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| Denbighshire council discusses Conwy merger 'advantages' | Denbighshire council discusses Conwy merger 'advantages' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A "do it yourself" merger between Denbighshire and Conwy councils would be better than having changes forced on them, claims one chief executive. | A "do it yourself" merger between Denbighshire and Conwy councils would be better than having changes forced on them, claims one chief executive. |
| Denbighshire council will discuss what its chief executive calls "advantages" to a voluntary merger by 2018. | Denbighshire council will discuss what its chief executive calls "advantages" to a voluntary merger by 2018. |
| Conwy council rejected talks on a voluntary merger in January, but will look at it again later this month. | |
| The Williams Commission proposes reducing council numbers from 22 to between 10 and 12. | The Williams Commission proposes reducing council numbers from 22 to between 10 and 12. |
| But local government leaders have been worried that the cost of the shake-up could total £200m - twice the estimate. | But local government leaders have been worried that the cost of the shake-up could total £200m - twice the estimate. |
| A deadline of 1 October has been set for councils to respond to a Welsh government consultation on mergers. | A deadline of 1 October has been set for councils to respond to a Welsh government consultation on mergers. |
| Another option would be Denbighshire joining Flintshire and Wrexham councils but there has been resistance. | |
| Denbighshire's chief executive Mohammed Mehmet recommends that if neighbouring Conwy agree, it should move towards a voluntary merger by April 2018 - which would see local elections delayed a year until then. | Denbighshire's chief executive Mohammed Mehmet recommends that if neighbouring Conwy agree, it should move towards a voluntary merger by April 2018 - which would see local elections delayed a year until then. |
| 'Lap dog' | 'Lap dog' |
| But he accepts that a "substantial financial and support package" from ministers would need to be agreed in advance. | But he accepts that a "substantial financial and support package" from ministers would need to be agreed in advance. |
| "If it is accepted that mergers, or something else that closes Denbighshire down within the next six years is inevitable then there are several advantages to choosing an earlier merger," says Mr Mehmet. | "If it is accepted that mergers, or something else that closes Denbighshire down within the next six years is inevitable then there are several advantages to choosing an earlier merger," says Mr Mehmet. |
| These include: | These include: |
| A Conwy council spokeswoman said a report on the matter was due out in the next week ahead of its council meeting on 18 September. | A Conwy council spokeswoman said a report on the matter was due out in the next week ahead of its council meeting on 18 September. |
| In January, Conwy council leaders rejected talk of a voluntary merger, calling it "foolish." | In January, Conwy council leaders rejected talk of a voluntary merger, calling it "foolish." |
| Deputy leader Ronnie Hughes said: "I'm not going to lie down like a lap dog and let people stroke my stomach." | Deputy leader Ronnie Hughes said: "I'm not going to lie down like a lap dog and let people stroke my stomach." |
| But Mr Mehmet says waiting to see what happens would not alter deeper cuts to Denbighshire's budget over the next few years. | But Mr Mehmet says waiting to see what happens would not alter deeper cuts to Denbighshire's budget over the next few years. |
| It faces finding £18m budget cuts over the next two years, £4m more than expected in what it calls "the most challenging financial period the council has faced". | It faces finding £18m budget cuts over the next two years, £4m more than expected in what it calls "the most challenging financial period the council has faced". |
| The council discusses the way forward on Tuesday. | The council discusses the way forward on Tuesday. |
| It could introduce charges for green waste from next year and cut £100,000 from street cleaning, save £200,000 by reviewing the welfare and benefits advice service and £118,000 in leisure centre efficiencies. | It could introduce charges for green waste from next year and cut £100,000 from street cleaning, save £200,000 by reviewing the welfare and benefits advice service and £118,000 in leisure centre efficiencies. |
| "Making severe cuts for several years, followed by enforced merger, does not appear as a particularly good outcome for residents or the council," said Mr Mehmet. | "Making severe cuts for several years, followed by enforced merger, does not appear as a particularly good outcome for residents or the council," said Mr Mehmet. |
| The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) claims Wales' 22 councils need to save £900m by 2018 from their budgets. | The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) claims Wales' 22 councils need to save £900m by 2018 from their budgets. |