Welsh Government plans to force Newport and Caerphilly councils to merge have been scrapped.
Wales’ local government secretary Alun Davies AM told council leaders that he was “happy to withdraw the map” on reorganisation.
Under the original plans the council would have merged with neighbouring Newport, with the overall number of Welsh local authorities reducing from 22 to ten.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the Welsh Local Government Association in Llandudno on June 28, Mr Davies said the number of local authorities in Wales was unsustainable.
However, instead of forced mergers, he wanted councils and the Welsh Government to work together.
The leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council welcomed the announcement.
Cllr Dave Poole said: “As a council, we were fully opposed to such a reshaping of local government and could see no logic in joining Caerphilly and Newport together as we are two very different areas with very little synergy between us.
“That said, there is much that we as an area can achieve collaboratively – the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal being just one example.
“There are many, many opportunities for local government in Wales to continue to operate in collaboration with each other and we look forward to being involved in the discussions as to the new way forward over the coming months.”
A Welsh Government bill will now be brought forward in the autumn to define the relationship between Welsh Government and local councils and to look at how they can work together to drive forward reform.
The Welsh Conservatives’ spokeswoman on local government, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, said:“I am pleased that he seems to have seen sense in withdrawing the map – but would urge the cabinet secretary to ensure that in bringing forward his new bill, he takes the local government sector with him.
“Full and open public consultation throughout any reform proposal process is essential.”
For once the Assembly has seen sense, this merger was a foolish idea. I think there will be mergers but now there is hope that the town of Caerffili will end up where it should be in; a new Glamorganshire County Council.
For once the assembly has made the right decision. A merger with Newport would have been really bad for us. Like you i dont think Caerphilly will stay an idependant council but a glamorgan type council would be more of a benefit.
There you go boys it’s all been scrapped the merger with Caerphilly and Newport.
Back to where we started caerphilly will not improve.
A merger betweeen Newport and Caerphilly has been scrapped, but that doesnt mean a merger between Caerphilly and another council wont take place. We just need to merger with a like minded council like creating a new Glamorgan council. This will bring pros and cons to the table. Cons ; job losses, rebranding costing money. Pros: less corruption, less jobs for the boys, where family members get jobs just because they know someone in the council. A clean sweep of councillors, out with the old and in with the new. Less managment. Hopfully.
Any merger will cost money thats the only true prediction from above that will come true.
Wow good thinking edward exactly what I was thinking.
Give you ? %. Utterly with you on this one.
I would like a return to the old mid glam, but i can dream on!
It seems that Welsh Government and the Local Authorities at
least have one major thing in common – neither can make a decision !
I m with you regarding there will probably be a new council but this does not mean a change of councillors. Councillors are elected by popular vote, the ones you have now will be the same ones in the new authority unless the people choose to vote differently.
I was thinking of maybe boundry changed therefore councillors would either step down or be forced to up against a new councillor.
I can’t see much of that happening. I think the ward boundaries will stay pretty intact. There is the possibility of a reduction in councillor numbers, my ward has three seats, but as that will be discussed by those affected I just don’t see a reduction taking place.
In any case having multi seat wards can be a good thing democratically as the more candidates contest a seat the greater chance of your ward ending up with at least one competent councillor.
It is worth mentioning that people’s voting habits are very strange. I have attended many counts after an election and it is very common for a ‘floating voter’ to put their crosses on three totally unrelated candidates – One for Labour, one for Plaid, one for Conservative, is the sort of thing that happens. The ruling parties are aware that they pick up votes in this fashion and campaign hard to mobilise their core voters, those who are actual supporters of their party, regardless of the qualities of the candidates. This tactic sees them home and dry and is why there is seldom a change of ruling party, either at borough or town & Community level.
Surely Caerphilly should come under Glamorgan then at least the likes of Blackwood and The other smaller Caerphilly towns would have a bit of a say in thier own matters, Caerphilly council is surely the worst council in Wales..