County maps have caused much anger
THE long awaited maps published by the Welsh Government Minister, on June 17, have caused much anger and frustration, for those working in our local authorities and our elected members also.
If carried forward, by the Welsh Labour Government, the number of Local Authorities in Wales will decrease from 22 to just 8 or 9.
This has huge consequences for us, particularly here in North Wales where there is a 2 or 3, council model proposal.
One of the options put forward has the potential to see us forcibly merged with Ynys Mon and Gwynedd.
This super sized council would serve a new population of some 339 thousand individuals. Another option would be a merger between Conwy and Denbighshire, of which thus far the Local Government Minister has rejected.
These proposals follow the introduction of the Local Government Wales bill that puts in place the legislative framework to allow such mergers but there is much anger across Wales as to what evidence has been forthcoming to substantiate such a wholesale scale reorganisation.
The Williams Commission was previously set up to review how all public services in Wales operate.
The report published in January 2014 at a cost of some 133k to taxpayers provided many key recommendations, and the Welsh Government has consistently stated that its preferred option for Local Government in Wales was the 12 - option model proposed in that report.
However the Welsh Labour government has now changed course p preferring to implement l large scale massive r reorganisation of Local G Government and a model that will be based on boundaries very similar to our current health boards.
Clearly, here in Aberc conwy it is vital that any merging authorities that can make a well defined case for moving forward to a voluntary merger proposal with a neighbouring authority, working closely together must be a allowed to do so.
There are so many f factors to consider as these plans move forward, not least issues around workforce planning, harmonisation of council tax and what is now looking more like centralisation of our vital local services.
I would be particularly interested in knowing your on views on the two proposals affecting us here locally.
I can be contacted Janet Finch-Saunders@Assembly.Wales and I really look forward to receiving your comments.