For too long, confusion has reigned over the future of local government in Wales; and – with it – the future identify of many of Wales’ proudest communities.
Labour’s handling in proposing reorganisation of Wales’ Councils has been a shambles – and the Cardiff Bay bubble has become obsessed with a numbers game.
We’ve had the costly Williams Commission which proposed either 10, 11 or 12 Local Authorities in Wales. Ministers then binned those proposals - instead proposing 8 or 9. The Local Government Minister has also said Wales could have as few as six Councils. It’s like the numbers round on Countdown – and Labour don’t have the answer.
Leighton Andrews' marker-pen assault on the map of Wales has caused huge uncertainty - to jobs, to local services and to the future of many of Wales’ traditional counties.
That’s why – this week – I was proud to table an amendment to the Local Government (Wales) Bill; which would have made any merger of Local Authorities subject to a referendum.
To read the article in full, visit Speakers’ Corner here - http://yourvoiceintheassembly.co.uk/finch-saunders-no-local-authority-mergers-without-your-say-so/