Welsh Government
 Printable version
|
Launch of the Reforming Local Government White Paper
During a visit to the Gwent Archives yesterday, the Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews launched a White Paper setting out the terms of a new deal for Local Government in Wales.
Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People sets out the Welsh Government’s vision for the future of Local Government - one which is more inclusive and accountable, and which shares power and responsibility with the communities it serves.
The proposals put forward fundamental reforms that will ensure strong performance, robust democracy, good governance and effective delivery of key services such as education, social services, waste and planning.
The Minister for Public Services, Leighton Andrews said yesterday:
“The Gwent Archives’ magnificent new facility in the General Offices of the former steelworks in Ebbw Vale holds the minutes from meetings of the Tredegar Workmen’s Medical Aid Society. They show Councillor Aneurin Bevan and his colleagues seeking to put in place co-operative health solutions for their local community.
“Their recorded minutes are a reminder that at its best, Local Government in Wales has always had an activist nature, engaging co-operatively with local communities to find collective solutions.
“We want all our Councils to be activist Councils, engaged in delivering modern, accessible, high quality public services with their communities.
“In this White Paper, we set out the terms of a new deal for local government in Wales, one based on a smaller number of stronger councils, which will result in national government in Wales setting a small number of clear national priorities.
“This is about reform not reorganisation. It is about rebuilding councils from the inside out, rebuilding trust and confidence in local government and a new relationship between Councils and the people they serve.
“My role is to set the right framework to ensure local leadership can deliver for their communities. We will ensure value for money by cutting the cost of politics and management in local government, ensuring councillors reflect the diversity in their communities and ensuring the culture in local government is open to challenge and has involving and supporting its communities as its core value. This is about profound change in the way Councils work and deliver for their communities.
“Our vision is for stronger, more representative Local Government delivering, and accountable for, quality local services which meet the needs of local communities.
“The consultation opens today (3rd February) and will close on 28th April and I encourage anyone who would like their views known to engage in the process.”
The White Paper, an Everyday (Summary) and a Youth Friendly version of the White Paper can be accessed via the Welsh Government website.
