiff for talks which could see the party set out for the first time the council map it wants to take shape.
Interestingly, senior members of Plaid are also meeting this weekend as well to discuss what it wants to see from local government re-organisation.Interestingly, senior members of Plaid are also meeting this weekend as well to discuss what it wants to see from local government re-organisation.
A deal between Labour and Plaid at the assembly could be the way this is forced through, if council leaders ignore the requests from Carwyn Jones to merge voluntarily.A deal between Labour and Plaid at the assembly could be the way this is forced through, if council leaders ignore the requests from Carwyn Jones to merge voluntarily.
Shadow Welsh Secretary Owen Smith has insisted councils should be trusted to drive any possible mergers, insisting it must be a collaborative process and "not something imposed from above". Later, in a passionate defence of the role of local councils, Mr Wellington warned there was a danger of local government in Wales becoming an "empty vessel reflecting on the glory days when it ran over 700 functions".
Meanwhile, Chris Llewelyn from the WLGA has warned councils will run out of money by 2025, predicting that £500m of savings might have to be found over the next three years. Mr Wellington, also the Labour leader of Torfaen, called for an end to regulations and inspections imposed by the Welsh government and insisted council leaders should be more involved in the debate about council reorganisation.
"The difficulty is that if the demand for local authority services at the current trajectory and the spending predictions continue at the same level, then by 2025 the money will not be there to provide any of the discretionary services that local authorities provide and attention will have to focus on simply the core services like education and social care," he told BBC Wales. He said that after the publication of the Williams Commission's report five months ago, everyone within local government had expected to be involved in the debate.
"The reality is that the current level of provision can't be sustained into the future," Mr Llewelyn added. "But this dialogue has not materialised," he said.
On next year's budget deal, Ms Griffiths hinted that an estimated cut for councils of 1.5% could be worse.
She told local authority leaders: "You should be prepared for more challenging scenarios for next year."