Original by Rory Sheehan, The Leader - http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/16101614.Fresh_proposals_for_councils_… 

A RADICAL overhaul of how governmental matters are handled in Wales is firmly back on the agenda.

Proposals to streamline the Welsh 22 county councils are being reintroduced alongside an idea to considerably increase the size of the National Assembly for Wales.

Alun Davies, cabinet secretary for local government and public services, has announced fresh plans for council mergers that he says “must be game changing”.

His Welsh Government Green Paper proposals will lead to possibly 10 county councils – and the merger of Flintshire and Wrexham councils is firmly back on the agenda alongside a proposal to join up Conwy with Denbighshire.

Mr Davies has referred to "voluntary mergers" in his statement but also made it clear the proposals could be forced if local authorities continue to resist them.

There have been many attempts to encourage local government leaders to voluntarily agree merger proposals but they have come to nothing. Both hard-line and softly softly approaches have fallen on deaf ears.

The Wrexham Council leadership has always been hostile to the merger concept, while Flintshire leaders believe any amalgamation must be coupled with being given greater powers.

Shadow local government secretary, Janet Finch-Saunders, said: “We now know forced mergers are well and truly back on the agenda.

“These are the third major proposals to reform local government in just a few years and the uncertainty is doing nothing to help creaking frontline services."

Meanwhile, a key consultation on electoral reform will take place in Wrexham at 6pm on Friday at the Ramada Plaza Hotel on Ellice Way.

A panel presentation will be followed by a question and answer session, where people will have the opportunity to ask questions to the Welsh Government presiding officer, Elin Jones AM.

The electoral reform consultation has been drawn up in anticipation of new powers given to the Assembly.

The Wales Act 2017 gives the Assembly the power to make decisions in relation to the institution’s size and how Members are elected.

Earlier this month the Assembly voted to consult on the recommendations of 'A Parliament that Works for Wales', the expert panel’s report on Assembly Electoral Reform.

The panel recommended the Assembly needs between 20 and 30 extra members elected through a more proportional electoral system 'with diversity at its heart'.

It also recommended lowering the minimum voting age for National Assembly elections to include 16 and 17-year-olds.

In addition to the recommendations made by the Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform, the consultation also includes other potential developments including changing the Assembly's name to the Welsh Parliament.

The consultation on the recommendations will be open until April 6.

Elin Jones AM said: “The Wales Act 2017 marks the start of a new phase of devolution in Wales, giving us the opportunity to make profound changes to our legislature.

"We now have the opportunity to forge the national parliament that the people of Wales deserve to champion their interests.

"This consultation is the beginning of a conversation with the people and communities of Wales about the institution that they want their Welsh Parliament to be.

"I look forward to hearing their views.”

Details on how to attend the Wrexham event can be found on the electoral reform website www.futuresenedd.wales or by contacting the National Assembly information line on 0300 200 6565.

Visit the consultation website at www.assembly.wales/futuresenedd, where they will find the full consultation document and an easy read version of the consultation document.