Questions to the Minister for Public Services
Spokesperson’s Questions
Janet Finch-Saunders
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Will the Minister make a statement on his current plans for local government reform in Wales?

Leighton Andrews
I have nothing to add to what I’ve previously said on this matter, Deputy Presiding Officer.

Janet Finch-Saunders
That’s hardly a response from a Government Minister. Minister, since 1999 and in this Assembly, your Government has introduced no less than 20 new measures, directives, White Papers and legislation intended to reform local government. In the last four years alone, we’ve had the Simpson compact, the local democracy Bill and the Williams commission. What evidence have you got that you can provide this Chamber with that these costly and bureaucratic demands made on our local authorities have actually delivered any real change?

Leighton Andrews
Well, I think if the Member would care to reflect on that, she will be aware of reports from the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee, which has looked into those documents and reports and reported at considerable length on the outcomes that have resulted from them.

Janet Finch-Saunders
Collaboration agenda: failed. Aberystwyth review of community and town councils: failed. You’re now set to embark on another. And now, another map, two White Papers and forthcoming legislation. Minister, you are embarking on a whole new direction of reform and reorganisation and you’re doing this without any actual evidence or an accurate cost-benefit analysis. This comes at a time of huge financial challenge for our local authorities. What guarantees can you provide this Chamber with and those involved in local government that you actually get local government in Wales and that your forthcoming proposals will, in fact, deliver change and change for the better?

Leighton Andrews
Well, when I publish further plans for local government, we can discuss whether or not we ‘get’ local government. I would remind her that we have just had a consultation exercise on the White Paper that was published in February. That concluded at the end of April and had a very substantial number of responses. In fact, I think it’s one of the most successful consultation exercises the Welsh Government have ever undertaken in terms of public response. We will, in due course, announce our response to that consultation.

Voluntary Mergers

Janet Finch-Saunders
Minister, having rejected the Conwy-Denbighshire initial Stage 1 expression of interest on the pretext that it did not provide adequate assurance that the case would be made out appropriately at merger-proposal stage, it is very clear that there was a distinct lack of communication as per the requirements of their expression, certainly given that your own civil servant practically endorsed this bid, yet you are still proceeding with the voluntary merger idea. What are you doing to address these communication failures within your own department for any forthcoming expressions of interest as regards the voluntary merger process?

Leighton Andrews
Deputy Presiding Officer, there have been no communication failures by my department.