THE man in charge of Welsh local authorities has postponed Anglesey Council elections for a year.
Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant announced today (Tuesday, January 17) that the election would be moved to May 2013, to allow Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales to complete its review of electoral boundaries on the Island.
Mr Sargeant added: “It will also provide stability while the Council proceeds towards a wider recovery from the problems which the Auditor General described.”
Mr Sargeant added that the five commissioners appointed to run the council last March would stay until he was satisfied that it could “manage its own affairs in a sustainable way”.
He added: “This will not depend on the timing of elections.
“I am closely monitoring the progress the Council is making under the Commissioners’ stewardship and will make a further statement to the Assembly in due course.”
Boundary Commission for Wales’ proposal to install 11 multi member wards and reduce the number of councillors from 40 to 30.
Councillors believe that the changes lead to over-large wards, create a greater workload for members, would lack local accountability and force a merge of differing rural and urban communities.
Anglesey Council leader councillor Bryan Owen welcomed the clarification offered by Mr Sargeant’s statement, but added that the body remained “fundamentally opposed to a delay, the proposed boundary changes and introduction of multi-members wards on the island.
He added: “However, today’s decision allows us to concentrate on our main priority: serving the people of Anglesey.”
Anglesey MP Albert Owen said that the postponement was “regrettable but necessary,” and added that Sargeant’s hand had been forced.
He said: “This is now the only way forward. I, and I believe most residents on Ynys Môn, understand and accept this.
“What I believe is most important now is to prepare for the 2013 council election so that we have a Council which is fit for purpose, one that is representative of the people of Anglesey and one that we can be proud of.”