Welsh fears for shared services
- Published: 07 May 2008 16:32
- Last Updated: 29 July 2008 11:35
Labour's meltdown in urban Wales has left the country's ambitious regional shared services plans mired in uncertainty.
The party's loss of 122 councillors will also lead to repercussions for the leadership of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), which is run on a power-sharing basis. It is due to share out posts at its annual meeting later this month. Independents are likely to form its largest group.
Councils have committed to share services — mainly back office work — in regional groups, and the WLGA said it was unclear whether changes of control would affect this.
Voters turfed Labour out of power at six councils, leaving it in control of only Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taff CBCs. It narrowly missed regaining Bridgend CBC.
Plaid Cymru was ejected from its only power base at Gwynedd Council, after a controversy over rural school closures. It lost seats to local campaign group Llais Gwynedd.
Independents made a strong showing in industrial Wales, becoming the largest group at Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil CBCs and Flintshire CC.
Labour fell to third place at Cardiff City Council, which it ran until 2004.
