Local government in Wales

The current names of certain unitary authority areas are different from those specified in the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. The following changes took place, all with effect from 2 April 1996:[5]

• Conwy from Aberconwy and Colwyn
• Isle of Anglesey from Anglesey
• Gwynedd from Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire
• Ceredigion from Cardiganshire
• Neath Port Talbot from Neath and Port Talbot

There are four police forces in Wales. These are:

1 2 3 4

North Wales Police (Heddlu Gogledd Cymru) Dyfed-Powys Police (Heddlu Dyfed-Powys) South Wales Police (Heddlu De Cymru) Gwent Police (Heddlu Gwent)

There are three fire and rescue services in Wales. The present Welsh fire services date from 1996. Each covers a number of principal areas. These are:

1 2 3

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru) Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru) South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru)

The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 allowed for the formation of Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) made up of two or more principle areas.[12] Corporate Joint Committees have powers relating to economic well-being, strategic planning and the development of regional transport policies.[13]

In April 2021, four Corporate Joint Committees were created covering all of Wales:

• Mid Wales Corporate Joint Committee
• North Wales Corporate Joint Committee
• South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee
• South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee

City regions are partnerships between local several authorities. As of April 2021, there are four statutory city region agreements in Wales:

• Ambition North Wales
• Cardiff Capital Region
• Growing Mid Wales
• Swansea Bay City Region

Trunk road agents are partnerships between two or more principal councils in Wales for the purposes of managing, maintaining, and improving the network of Trunk roads (including any motorways) in their respective areas. Each trunk road agent can employ Welsh Government traffic officers.

There are two trunk road agents in Wales:

• North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent
• South Wales Trunk Road Agent

In April 2013, it was announced that a major review was to be undertaken into local government organisation in Wales, with a Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery being established, to be chaired by Sir Paul Williams. First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "Since public sector budgets are likely to continue to tighten, and demand pressures grow, there is a clear need to examine how services can be sustained and standards of performance raised, so that people in Wales can continue to receive and influence the public services they need and value."[14]

The Commission reported on 20 January 2014. It recommended that the number of councils be reduced, through mergers rather than through boundary changes, from 22 to 10, 11 or 12; and suggested that the cost of merging the councils would be met through savings made within about two years.[15]

Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "This report addresses many issues that are critical at a time when the need for public services is outstripping the resources available to provide them. I have always been clear that the status quo is not an option. Change is inevitable and essential so that our public services can become more efficient, effective, accessible and responsive." Janet Finch-Saunders AM, shadow minister for local government, said: "What matters to the vast majority of hardworking families is not the intricate structures of local government, but knowing that services will be delivered in an efficient and cost effective way.... We believe that public services are best delivered locally so taxpayers can hold local representatives to account for what happens in their community." Rhodri Glyn Thomas, for Plaid Cymru, commented: "The weight of evidence presented to the Williams Commission shows that if the people of Wales are going to get the services they need and deserve then there has to be a radical improvement in the way public services are delivered."[15]

In response to recommendations made by the Williams Commission, the Welsh Government published a draft local government bill in November 2015.[16] The draft bill contained two proposals, one for eight local authorities and one for nine local authorities. The difference between the two proposals is related to North Wales (two or three local authorities). The bill did not propose names for the local authorities, only listing them by number as a combination of existing principal areas. Powys was not affected by either proposal. The changes were planned to take effect in April 2020.[17]

Following the 2016 assembly elections, First Minister Carwyn Jones announced that the proposals for local government reform would be taken "back to the drawing board" and that a new consensus on how to reform local government in Wales would be sought.[18] The merger plans were formally dropped in January 2017, when the Welsh Government instead began a consultation on wider reform of local governance arrangements. The number of councils are to remain as they currently are, unless two or more local authorities wish to pursue a voluntary merger.[19]

A white paper titled "Reforming Local Government: Resilient and Renewed" was published in January 2017. It proposed the formation of regional bodies to encourage better collaboration between existing local authorities and a possible change in the electoral system used in local elections from "first past the post" to the "Single transferable vote" system.[19]

A new green paper, "Strengthening Local Government: Delivering for People", was published in 2018.[20] The paper makes the case for a reduction of the number of local authorities from 22 to 10 and suggested three possible approaches, a system of voluntary mergers, a phased approach with authorities merging in either 2022 or 2026 or a comprehensive system of mergers to occur in 2022.[21]

Proposed 10 authority model

A bill was introduced by the Welsh Government in November 2019 to reform local government in Wales. The bill contains provisions to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16 for local elections in Wales and will extend the franchise to include eligible foreign nationals. It extends the term of local councillors from four years to five years. The bill will allow local councils to decide to continue to hold elections under first past the post system or to switch to the single transferable vote system. The bill does not include provisions to restructure local councils but does contain mechanisms that can allow for two or more authorities to merge on a voluntary basis. It also creates a framework for joint regional coordination between local authorities through the formation of "Corporate Joint Committees".[22] The bill received Royal Assent in January 2021 and four Corporate Joint Committees covering all of Wales, were established the following month by statutory instruments.[23][24]