To seek Cabinet’s view on the Council’s response to the Welsh Government White Paper “Reforming Local Government”.

The Chief Executive reported that a Welsh Government White Paper, Reforming Local Government, was published in July 2014 which broadly endorsed the Williams report – including a preferred option for council mergers that includes bringing BCBC and NPT together as a single authority.  The Welsh Government subsequently published a document on 18 September 2014 entitled “Invitation to Principal Local Authorities in Wales to submit proposals for voluntary merger” enabling Councils to submit bids for voluntary mergers which would allow them to merge sooner than the Welsh Government’s legislative timetable otherwise provides for by inviting Initial Expressions of Interest for voluntary mergers, with a deadline for the submission of the expression of interest being 28 November 2014.  The Chief Executive sought the view of Cabinet on the Council’s response to the Welsh Government White Paper “Reforming Local Government”. 

The Chief Executive reported that the Welsh Government in inviting expressions of interest had made it clear that the previous assumption that local government boundaries must follow existing health boundaries was not necessarily the only option and had encouraged expressions of interest in voluntary merger across health board boundaries where there was good reason to do so.  He stated that this had created the opportunity to explore the merits and disadvantages of other options available to the Council.  The Welsh Government would consider a merger of local authorities straddling the boundaries of Health Boards or police forces if it had made out an exceptional case for such a merger having clearly and comprehensively demonstrated that a merger would generate the benefits of reducing complexity, strengthening strategic and operational collaboration and improving integration of front-line services.

The Chief Executive reported that the Leader had entered into informal discussions with the leaders of neighbouring authorities based on merging to the east or to the west, whilst an option of merging BCBC, the Vale of Glamorgan and Neath Port Talbot had been considered, however this presented a particular difficulty for this Council as it would straddle both South East and South West Wales and would not reduce the complexity of public services.  These difficulties would also be experienced by a new authority based on these three county boroughs and this would not be a solution which reduced the complexity of public services.  He stated that an option of merging BCBC, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea was not fully supported by all authorities and therefore there were two potential merger options, namely, amerger with Neath Port Talbot or a merger with the Vale of Glamorgan.  Cabinet was requested to determine a preferred partner for Bridgend County Borough Council, and to consider whether it wished to submit an expression of interest in a voluntary merger, with an earlier timeframe.

The Chief Executive reported that Bridgend has a specific difficulty in that it straddles the South East and South West regions of Wales, with Bridgend historically being part of South East Wales and consequently has well established relationships and similarities with partners in that region.  He stated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 570