Corporate Services and Strategy Directorate / Cyfarwyddiaeth Gwasanaethau Corfforaethol a Strategaeth

Stephen Gillingham, Corporate Director Strategy, Transformation and Culture / Cyfarwyddwr Corfforaethol Strategaeth, Trawsnewid a Diwylliant

LG 12

Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee
Local Government (Wales) Bill: Stage 1
Response from: Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

12 March 2015

Committee Clerk

Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff Bay, CF99 1NA.

Dear Sir/Madam,

 Consultation on the Local Government (Wales) Bill

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council welcomes the opportunity to give evidence as part of the Committee’s inquiry into the general principles of the Local Government (Wales) Bill.

The Council’s Corporate Management Team have considered the request as outlined in the letter dated 28 January 2015 from Christine Chapman AC/AM.  This was carried out taking into consideration the response submitted by WLGA and SOLACE in their evidence in February 2015.  It is considered that the response from the WLGA and SOLACE covers all the points that this organisation would wish to highlight, particularly given Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council was an authority which indicated we were prepared to explore an early voluntary merger.

Furthermore, we will be looking to respond to the consultation being carried out by Welsh Government on the Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People by 28 April 2015.

Regards,

Bernadette Elias

Head of Policy & Performance (on behalf of the Chief Executive)