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-30999047

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Council merger plans rejected by Leighton Andrews Dismay at council merger rejections by Leighton Andrews
(about 1 hour later)
Voluntary merger plans by six Welsh councils have been rejected by the public services minister. Leaders of Welsh councils which have volunteered to merge have said they are disappointed by the rejection of their plans by the public services minister.
The Williams Commission had called for the 22 councils to be cut by half. Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen, Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan, and Conwy and Denbighshire had proposed pairing up.
Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen, Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan, and Conwy and Denbighshire had suggested pairing up in response to an appeal for voluntary mergers by Leighton Andrews. However, Leighton Andrews said he was "not persuaded" the councils had set out a "compelling vision" for merger.
However the minister said he was "not persuaded" that the councils had set out a "compelling vision" for merger. First Minister Carwyn Jones has called for assembly party leaders to meet to agree a new map for local government.
The decision came after a study of the proposals submitted by the end of November. He told AMs the Williams Commission recommendation of cutting the 22 councils to between 10 and 12 was still the "preferred option".
But Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies claimed ministers "don't have a clue" of where they want to go with council reorganisation.
'Fundamental reform'
The decision to reject the voluntary mergers came after a study of proposals submitted by six of the 22 councils by the end of November.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Andrews said: "I am disappointed to report that on the basis of this assessment I am not persuaded that any one of these Expressions of Interest sufficiently meets the criteria for moving ahead to prepare a full Voluntary Merger Proposal."In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Andrews said: "I am disappointed to report that on the basis of this assessment I am not persuaded that any one of these Expressions of Interest sufficiently meets the criteria for moving ahead to prepare a full Voluntary Merger Proposal."
He later told assembly members in the Senedd that he was looking for "fundamental reform" of local government, not the creation of "bigger councils going about their business in the same way".He later told assembly members in the Senedd that he was looking for "fundamental reform" of local government, not the creation of "bigger councils going about their business in the same way".
'Hell bent''Hell bent'
Denbighshire council leader Hugh Evans said the authority was "astounded" by the announcement and felt the minister had "missed a real opportunity".Denbighshire council leader Hugh Evans said the authority was "astounded" by the announcement and felt the minister had "missed a real opportunity".
Vale of Glamorgan council leader Neil Moore said he was "deeply saddened" that at the rejection of the plan to merge with Bridgend, whose leader Mel Nott said it was "extremely disappointing news". Vale of Glamorgan council leader Neil Moore said he was "deeply saddened" at the rejection of the plan to merge with Bridgend, whose leader Mel Nott said it was "extremely disappointing news".
Conservative shadow local government minister Janet Finch-Saunders called the "astounding" development "another symptom of Labour's haphazard, uncertain approach to managing local government in Wales".Conservative shadow local government minister Janet Finch-Saunders called the "astounding" development "another symptom of Labour's haphazard, uncertain approach to managing local government in Wales".
Plaid Cymru spokesman Rhodri Glyn Thomas said Mr Andrews "clearly has other plans" and called on him to "come clean with the assembly and tell us what exactly his plan is".Plaid Cymru spokesman Rhodri Glyn Thomas said Mr Andrews "clearly has other plans" and called on him to "come clean with the assembly and tell us what exactly his plan is".
Liberal Democrat Peter Black said Labour seemed "hell bent on ignoring local democracy and ploughing ahead with their preferred combinations at all costs".Liberal Democrat Peter Black said Labour seemed "hell bent on ignoring local democracy and ploughing ahead with their preferred combinations at all costs".
A bill paving the way for voluntary council mergers was published by Mr Andrews on Monday. A bill outlining the process for voluntary council mergers was published by Mr Andrews on Monday, who promised a white paper on council reorganisation next week.
Speaking during First Minister's Questions in the Senedd on Tuesday, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies claimed ministers "don't have a clue" where they wanted to go with council reorganisation.
In response, Carwyn Jones said the Williams Commission recommendation of a reduced number of 10-12 councils remained the "preferred option" but he called on leaders of the other parties to meet him and agree on a map.
Analysis: BBC Wales political editor Nick ServiniAnalysis: BBC Wales political editor Nick Servini
Is Williams dead?Is Williams dead?
Last year the Williams Commission recommended that the existing 22 councils should be reduced by around half through a series of mergers.Last year the Williams Commission recommended that the existing 22 councils should be reduced by around half through a series of mergers.
It was actually a small part of the report but inevitably it generated the most attention.It was actually a small part of the report but inevitably it generated the most attention.
Since then the Welsh government has been urging council leaders to take control of their own destinies and look to merge with a neighbour.Since then the Welsh government has been urging council leaders to take control of their own destinies and look to merge with a neighbour.
This decision throws that strategy into doubt.This decision throws that strategy into doubt.
Leighton Andrews indicated last year that there are "well known" figures in Welsh Labour who want as few as six councils.Leighton Andrews indicated last year that there are "well known" figures in Welsh Labour who want as few as six councils.
It would suggest the proposals were thrown out because the new authorities would not have been big enough.It would suggest the proposals were thrown out because the new authorities would not have been big enough.