Janet Finch-Saunders

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I move the motion today in the name of Paul Davies AM.

I am very pleased indeed to lead on this debate, one which is largely centred on the true meaning of devolution, and by that I mean the devolution of real power to our communities and our local people. Welsh Conservatives have frequently called on Ministers to show more confidence, more respect and to give more empowerment to our communities and their people across Wales—and no more so than in my own constituency of Aberconwy. We are blessed with many hard-working and earnest individuals and groups, working day in, day out in all weathers just to make that bit of difference to their local community. It may be on a particular project to raise money for a charity or it may be that this army of volunteers is working within one of our many charitable bodies to support them in their aims, again, to make a difference to the lives of those living within our communities. These people are the unsung heroes in our towns and villages and, quite often, go without any recognition whatsoever. Well, today, Members, I would like to put on record my heartfelt thanks to all those community champions across Wales beavering away quietly and without making any fuss but making such a difference. I salute them all.

Welsh Conservatives believe strongly in our communities and in these community heroes. But, we believe too that they should be empowered to rise up to any challenge that presents and that might come their way. It might be to mount a campaign to save a local pub, a community library or a public building. Often, these include the need to raise money in the long term, but setting up a constitution to include specifically named positions such as chairman and treasurer, and holding AGMs et cetera, can appear very daunting at first. We believe that this is when such professional support and guidance is required and we also feel that there should be such support and guidance. Bodies such as the Wales Council for Voluntary Action and local authorities could be further empowered to help these groups. The biggest obstacle for us, however, in Wales, of course, is not always knowing who owns a particular building of interest—hence why it is vital that there is a local and national register of community assets and that it is published locally for all to see and available online.

Under Labour here, we have seen a blatant refusal to give new powers to our people to challenge and shape decision making with local authorities still not currently obliged to undertake community asset transfers. Instead, we have seen a top-down centralised agenda. The forcing through of the forthcoming local authority merger plans without community engagement, the yearly exorbitant council tax rises and the dictatorial nature of the Well-being and Future Generations Act 2015 are all fine examples of this. I, and my colleagues, have regularly called in the strongest terms for this Government to adopt many of the articles in the Localism Act 2011, an Act that is already making a significant and positive impact on the lives of numerous community groups and individuals across the country.

The Welsh Government’s own consultation on protection of community assets received a hugely favourable response for precisely what we are calling for today. But, this has gone largely ignored by this Government, with 59 per cent of respondents to the national survey for Wales disagreeing or strongly disagreeing that they felt they could influence local decisions. Since its introduction in 2012, uptake of the community right to bid has increased year on year. More than 2,600 much-loved assets are now listed across the country, including nearly 900 pubs, and 150 assets have been transferred into community ownership.

Recently, when I raised the question here, the Minister was unable to respond and when asked how many such community assets have been retained by local individuals or groups, she said that she would come back to me. I am still waiting for that answer.

Following her consultation on assets of community value, the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty said:

‘Legislative action on community assets will need to be considered by a future Government.’

Well, I tell you, a Welsh Conservative Government will devolve significant powers more locally, as we believe our local and community champions know best. Whilst communities in England were given the right to bid four years ago, here in Wales, we are still waiting for the commencement of Chapter 3, Part 5 of the Localism Act 2011. This is despite the Minister’s own admission, in her December statement, that there is

‘popular support for establishing a Welsh scheme’

along the lines of the right to bid—totally ignored.

Labour has made it increasingly difficult for local people to have a say over issues that impact upon the delivery of vital local services. The campaign to trigger a local referendum for a directly elected mayor in Cardiff is very welcome news, and much supported here on these benches. The 10 per cent support required, however, to trigger such a referendum, is double the 5 per cent required in England.

Why such a negative approach by this Government, one could ask? Is the Welsh Labour Government frightened by the possibility that the community and the people of Cardiff know better what they want, and how they want to get it? We are calling now today for there to be a level playing field with other parts of the United Kingdom when calling for a directly elected mayor referendum.

The Welsh Conservatives in Government would also introduce new community powers to challenge the way local authorities carry out their duties under a community rights agenda, allowing local people the ability to influence planning within their communities, to run services themselves, and the ability to make an offer or a bid for a building or area that they feel is a local amenity and is of significant interest. We do not shy away either from calling for referenda in the event of excessive council tax rises, providing the opportunity to veto or approve such important decisions.

Of course, Welsh Conservatives also believe very strongly that our residents and council tax payers have the right—and know best how they want this money to be spent, and also that, when given a consequential to freeze council tax, putting that cash back into their pockets is significantly better than seeing it frittered away here by Government departments on other initiatives without any practical or meaningful outcomes. Furthermore, many local authorities have moneys set aside for community engagement, yet how many of our constituents even know this?

Conservative-led Monmouthshire—leading the way, the authority—one of the very first authorities to hold very regular consultation events, allowing residents to have a say on how their money should be spent and on what. And whilst this idea is catching on elsewhere, other authorities forge ahead with their own plans to cut vital services when looking for efficiency savings.

Conwy County Borough Council—very recently reducing bin collections to four-weekly. I thank, and I’ve worked with, my colleague Darren Millar on this, and our online petitions have drawn in much support from hundreds of constituents. Extending parking charges to all free car parks and popular tourism destinations and withdrawing the number 19 bus service—a vital lifeline to our more rural parts. All this without any consultation whatsoever with those it affects.

The proposals put today by the Welsh Conservatives will give back respect, trust and power to our communities and to our local people. I urge you all to support these aims.