§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish his proposals for modernising local government in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [35834]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI have today placed in the Library of the House copies of the first two consultation papers in a series inviting views on the options for modernising local government in Wales.
The first paper sets the broad policy in the context of Wales and the Assembly. The second, on local democracy and community leadership, makes proposals for developing new ways in which councils can listen to their local communities and involve them in their decisions for devising new ways of working, for strengthening councils' roles as community leaders and for modernising local electoral arrangements.
Later papers in the series will deal with best value, aspects of the local government finance system and a new ethical framework for local government.
Responses to the consultation exercise will be drawn on to prepare a White Paper on Local Government in Wales, which will be published in the summer.