16 March 2011
An external team should take over the running of Isle of Anglesey County Council, auditors have recommended.
If the WelshAssembly Government acts on this it would mark the first time in decades that control of a UK council has been handed to commissioners appointed by a minister. A decision is expected later today.
Anglesey has been plagued by political and personal disputes between factions of independent councillors.
Welsh ministers intervened in 2009 after a highly critical audit report, but the Wales Audit Office has now concluded that only direct government control can rescue the council.
Auditor general for Wales Huw Vaughan Thomas, said: ‘In some respects, the council has responded positively to the intervention, but much work remains to implement plans and embed the modernisation of the council’s corporate arrangements.
‘For this to happen, there needs to be political stability within the council and I do not believe the council’s current democratic arrangements support the changes that are needed.’
In the previous intervention, the Welsh Assembly Government appointed David Bowles as interim managing director, along with a recovery board to oversee the council.
Vaughan Thomas’ report noted: ‘This has not succeeded in producing a sustainable recovery from [the] long history of weak governance, and stronger intervention is necessary.’
Social justice and local government minister Carl Sargeant asked the WAO to probe the council in February after protests from Bowles that his position was being undermined by factional manoeuvring.
Auditors found ‘conflict is once again having a corrosive effect that seriously jeopardises service delivery’.
The report continued: ‘Events in the early part of 2011 suggest that the efforts of the recovery board and the interim managing director have ultimately proved unsuccessful in resolving the council’s underlying weaknesses of corporate governance.
‘The re-inspection found that the pursuit of power for its own sake or for the advantages that it can bring to individuals or the wards they represent has once again emerged.’
Auditors also said the WAG should consider holding a referendum on an elected mayoralty for the island.
