Welsh Government’s dramatic U-turn on voluntary mergers

The Welsh Labour Government has undertaken a dramatic U-turn on the voluntary merger of Local Authorities, with the Minister for Finance and Local Government “willing to consider any voluntary mergers which Local Authorities themselves might want to pursue”.

During the Fourth Assembly, previous Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews rejected voluntary, Council-led proposals for mergers, and instead sought to undertake his own marker-pen assault on Wales’ Local Authority map, threatening the very existence of many of Wales’ communities without their consent.

Welsh Conservatives have long supported a community-led approach to Council reform; supporting merger proposals to be led by the Councils themselves, before being approved via referenda by local people.

However, Labour’s top-down approach has long caused uncertainty about future service provision, local jobs and community identity. Welsh Conservatives have now forced Labour Ministers to admit they would again be willing to consider voluntary proposals from Councils themselves. Shadow Secretary for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders AM has offered a cautious welcome to the Welsh Government’s apparent U-turn.

She said:

“After years of sustained Welsh Conservative pressure, this U-turn will offer some hope to frustrated Local Authorities; sick and tired of Labour’s centrist approach.

“The reorganisation of councils, and council services, should be decided at a local, community level.

“Where councils can work together, share services and save money, they have the backing and support of Welsh Conservatives – but only with the consent of local people.

“Labour Ministers should be seeking to lead a discussion of Councils; ensuring they have chances to come together and discuss viable, sustainable local mergers; before putting those proposals forward to local communities for their approval.”