ANGLESEY councillors who hinder the council’s recovery are in the last chance saloon.
That was the message from Local Government Minister Carl Sergeant today after outlining how the council should rectify problems identified by the Auditor General last year.
“I don’t write Anglesey off - many members of the council have the heart and soul of Anglesey in sight,” he said.
“However, a small minority are frustrating the council’s ability to operate properly - they are in the last chance saloon.”
In his speech, Mr Sargeant said that councillors had betrayed the people of Anglesey by focusing debates on personal rivalries.
He added that political infighting should cease immediately, that the role of the Standards Committee and scrutiny provision should be strengthened, and that the appointment of Council Chairman, committee chairs and members to outside bodies should be carried out on a non-political basis.
Mr Sargeant praised group leaders’ efforts to tackle poor member behaviour.
However, he stressed that would consider stringent measures if improvements were not made by the start of the next municipal year, including considering the council’s future as an autonomous body.
Other options available include establishing and dissolving committees; making external and internal appointments; amending the council’s constitution and examining the level of allowances and delegated powers.
“I do not want to contemplate the consequences of failure and I doubt you would want to either,” he said. “Failure to complete the tasks required will drive me to consider the future of the council as an autonomous body. Do not force me to go there.”
Council leader Councillor Clive McGregor added that while improvements had been made, there was still a long way to go.
“Today, we have received a stark message from the Minister – we must change or the consequences for Anglesey will be dire,” he said.
“As council Leader, I am firmly committed to recovery and any councillor who does not want to be a part of this process should resign from the council and make way for people who will help to make a difference.”