Welsh Conservatives today called on the Welsh Labour Government to come clean on its plans for local government mergers.

Ministers have failed to quash speculation about planned council mergers following eleventh hour amendments to the Local Government Measure, which empowered Ministers to reorganise the bodies.

In a debate, led by the Official Opposition, Welsh Conservatives also called for greater transparency and accountability both in local government as well as in the Welsh Government’s plans for local authorities.

Speaking in the Assembly Chamber, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, Shadow Minister for Local Government, highlighted two Councils in Wales which publish all expenditure over £500, namely Newport and the Vale of Glamorgan, both Welsh Conservative-led Councils.

Aberconwy AM, Janet Finch-Saunders, said, "There are fears that Labour Ministers are drawing up plans to reorganise local government by stealth rather than working with representatives at community-level.

"There is a lack of openness and transparency both in the Welsh Government’s dealings with local authorities and Ministers’ plans for their future.

"All Councils in Wales should be examining ways in which they can make their operations more transparent and accountable to voters.

"Newport and the Vale of Glamorgan should be congratulated for their commitment to transparency and securing value for money for taxpayers.

"Unleashing an army of armchair auditors by allowing voters to scrutinise spending is a clear way to make elected bodies more accountable to local people.

"The Welsh Labour Government now needs to come clean about its plans for the future organisation of local authorities in Wales so local people can have a say in how services in their communities are run."