I am committed to delivering more powers to Welsh local government and I want to give those new powers to councils that are robust and sustainable enough to use them. I hope that this will be an enriching and positive debate. All too often in the past, we have all focused solely on the challenges facing councils, whether those are financial or otherwise. I hope that we can now focus on the opportunities that we can help create for local authorities in Wales—councils with more freedom and powers, which are bolder and more innovative, and which can deliver the best solutions for their communities and shape their futures.

We all want to see more people coming into local government to serve as councillors. We need councillors, old and new, who reflect the diversity of our communities and are value driven, capable and energetic, working hard to improve people’s lives for the better. We also all want to see strong democratic debate and accountability rooted in the communities we serve. And that includes community and town councils, which play an important part in the delivery of strong local government. While the role of councillors and their relationship with the communities they represent has changed dramatically in the last 10 years, they remain the life blood of local government. Communities have high expectations for public services and councillors across Wales are making some very tough choices. I want to ensure that they have the support, recognition and reward they need and deserve for the crucial role that they play in our democracy.

Presiding Officer, I simply do not believe that this vision of powerful, robust and energised local government can be built without a serious debate about local government structures. Wales needs strong, effective, empowered local authorities that can weather continued austerity and build local democratic structures fit for future generations. Our local authorities need to have the capacity and capability to develop and implement the bold new solutions demanded by the increasing challenges they face.

I know local government has made some very real efforts to change, adapt and invest for the future, but I also understand that in the face of UK Government cuts, there are limited options for ensuring the future sustainability of local services. There is a general acceptance that things cannot carry on as they are and a general acknowledgement that more money, even if it were available, would not necessarily solve all of these problems

Working together regionally remains crucial. It is central to our model of delivery in education and social services, and has been led proactively by local government through the city and growth deals. This must continue and I know that local government leaders remain committed to working regionally. I am committed to working with local government to secure change. I have already announced proposals to increase participation and to improve the democratic process for everyone in Wales, and will continue to work hard to deliver this shared vision.

The Green Paper consultation that I am launching today sets out the proposals to explore the possibility of creating larger, stronger councils. The Green Paper sets out for debate possible options on how this can be achieved. These options include voluntary mergers, a phased approach with early adopters merging first, followed by other authorities, or finally, a comprehensive programme to create a new structure for local government.

Presiding Officer, bringing local authorities together, whilst making a range of changes designed to reinvigorate the democratic process and strengthen the role of elected members, offers us an opportunity to deliver democratically accountable, high-quality and sustainable public organisations that can address the many economic and social changes and challenges that our communities face now, and in the future.

I believe it is important, as part of this debate, to have an agreed future footprint for local government. While I believe that such a future footprint is crucial, I am open to a discussion on what this might look like. The Green Paper sets out an approach that reflects the thinking of the Williams commission and builds on feedback from previous consultations to stimulate discussion to arrive at an agreed approach. I recognise that there are a number of challenges in creating larger, stronger authorities. These challenges are not insurmountable; they are potentially complex and overcoming them will require commitment and leadership at all levels of Government. However, in themselves, they are not reasons for avoiding delivering changes to help transform and sustain our public services for the future.

I believe that local government has the vision and ambition to transform our communities and that we, as the Welsh Government, need to equip them to realise those ambitions. I am making proposals today, but I remain committed to a conversation and would welcome any additional proposals from others. Presiding Officer, I hope now that we can have that positive, constructive and optimistic conversation about how we empower and strengthen local government for the future.