Commissioners take control of Anglesey council

16 Mar 11
An external team of commissioners has taken over the running of Isle of Anglesey County Council.

By Vivienne Russell

16 March 2011

An external team of commissioners has taken over the running of Isle of Anglesey County Council.

The Welsh Assembly Government sacked the council’s Cabinet and imposed the commissioners within four hours of Wales Audit Office recommendations today.

This marks the first time in decades that control of a UK council has been handed to commissioners by a minister.

Anglesey has been plagued by political and personal disputes between factions of independent councillors, among which control has shifted unpredictably.

Welsh ministers intervened in 2009 after a highly critical audit report, but the WAO concluded after an emergency inspection in February that only direct government control could rescue the council.

The commissioners are Alex Aldridge, a former leader of Flintshire County Council, Byron Davies, former chief executive of Cardiff County Council, and Mick Giannasi, who is about to retire as chief constable of Gwent. Two more remain to be named.

Social Justice and Local Government minister Carl Sargeant said: ‘Too many Anglesey councillors are still more concerned with pursuing their own advantage than with meeting the needs of Anglesey’s citizens. This is not democracy, it is the politics of the playground.

‘I believe that councillors who have operated irresponsibly despite numerous independent inquiries, ombudsman cases, critical audit reports and a ministerial intervention, have been given enough chances to mend their ways.

‘I am not prepared to waste more public money on a council that does not want to help itself.’

In the previous intervention, the WAG appointed David Bowles as interim managing director, along with a recovery board to oversee the council

Sargeant asked the WAO to urgently probe the council in February after protests from Bowles that factional manoeuvring was undermining his position.

A joint statement from the leaders of the council’s six political groups today said: ‘We confirm our commitment to working to regain public trust and ministerial confidence and to sustaining Anglesey as a sovereign authority.

‘We would also wish to make it absolutely clear that [the WAO] report is not critical of the authority's staff.’

Auditor general for Wales Huw Vaughan Thomas said in his report: ‘In some respects, the council has responded positively to the [2009] 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.’

He added: ‘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.

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top