"On behalf of the WLGA and local government, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication that Mark Drakeford has shown during his tenure as First Minister.

“Throughout his time in office, Mark has steered Wales through challenging times - none more profound than the Covid-19 pandemic. He has consistently championed the cause of local government; he has recognised its pivotal role in shaping our communities and has shown his habitual appreciation for the value and importance of local services.

“The First Minister’s collaborative approach, evident in his positive working relationship with the WLGA, has been instrumental in fostering constructive dialogue and advancing shared goals. His insightful address at WLGA’s recent Annual Conference resonated with local government leaders across Wales, and provided yet another example of his commitment to engagement and partnership has been a cornerstone of our collective efforts.

“His legacy of service to Wales will undoubtedly endure, and we look forward to building upon the strong foundations for relations between local and Welsh governments for the sake of all our communities. We would like to sincerely thank Mark for his tireless efforts and his invaluable contribution to our nation.”

Councillor David was first elected as the Leader of Bridgend in October 2016 and first became a member of the authority’s Cabinet in 2012. Since 2019, he has acted as WLGA’s Presiding Officer and has also greatly contributed to the Association’s work as its Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, and previously as the Spokesperson for Education. In June 2022, he was honoured with an OBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his efforts.

Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, WLGA Leader said:

“Over many years, Councillor Huw David has made a significant contribution to the work of local government and is well respected by all his peers across Wales, as well as many partner bodies. As Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Huw has consistently shown his passion for protecting vulnerable people and ensuring access to care for those who need it. At no time was this more evident than during the Covid pandemic, as Huw took every opportunity to make the case for local services and the wellbeing of care workers.

“Huw’s disarmingly affable approach has been a key feature during his time as the WLGA’s Presiding Officer which has earned colleagues’ trust from all parts of Wales and across the UK. Throughout this time, he has shown true leadership and dedication in advocating for local government. His tireless work for local services at a national level is only matched by his great contribution to and pride in his community in Bridgend.

“Despite today’s news, I am confident that Councillor David will continue his tireless work in his community. On behalf of leaders across Wales and WLGA staff, I sincerely thank Huw for his contribution to local government spanning many years. And as a friend and a colleague, I wish him all the very best for the future.”

Councillor Andrew Morgan (Rhondda Cynon Taf), WLGA Leader said:

“I would like to congratulate Liz Truss on becoming the UK’s next Prime Minister. As she steps into office, local government wants to work alongside her new administration and Welsh Government to help communities in need. Urgent action is needed now without delay. Households, businesses, and our essential local services are being squeezed like never before. The new Prime Minister will be judged on her actions in the days and weeks ahead.

“It is vital that the necessary funding is delivered immediately from Westminster to Wales to shield essential council services, businesses, and communities over the harsh months to come.”

Councillor Mark Pritchard (Wrexham), WLGA Independent Group Leader said:

“Over the past few years, Welsh local government has had a good working relationship with UK government, and we look forward to working in the same way in the future. Alongside Welsh Government, that partnership working will need to continue so that we can work together through these challenging times. As they have always done, our councils continue to step up to the plate to support our communities. But the budgetary hurdles we face are severe. We ask the new Prime Minister to help and support our communities across Wales by relieving the pressure on essential local services.”

Councillor Llinos Medi (Ynys Môn), WLGA Plaid Cymru Group Leader said:

“Whilst I congratulate Liz Truss on becoming the UK’s new Prime Minister, there is no overstating the sheer scale of the challenge for public services. Residents rely on essential services such as schools and social care day in, day out, and are looking to us for answers. We want our councils to continue to be there for our communities to help and support them. But support is urgently needed from Westminster to help meet enormous budgetary pressures. The new Prime Minister must act at once to help councils help communities.”

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We are all too familiar with the abuse we see in our inboxes, on our social media feeds or see and hear on our streets or, worse, at our homes.  

Politics should focus on facts and respectful debate about differences of policy or priorities, not insults or intolerance, misinformation or misogyny, discrimination or division.

We are committed to attracting more diverse people to consider standing for election. We need to reassure and support those candidates who are newer to democratic life, those who are conscious they are in the minority or have already experienced discrimination.

The council elections are about people who just want to contribute and who want to make a positive difference to our communities.

Unfortunately, we are seeing an increasing number of councillors and candidates being subjected to abuse, threats and intimidation.

As well as being totally unacceptable, this behaviour undermines the principles of free speech, democratic engagement and debate.

We therefore endeavour to treat everyone with courtesy, kindness and respect and, as leaders, we stand together to call for an end to abuse, intimidation and harassment of any kind. This is particularly relevant as we enter the key period in the run up to the local government elections in May.

We pledge to participate in a fair election campaign which is based on positive campaigning and merit, rather than personal attacks and smears against individuals.

We encourage all elected members and candidates in the forthcoming election to do the same. In addition, we will publicly ‘call out’ any such inappropriate behaviour and take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse.

We all have the right to carry out our civic duties without fear of being attacked or abused.

Any inappropriate behaviour, whether that be verbal, physical or in writing on social media, is totally unacceptable and action will be taken if deemed necessary.

Please be kind and fair in all that you say and do.

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We all know the current situation in our council chambers; councillors are generally male, white and older than the average man or woman on the street. 

Women account for only 28 per cent of councillors in Wales and six of Wales’ 22 council leaders, which represents a miserly high point. 

A further 11 per cent of councillors are disabled, and only 1.8 per cent are from a black or minority ethnic background.

Councils need to look much more like the communities they serve, and communities should be represented in local decision-making. Research has clearly shown that ‘great minds don’t think alike’ as the best decisions are made when a range of voices is represented.

Anyone who cares about inclusivity and local democracy should, therefore, be pulling out all the stops to ensure barriers are overcome to secure progress.

That’s why the Welsh LGA (WLGA) has undertaken a range of ambitious actions and commitments intended to spur change and promote diversity in democracy. These include encouraging all political parties to commit to proactively improving diversity, supporting the use of voluntary quotas, and encouraging all councils to sign up to a ‘Diversity Councils’ declaration, to demonstrate a clear, public commitment. 

We have also set up a ‘Be a Councillor’ website, with e-learning, advice, videos and case studies, and councils have developed local action plans and are undertaking local engagement work with partners. These are progressive actions that, together, will support the emergence of more diverse civic leaders.

Progress relies on concerted and coordinated action, and the WLGA is working closely with the LGA and our sister LGAs in Scotland (COSLA) and Northern Ireland (NILGA) to campaign for more diversity in democracy. 

We have welcomed work undertaken by the Welsh Government to remove barriers and improve access to standing for councils. 

Legislation has been introduced to make permanent the provision for remote council meetings, following its successful adoption during the pandemic. A new Access to Elected Office Fund has also been launched recently, to support disabled people standing for election. 

Welsh Government reforms mean councillors in Wales are entitled to family absence provisions on a par with public workers, and payments for costs for caring responsibilities, while job sharing allows greater flexibility for people to take on senior roles.

One of the main barriers to change is the rise in abuse and intimidation of public figures. Not only does this trend impact on the safety of individuals and their families, but it also dissuades people from taking part in politics, especially women and people from black and minority ethnic communities.  

The WLGA is working closely with the LGA, COSLA and NILGA on a Civility in Public Life campaign to support any councillors who may have experienced abuse, and to stand up against intimidation of councillors. 

Being a councillor is far from an easy role, but it is hugely rewarding. You can get things done. You can give voice to the seldom heard. You can make a real difference to people’s lives. 

It is up to all of us to encourage people from all walks of life to feel they can make a change in their communities by standing at the local elections.

Visit the WLGA’s ‘Be a Councillor’ website. More information on civility in public life is available on the LGA’s website.

Councillor Andrew Morgan (Rhondda Cynon Taf), WLGA Leader said:

“Hard working health and social care staff have been Wales’ heroes during the pandemic. These comments are as unfortunate as they are insulting to a workforce that has been stretched to breaking point. Partnership has been a key feature over the past 18 months, which makes these comments even more disappointing.

“As has become crystal clear to us all, dedicated care workers continue to go above and beyond to care for the most vulnerable in society, and will not be lectured to by faceless, profit-driven individuals.

“We will get through this crisis together and local councils will work with all their partners in health and the voluntary sector and committed, constructive partners in the independent sector.  We are also committed to working to help deliver Welsh Government’s ambition to rebalance the social care sector, deliver the Real Living Wage, remove profit motive from children’s services and focus on meeting the social care needs and improving the wellbeing of the vulnerable in our communities.”

-ENDS-

“The 1st April 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of our 22 unitary authorities and the WLGA.”

“Ordinarily, we would have marked this occasion will some celebration. However, that would not be appropriate given we marked a sombre, more significant anniversary of the lockdown last week.

“At a time when communities and residents across our nation are still suffering due to the pandemic, now is a time for recognition rather than celebration.”

“We recognise the vital contribution councils have made to our communities and to our country.”

“The hundreds of thousands of jobs councils have created or saved.”

“The generations and hundreds of thousands of young people councils have educated and trained.”

“The tens of thousands of the most vulnerable in our communities whom councils have cared for or have housed.”

“The communities the length and breadth of Wales councils have regenerated.”

“The several hundred services councils have provided to all in our society, every single day for each of those 25 years.”    

“Even more importantly, we recognise and give thanks to local government’s greatest asset: its people. Councillors and, in particular, our many thousands of brilliant, hardworking staff who this year have gone above and beyond the call of duty and have been on the front line of the COVID response.”

“Our councils reprioritised, restructured services and redeployed thousands of staff overnight. Councils have continued to react and respond as the pandemic worsened through the winter.”

“Like never before, the government and our communities have turned to us and relied on us. Without our incredible workforce, none of this would have been possible. Our councils are uniquely placed at the heart of our communities. They are the first port of call for the most vulnerable or those in need of support or assurance. In responding to the crisis, they have amply demonstrated councils’ ability to respond irrespective of scale and reaffirmed the WLGA’s stance on the importance of subsidiarity and localism, with elected members and the workforce rooted in local communities.”

“As we reflect on the past 25 years of Welsh local government, we recognise the commitment and leadership of the elected members who have represented, served and supported their communities across Wales and we are proud of and pay tribute to our workforce, for their compassion, dedication, professionalism and public service particularly during the past 12 months, the most challenging period our communities and country has faced in generations.”

On Friday, on the eve of International Women’s Day, WLGA Council endorsed a series of significant recommendations from a cross-party working group, which included the use of voluntary quotas, local targets, and council declarations to become ‘Diverse Councils’.

Cllr Mary Sherwood (Swansea), Co-Chair of the Working Group and Joint WLGA Spokesperson for Equalities, Welfare Reform and Anti-Poverty said:

“I am proud of the working group’s report and the WLGA Council’s clear commitment to make a real change at the next elections. There has been action to attract a different range of candidates, and more women, in the past but progress has been slow and council chambers remain largely white, male and middle-aged.

“This is not just about our council chambers looking more like and being more like the people they represent; all the research tells us that outcomes will be better if decisions are taken by people with a range of lived experiences. We all agree we need to do much more and go further if we want to see real change.”

Cllr Susan Elsmore (Cardiff), Co-Chair of the Working Group and Joint WLGA Spokesperson for Equalities, Welfare Reform and Anti-Poverty said:

“Whilst attention is on the Senedd elections in two months’ time, we are looking ahead to the local elections in 2022 and what we need to do to change.”

“We have much to do in these 14 months and will be working with national and local partners to engage and encourage people from under-represented groups to stand for election. We also need to support candidates through what can often be a complex and daunting process. We are therefore calling on all political parties to do more to make their selection processes as flexible as possible.”

Cllr Huw David (Bridgend), WLGA Presiding Officer said:

“The WLGA Council’s commitments around diversity in democracy go to the heart of the core values of the WLGA. Our council chambers and the WLGA’s own council is not as diverse or as representative of our communities as they could or should be. We still have a long way to go, but the commitments we have made and actions we are asking councils, parties and partners to undertake should help ensure our councils are more diverse in 2022.”

At Friday’s meeting (5th March) WLGA Council agreed:

• to encourage all political parties, through the WLGA Political Groups, to commit to proactive and coordinated activities to improve diversity in local government democracy;
• a formal position calling for the introduction of resettlement grants for all councillors and senior salary holders;
• to encourage all councillors to claim any necessary allowances or expenses;
• to encourage a declaration by July 2021 from councils in Wales, on becoming ‘Diverse Councils’; to:
  • Provide a clear, public commitment to improving diversity;
  • Demonstrate an open and welcoming culture to all;
  • Consider staggering council meeting times and agreeing recess periods to support councillors with other commitments; and
  • Set out an action plan of activity ahead of the 2022 local elections.
• that councils should set targets to be representative of the communities they serve at the next elections;
• to support the use of voluntary quotas for Welsh local elections; and
• the WLGA reviews the impact of voluntary quotas following the next local elections.

The WLGA is already working with the Welsh Government and partners on promoting and supporting greater diversity, including a Be a Councillor website, mentoring programmes, a commitment to the Civility in Public Life campaign and a wide package of training, development and support for councillors when elected. The Welsh Government has also recently launched the Access to Elected Office Fund to support disabled people to stand for elected office.

The WLGA Council’s report on Diversity in Local Democracy is available here.

-ENDS-

The WLGA is the representative body of Wales’ 22 councils, and leaders have set out how the next Welsh Government and the Senedd can empower local authorities to reinvigorate and rebuild public services, communities and the economy post COVID-19.

Local government is calling on the future Senedd and Welsh Government to invest in local services, trust in local leadership and encourage local solutions to help deliver national priorities.

A focus on preventative services, with greater flexibility to respond to local needs can empower councils to:

• promote well-being and encourage healthy, sustainable and vibrant communities
• improve outcomes for children and young people and learners
• deliver good quality and sustainable social care services for the future
• create good quality homes and safer communities for people to live and work, and
• support sustainable, inclusive growth and a green post-COVID recovery

Councillor Andrew Morgan (Rhondda Cynon Taf), WLGA Leader said:

“The WLGA has published its ‘Manifesto for Localism’ ahead of the Senedd elections. Leaders and councillors have already helped shape party policy and influence emerging manifestos, but the Manifesto for Localism reiterates and summarises the WLGA’s core priorities and its promotion of the principle of subsidiarity.”

“Councils are the glue that binds our communities. They do remarkable work in delivering homes and supporting families, protecting and caring for the vulnerable, educating and skilling the workforce, and looking after our precious environment. With the necessary freedoms, flexibilities and resources, councils can do even more to create thriving and resilient communities.

“This year more than ever, we have seen the best of local government. Throughout the response to the crisis, communities have instinctively looked to their councils for guidance, support, and leadership. Councils’ role will be even more vital to help to rebuild our hard-hit communities.

“As the body which represents all 22 councils in Wales, the WLGA firmly believes in localism: that public services are best provided within a democratic framework of local accountability. Local councils are best placed to deliver on the elected Welsh Government’s national priorities, by working together in partnership.”

-ENDS-

Click here for Senedd 2021: A Manifesto for Localism

The Bill is one of only two to be considered by the Senedd during COVID 19 and the pandemic has demonstrated how important councils are within their communities and as core public service deliverers.

Councils are uniquely placed at the heart of their communities and have been relied upon to deliver significant reforms to services and introduction of support to individuals, families and businesses often at short notice under the most challenging of circumstances. The Bill has been a long time in development and preceded the COVID crisis but it has incorporated experiences and learning from pandemic including greater flexibility for remote meetings which is welcome.

Cllr Andrew Morgan (Rhondda Cynon Taf), WLGA Leader said:

“Councils have been on the front line of the COVID response, alongside our partners in the NHS. Councils and their workforce have demonstrated flexibility, innovation, resilience and responsiveness during the pandemic. The Bill therefore provides several welcome new reforms including a broad power of general competence and streamlines some governance and performance arrangements that should allow councils greater flexibility in future.”

“One of the Bill’s core themes is the promotion of local democracy and diversity, which is a priority shared by the WLGA. The Bill introduces votes for 16-17 year olds and provides wider flexibility and support for councillors, which the WLGA called for, including more flexible meeting arrangements, family absence support and allows senior councillors to job-share.”

“Some parts of the Bill have caused debate and disagreement within local government, including concerns about the mandation of regional corporate joint committees for certain services, given local government has a successful track-record of collaboration such as the regional city and growth deals across Wales. Leaders have valued the Minister for Housing and Local Government’s approach to engagement throughout the pandemic and will continue to engage constructively with her to ensure these new regional arrangements build on what works already and allow maximum local discretion and flexibility.”

-          ENDS-

But lockdown has not been a level playing field for everyone. Deep cracks in society have come to the fore, characterised by health, wealth, work and housing privileges, which have made this period so much more challenging for some than others and which have shaped our emergency response.

In Wales, Welsh Government has provided national leadership whilst community leadership has been provided by local government and local partners. Both levels of government have worked very closely in partnership. Councils have dexterously acted with urgency in introducing brand new ways of working and service reform to make sure that no-one is left behind. Staff in all parts of the country have shown huge determination to help in their communities. Whether it has been shielding and food boxes, securing housing for homeless people, the vital role of our social care workforce, hubs for key workers, the distribution of over £730m in business grants to over 60,000 businesses, the building of field hospitals, the successful roll-out of the Test, Trace and Protect programme, or the return of schooling before the summer holidays, councils have been relied upon time and again to make things happen at very short notice.

It is clear councils’ local intelligence, along with their proven innovation, resilience and adaptability, has been fundamental to responding to the crisis. That community know-how will be every bit as integral as we start to rethink our local services.

And that work is already underway. Ambitious Welsh Government plans for recovery are being informed by a broad range of renowned international experts and are focused around public services – sustaining new ways of working and transformation into the future; economic justice – both in terms of the impact on the most vulnerable in society and of a sustainable, locally based economic recovery given the twin impacts of Brexit and COVID 19; and a green recovery – locking in some of the positive ecological and environmental impacts of this period.

Council leaders have already had a series of talks with Ministers to ensure that local government helps to steer the direction of travel, where they have highlighted  several potential opportunities and priorities for recovery:

• Locking-in the transformation of organisational working and service delivery, the scope for increased used of digital, new more agile and multi-disciplinary ways of working with consequent impact on office usage, the environment and workforce well-being;
• Building on community resilience, co-production and the role of citizens - building on new behaviours, commitments and contribution of communities and volunteers;
• Opportunities to embed or expand modal shifts in transport, through active travel, public transport and alternative ways of working;
• Recognising the primacy of and reinvesting in sustainable social care given its interdependence from the NHS and ensuring councils have a clear role in reducing the fragility and fragmented nature of independent provision;
• Sustaining the rapid improvement and transformation of homelessness services and achieving the goal of ending homelessness in Wales;
• Rebuilding and reinvesting in modern local economies through local procurement frameworks, prudential borrowing for public sector construction, including strategic housing developments, modern modular methods of construction and boosting the construction sector. Rethinking the jobs and skills that will be needed in the future and the roles of local councils in an expanded and enhanced apprenticeship scheme;
• Investment in preventative health measures and the role of public health, including active travel and healthier lifestyles in terms of the food and drink offer and supply chain;
• Preserving and sustaining environmental improvements experienced during the lockdown, due to reduced emissions, footfall and traffic. Investing in renewable and low carbon energy projects and flood alleviation schemes, which will benefit the local economy and environment; and
• Promoting and sustaining the renewed political and public recognition and respect for public services and front-line workers, settling a lasting shared commitment to and mutual responsibility for community and public service outcomes.

Given the immediacy of the severe economic challenges facing Wales and its communities, leaders have called for an ambitious programme of investment in several local authority-led programmes which could help rebuild Wales’ communities and economy. These co-ordinated programmes would:

• help meet a range of existing economic, social and environmental policy priorities;
• create rapid demand for local contractors and their workforces, generating income and jobs in local economies;
• help Wales in working towards statutory decarbonisation targets; and
• increase resilience, making communities across the country, rural and urban, less susceptible to external shocks in future.

Councils have already shown they can be trusted to deliver at pace. The WLGA has therefore held exploratory discussions with Welsh Ministers for a mixture of supported local government borrowing, paid back over a number of years and income streams that would be generated (e.g. rental income or payments for energy) that could inject significant immediate investment into Wales’ communities and economies through local authority capital programmes. Authorities are currently developing a package of proposals to ‘build back better’ covering:

1. Affordable housing
2. An energy programme covering generation (facilities, smart grids and storage) and consumption (in buildings, vehicles)
3. Social care and primary care infrastructure
4. Continuation of the 21st century schools programme
5. Circular Economy infrastructure for better resource management
6. Better transport through well-maintained highways, more integrated public transport and enhanced provision for active travel
7. Innovation, digital enhancement and connectivity
8. Business / industrial property and support
9. Natural and physical flood defences, sustainable drainage, green infrastructure and sustainable tourism
10. Investment in human capital via skills training and apprenticeships.

These programmes would be mutually reinforcing, all enhancing the quality of life and well-being across all sections of the community and focusing investment in and through local providers and suppliers where possible. Crucially, many of these programmes are ‘shovel-ready’ and would have the double-benefit of addressing longstanding issues as well as pump-priming Wales’ economy.

This might seem like a bold shopping list. But over recent months, we’ve seen what can be possible when we put our minds to it; almost overnight we’ve achieved cleaner air, a surge in community engagement, modal shifts and brought homeless people off the streets.

It’s abundantly clear that papering over the exposed cracks of social inequality cannot be an option. We must all be ambitious in chasing after a fairer and more equal Wales that is guided by local need and local accountability.

-ENDS-