Does the Cabinet Secretary expect other Welsh local authorities to federate in the way that Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent County Borough Councils have?
The adoption of a federated model of governance is Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen County Borough Councils’ choice. This innovative approach offers a significant learning opportunity for all principal councils.
Federating governance is not the only model of collaboration. The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 provides for voluntary mergers and joint committees, and joint Cabinets are enabled by the Local Government Act 2000.
Therefore, outside of functions prescribed to corporate joint committees by the 2021 Act, the extent of collaboration between councils is entirely for local determination.