Revived plans to merge Caerphilly County Borough Council with a neighbouring local authority has once again provoked opposition from the ruling Labour group.
This week the Welsh Government said it intended to reduce the number of councils in Wales from 22 to ten – with Caerphilly and Newport earmarked for a merger.
Previous merger plans were scrapped by the Welsh Government after the 2016 Assembly elections.
Cllr David Poole, the Labour leader of Caerphilly Council, said: “I am disappointed that Welsh Government has once again announced a set of ill-conceived plans for local government reform in Wales.
“I really can’t see any logic in joining Caerphilly and Newport together as we are two very different areas. Newport as a city has different needs and challenges to Caerphilly which is over 80% rural with a completely separate demographic profile.
“There is very little synergy between the two areas and I would have serious concerns about the impact these plans would have on the outlying communities in the periphery of our area, particularly in the north of the county borough.
“These plans need a serious rethink and we will be provided formal feedback to the consultation in due course, but I am confident that my views and concerns are shared by the 3 Assembly Members who represent the Caerphilly area.
“This is a distraction that local government doesn’t need during these difficult economic times. Our focus remains on serving the residents and communities of the Caerphilly County Borough.”
Cllr Poole is to meet with Local Government Secretary Alun Davies AM today with other leaders of Welsh councils.
Announcing the revived merger plans on Tuesday, March 20, Mr Davies said: “Councils have been clear that services are wearing down to the point of collapse and there is a general acceptance that things cannot carry on as they are and a general acknowledgement that more money, even if it were available, would not solve the problem.
“I also know local government has made real efforts to change, adapt and invest for the future but I also understand that in the face of UK Government cuts, there are limited options to ensuring the future sustainability of local services. Unless we do something radical in response to these challenges we all recognise, the role of local government will increasingly be one of managed decline.”
Got to say I think ? it’s good idea to merge brings the area closer.
And it will bring the community together.
And stop the corruption in the Caerphilly council.
For once I agree with you, let’s have a merger between the two councils. That way then we wouldn’t need double services. Departments could merge saving money. It would also weed out the uslesss untrained managers and supervisors who frankly do not have a clue what’s going on. The first department that needs to go are those Council Wardens, we are paying for a service that we never see and that are no use to man nor beast. More money would be giving to the police to carry proper policing in our borough. Councillors that have ruled the roost for two long will also be brought to task.
I agree that Councillors who have ruled the roost for too long ( usually voted in on personality / popularity and not on achievement ) need a shake up.
The only concern I have is that Caerphilly Borough is far too large an area to adequately and efficiently provide services as it stands – if that area was to incorporate Newport that would make matters wirse.
Also, some people think that this would create jobs – but that is unlikely….Caerphilly staff would continue to work within their borough and likewise for Newport staff.
The difference would presumably be a larger fund from Welsh Government shared across the two boroughs areas.
I do not feel tjis would priduce any real improvement in services to residents.
I am like you, i cant see how its going to bring communities together, in fact my only fear is that most of the money will go to Newport and their surrounding area.
I doubt that Council Tax or Business Rates revenue would be shared equally either – as a City Newport has a far bigger proportion of retail/commercial/industrial premises and so will likely argue to retain that revenue snd not share it equally with Caerphilly.
Just a correction here John, the revenue from business rates does not go to the council, nor have they any control over it. The money all goes to the Welsh Assembly.
You have got it in one, Newport is going to take the lion’s share of thje money if this misconceived idea ever sees the light of day.
I didn’t realise that.