A POTENTIAL merger with Newport City Council has been rejected by
Monmouthshire County Council (MCC).
Officials have responded to the Williams report published earlier this year, which called for a reduction in Welsh councils.
The Williams report calls for the 22 councils in Wales to be reduced in a government re-shuffle that could save half a billion pounds over the next decade.
The report states that MCC should merge with Newport City Council.
In MCC's official response to the report, they dub the findings of the commission to be "simplistic, unsophisticated and lacking vision."
MCC rejects claims that amalgamation would generate substantial cost
savings, questioning the evidence available to make such a claim.
The council also believed a "forced merger" between two counties like Newport and Monmouthshire who don't want to be merged would likely give rise to "tribalism" within communities and councils as more people feel "disadvantaged" through a forced approach.
MCC in its response urges the Government to consider an alternative proposal put forward by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) to create four combined
authorities.
They would be responsible for key services such as transport and health, while retaining the current 22 councils. "The model is well proven and exists in England with the Greater Manchester combined authority being an excellent example where 10 authorities have combined to provide a strategic authority with powers over public transport, skills, housing, regeneration, waste, carbon neutrality and planning functions."
Meanwhile, Nick Ramsay AM has spoken out in support of MCC's response. He said: "Newport Council has already resoundingly rejected a merger with Monmouthshire and there appears to be little evidence from past reorganisations that substantial cost savings could be made through amalgamation.
"I agree with MCC that the WLGA's alternative solution is the best way of delivering a level of reform whilst driving forward the aspirations of local authorities, Wales' Government and the wider community.
"This combined authority model appears to be working well in areas across England and is being seen as a sustainable and forward-looking solution to the challenges facing local government.
"Adopting this alternative solution is in my view the best way of achieving the Government's vision of a Wales that is more prosperous, healthy and a great place to live."
A spokesperson from Newport City Council, said: "Newport city councillors gave cross-party and overwhelming support to a motion ruling out a voluntary merger with Monmouthshire County Council.
"They felt very strongly that the city needed to retain its own identity but did not rule out collaboration with other councils and organisations where such work would benefit residents."
Monmouthshire County Councillors are expected to further discuss government reorganisation on Wednesday 22nd October
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