Monday, 25th February, 2013
Quick fix? (audio)
Yesterday morning, ‘Sunday Supplement,’ the weekly review of Welsh political life and the Sunday papers on BBC Radio Wales invited ex-leader of the WLGA, ex-leader of Pembrokeshire County Council and very current IPG member for the Cilgerran ward to talk about the possible cut and paste job of reorganising Welsh councils. It’s the sort of show that’s far too cultured for me to listen to, but thankfully it’s not out of the reach of my readership.
At one point, Vaughan Roderick, the presenter, puts to Cllr. Davies the prospect of what he calls a “quick and dirty” reorganisation of Welsh local authorities, where smaller ones would be merged into larger ones. The views offered in this short interview might surprise you, and it would be interesting to know who is being represented by Cllr. Davies in saying that the number of councils Wales has should be in the ‘single digits,’ to reflect the health boards in Wales. Whether or not the health boards are working or not, says Cllr. Davies, is another matter.
Is this the first instance of IPG policy being promoted on a national level? Or, for that matter, the first instance of IPG policy being promoted at all?
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Cliche after cliche after cliche, unfortunately. Some expensive media training in Cllr Davies’ history perhaps. Also a naive, confusing observation over ‘size’ and ‘capacity’, small may equal limited capacity but larger doesn’t necessarily mean capacity, in this context, necessarily improves. Which was/is probably the issue with the health boards as it happens, in my humble opinion.
I don’t think someone like John Davies who has overseen for many years a failing council in terms of child protection and education is the right man to ask about how a future council make up of Wales should look.
As an elected (Labour) member of a new Labour administration which is currently being kicked from pillar to post by the Minister for skills and education, it pains me to admit that yes, there is definitely a poorly hidden agenda. Maybe it is time for ministers to be:
1) honest about their intentions, and
2) take responsibility for their own failings and inadequacies.
I agree entirely, Valley-Red. Just get on and reorganise and don’t subject everything to the ‘death by a thousand cuts’ approach. Perhaps there was some merit in the 2 tier approach pre 1996…
I think a return to a two tier system would certainly be useful. My suggestion is 5 regional authorities, which take in health, fire, police, ambulance, education, social services, waste disposal, transport and economic development.
Leaving the districts (about 23 of them running more local services – see my blog) to run most of the rest of the local government functions.
Democratising a nominated layer of government would be good, and health and social services are a natural pairing. Oh and I’d make them relatively small authorities and elect by single transferable vote.
A bit like pre reorganisation Lyn.
Interesting view on STV, and why not have the small authorities on a mixed make up of elected and appointed members, with the balance in favour of elected members for democratic purposes but appointed members targeted for their capacity/specialist expertise/management skills/whatever it might be labelled as?
Do we really need 60 councillors paid around £13,000 p.a. to follow the directions of unelected officers to oversee “village pump” issues?
Councillors receive this money in recognition of their role to direct and control councils to follow strategic mandated policies. Without any policies councillors follow officers’ recommendations based on WAG edicts/ requirements without any local democratic input or consideration.
PS the worth of the majority of our elected councillors was shown at last week’s council meeting. Councillors kept in the dark by officers and the council leader over the pay and grading issue, and still no formal censure of either or both. Yet again nobody is accountable.
I agree with Mr Hudson. For how long have councillors failed to exercise any direction or control as you put it, even down to the level of not approving the Council’s budget it seems?
I think the worth of many of these elected members must be like many other highly prized attributes, a little well hidden. And just yet more ‘but they don’t tell us anything’ type excuses. Tin hat time again! 🙂
Payment of Councillors was introduced to attract a better standard of candidate! Anyone noticed any improvement?