WALES’S 22 councils should work together to deliver services in the age of austerity.That was the key message from Local Government Secretary Mark Drakeford as he outlined new proposals for the structure of councils.Instead of the widespread mergers favoured by his predecessor Leighton Andrews, Mr Drakeford advocated a plan which would not see the numbers of councils reduced.Town halls should look instead to deliver services collaboratively either along regional health board or city deal lines.
Mergers would be optional and would gain Welsh Government support, he said.
Mr Drakeford told AMs: “Austerity creates pressures and one of the key questions for me is how we can make our local authorities more resilient to deal with these pressures. That’s why local government reform is a requirement, not a choice.
“Over the summer, I visited all 22 local authorities and met with the Welsh Local Government Association, Trades Unions and others.
“I have listened to their views and we now have an approach on a possible way forward. This would retain existing local authorities – the “front door” through which people access services – but with key services being delivered regionally.
“Behind this front door, we would have an enhanced level of mandatory and systematic regional working. This will give local authorities more resilience in terms of staffing and finance and also ensure that services are planned and delivered on the right scale.
“It has been suggested to me that we have two models to deliver these services; one based around City Regions covering strategic transport, land-use planning and economic development and another aligned to health boards for services such as education improvement, social services and public protection.
“Of course, some authorities may wish to build their resilience further by voluntarily merging and we will support them to help make that happen.”
In South West Wales a number of councils are already working to deliver services on a joint basis.
The Western Bay initiative sees social services catered on a regional basis covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend.
Large infrastructure improvements meanwhile come under the remit of the Swansea Bay City Region.
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said the authority was already working in partnership with other authorities – in line with Mr Drakeford’s vision – but added that he wanted to see civil servants continue to be held up to public scrutiny.
“We’re quite comfortable with the suggestion,” he said.
“For us his proposal is sensible. Obviously we need to see the detail but it’s not radical or frightening for us. It’s evolving and we’re already doing that.”
He added: “The structure that we have allows us to collaborate very well.”
A Neath Port Talbot Council spokesperson said: “The Council has noted the Cabinet Secretary’s statement this afternoon and the fact that further discussions are to be held between the Welsh Government and local government to come up with more detailed proposals by the end of the year.”
Carmarthenshire Council were unavailable for comment
Mr Drakeford added: “We will also make improvements to community councils in the short term, and establish an independent review to look at the future role of this tier of local government.
“I am conscious local government has been through a period of extended uncertainty about its future and the corrosive impact this has on morale.
“In June I announced that councillors elected to existing councils in 2017 will serve a full five-year term to 2022. Today, I am able to announce that there will be elections to these councils – less any which merge voluntarily – in 2022. This confirms a permanent five-year election cycle and provides local government with a ten-year stable platform from which to take forward reform.
