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Council mergers: Poor services 'letting people down' Council mergers: Poor services 'letting people down'
(about 1 hour later)
People are being "let down" by poor public services, according to a member of the commission that proposed a major overhaul of the public sector.People are being "let down" by poor public services, according to a member of the commission that proposed a major overhaul of the public sector.
Nick Bennett, a member of the Williams Commission, will soon become Wales' public services ombudsman.Nick Bennett, a member of the Williams Commission, will soon become Wales' public services ombudsman.
He was speaking as the Welsh government starts the process of legislating to merge councils.He was speaking as the Welsh government starts the process of legislating to merge councils.
Published in January, the Williams Commission said the 22 local councils should be cut to as few as 10.Published in January, the Williams Commission said the 22 local councils should be cut to as few as 10.
First Minister Carwyn Jones will respond to the commission on Tuesday.First Minister Carwyn Jones will respond to the commission on Tuesday.
Mr Bennett said he was "disappointed" a cross-party deal could not be reached by Easter - the date set in the Williams report for ministers and councils to agree a way forward - and urged politicians not to treat the report's recommendations as a "political football".Mr Bennett said he was "disappointed" a cross-party deal could not be reached by Easter - the date set in the Williams report for ministers and councils to agree a way forward - and urged politicians not to treat the report's recommendations as a "political football".
'Ambitious''Ambitious'
On Tuesday, ministers will start a law-making process to allow councils to merge voluntarily. A white paper on local government reform will be published, but with no majority in the assembly, the Welsh government needs a deal with its opponents to make the changes.On Tuesday, ministers will start a law-making process to allow councils to merge voluntarily. A white paper on local government reform will be published, but with no majority in the assembly, the Welsh government needs a deal with its opponents to make the changes.
Meanwhile, Labour is still consulting on its preferred changes - a series of mergers that would leave 12 councils.Meanwhile, Labour is still consulting on its preferred changes - a series of mergers that would leave 12 councils.
Mr Bennett is the chief executive of Community Housing Cymru - the organisation that represents housing associations - but will soon take up a new post as the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.Mr Bennett is the chief executive of Community Housing Cymru - the organisation that represents housing associations - but will soon take up a new post as the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
"Currently the people of Wales are being let down," said Mr Bennett."Currently the people of Wales are being let down," said Mr Bennett.
"Too often services are poor and patchy. Perhaps you can have excellence and mediocrity or even failure within the same local government structure."Too often services are poor and patchy. Perhaps you can have excellence and mediocrity or even failure within the same local government structure.
"We've got to be more ambitious as a nation and we've got to insist upon better.""We've got to be more ambitious as a nation and we've got to insist upon better."
'Fit for future''Fit for future'
Mr Bennett said the "status quo is not an option".Mr Bennett said the "status quo is not an option".
He added: "I hope today (Tuesday) we'll see a blueprint for the shape, not just of local authorities, but of transforming public services more generally so that we're fit for the future and that we can ensure that we've got sustainable public services given the fact that we're going to have less public money and more demands, more strain on public services.He added: "I hope today (Tuesday) we'll see a blueprint for the shape, not just of local authorities, but of transforming public services more generally so that we're fit for the future and that we can ensure that we've got sustainable public services given the fact that we're going to have less public money and more demands, more strain on public services.
"I was disappointed that we couldn't get cross-party consensus by Easter, but I hope that there'll be a majority position very soon."I was disappointed that we couldn't get cross-party consensus by Easter, but I hope that there'll be a majority position very soon.
"It's going to be no good, it's going to be letting the citizens of Wales down if people are going to play political football with this report and its recommendations when there's an opportunity to be constructive and to make sure that we shape public services in Wales that are fit for the future and can deliver for citizens across Wales.""It's going to be no good, it's going to be letting the citizens of Wales down if people are going to play political football with this report and its recommendations when there's an opportunity to be constructive and to make sure that we shape public services in Wales that are fit for the future and can deliver for citizens across Wales."
The Welsh Local Government Association said it would be responding to the commission later.