Steve Thomas CBE, WLGA Chief Executive said:
“Today’s decision by the Minister for Local Government and Social Justice, Carl Sargeant AM to appoint Commissioners represents the most severe interventions into an individual local authority in Welsh local government’s history and is a sad day in terms of local democracy on the Island. It comes on the back of years of political instability in Anglesey County Council which has undermined the Council’s corporate governance and reputation. If this were to continue it would potentially threaten services at a time of significant challenge facing both the council, but more importantly the communities of Anglesey. The concern around the council’s situation has been clearly evidenced in the report today from the Auditor General and the WLGA fully acknowledges the problems highlighted and supports the Minister’s response.”
The WLGA, as the improvement body for Welsh local government has worked closely with officers and elected councillors on Anglesey since its original establishment as a unitary authority in 1996.
In more recent years WLGA officers and our associates have sought to provide support in response to the recommendations of the Wales Audit Office’s Corporate Governance Inspection in 2009.
The WLGA improvement activity has supported the development of scrutiny arrangements, member and leadership development, a clearer understanding of councillor responsibilities and additional management capacity and challenge progress in which has been recognised by the WAO.
Mr Thomas added:
“Despite the progress that has been made, the constant political turmoil has effectively derailed the administration led by Councillor Clive McGregor which the Recovery Board had recognised was making real progress prior to Christmas. This instability has led to a confusing variety of leadership options emerging with different and more complex scenarios emerging almost daily. As such, the worst outcome would be a political “groundhog day” where this rolling crisis is characterised by perpetual shifts in politics and personalities, whilst the prospect of service standards declining becomes a significant issue. This outcome is not sustainable and a different approach is now needed.”
“The decision by the Minister to appoint Commissioners is fully a consequence of the way that a number of councillors have conducted themselves. At a time when local government faces its most severe challenges for decades, the current situation within the authority means that the “eye is being taking off the ball” in terms of the strategic future of the Island. The WLGA will therefore work closely with the appointed Commissioners to ensure that these challenges are tackled and to provide support to ensure that democratic control to the authority can return in due course to ensure that the council is fit for purpose in this challenging environment.”
