**Senior Welsh Councillors Push Back Against Calls for Local Authority Reform**
Senior leaders within Welsh local government have pushed back against renewed calls by Members of the Senedd (MSs) for reorganisation of Wales’s council system, stating that such measures would fail to deliver the much-needed financial relief that advocates suggest. As debate continues to swirl over the future of local authorities, especially regarding the number of councils in Wales, local chief councillors have spoken candidly at their annual conference, held in Llandudno, challenging the wisdom of central interference and cautioning against changes they see as unnecessary and potentially counterproductive.
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), which represents the country’s 22 local authorities, convened for this year’s gathering amid ongoing pressures on council budgets and a persistent conversation about restructuring. For years, there has been a push from various quarters, including within the Senedd, to reduce the number of councils, with suggestions that larger ‘super-councils’ might cut costs and improve efficiency.
However, Andrew Morgan, leader of both Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and the WLGA, was unequivocal in his dismissal of these proposals. “There is a misconception that drastic council mergers will unlock significant savings, but the reality is far different,” he told reporters. Morgan expressed frustration at what he described as uninformed commentary from some Senedd members, suggesting that their perspective may lack an understanding of the practical day-to-day work undertaken by councillors. He implied that the life of a council leader is far less ‘cushy’ than that of certain parliamentarians advocating change from the sidelines.
This isn’t the first time local government reform has dominated political discussions in Wales. Since the current structure was enacted in 1996, questions over the optimal number of councils have periodically resurfaced. Past ministers have suggested streamlining the system — at times floating reductions to as few as 10 authorities — only to retreat from compulsory mergers amid opposition and logistical concerns.
Morgan pointed out that, far from being stagnant or inefficient, Wales’s local councils have already undertaken significant collaboration in the name of service efficiency and cost-saving. He cited ongoing partnerships, such as shared regulatory services between Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, and Bridgend, as well as joint youth services provision between Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil. These examples, he said, demonstrate the sector’s commitment to prudent management and continued adaptation.
Financial headwinds compound the situation: Welsh local authorities anticipate a funding gap exceeding £1 billion over the next three years. Morgan argued that even the most optimistic estimates of savings through reorganisation — possibly £200 million — would fall woefully short of what is needed. “If you could make £200m saving over the long term, that doesn’t cover the shortfall in funding for one year,” he remarked. He likened the reorganisation solution to “putting a plaster on someone who has just lost their arm,” warning that it is unlikely to address the root problems facing local government.
Wrexham council leader Mark Pritchard echoed his counterpart’s reservations, describing the notion of council mergers as a “vanity project” propagated by some within the Welsh Government. Pritchard emphasised that the potential for savings is not guaranteed and any restructuring should only proceed with a robust business case. He maintained that the distinctive cultural and geographical diversity across Wales means local governance cannot be easily reshaped to fit models from elsewhere.
Pritchard further mused on the challenges of centralisation, referencing the difficulties faced by large health boards in Wales as a cautionary tale of ‘bigger not always being better’. He underscored his opposition to off-the-cuff political remarks advocating sweeping changes, noting the irony of pushing for council cuts while the number of MSs is set to increase.
These comments highlight the ongoing tensions between local and national visions for public service reform in Wales, illustrating the complexity of balancing cost, efficiency, and local representation. Councillors maintain that, despite immense financial strain, the current collaborative ethos between authorities offers a more realistic path forward than top-down reorganisation.
As the WLGA conference continues, both councillors and MSs will need to grapple with the urgent financial issues confronting Wales’s communities, with the debate over local governance structure showing no signs of abating. Whether the focus remains on gradual evolution and partnership or shifts to a radical restructuring will no doubt shape Welsh public services for years to come.