tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post4570626785900011656..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: Unfulfilled expectationsJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-55093178322317193562014-02-12T10:26:59.297+00:002014-02-12T10:26:59.297+00:00Council tax isn't the issue. Overall levels wi...Council tax isn't the issue. Overall levels will go up if there is no reorganisation, because of the cuts. Local authorities need more money to save services. <br /><br />Council tax wouldn't rise to pay for reorganisation. Council tax is local and doesn't go to Welsh Government. Reorganisation would have to be paid for out of the block grant, not by councils.<br /><br />The problem is the First Minister hasn't secured cross-party buy in or done a deal with anyone. Alex Salmond ran a minority government and was able to get cover for most policies. The only thing he couldn't really get through was local income tax if I remember correctly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-78349543444121428372014-02-11T10:21:15.534+00:002014-02-11T10:21:15.534+00:00I think in your post you cover where he went wrong...I think in your post you cover where he went wrong. He could have "tied" the parties in by having a cross-party commission where each party nominated a representative. Not because the representatives would be different people, but there would then be a formal link and party rank-and-file members and local govt people (in Labour especially) would see it as more of a collaborative vehicle. The FM hasn't done particularly well on this commission.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-21363813481080015442014-02-11T10:09:19.390+00:002014-02-11T10:09:19.390+00:00I think the First Minister pretty much realised a ...I think the First Minister pretty much realised a BIG mistake had been made when it was suggested to him that Council Taxes might have to rise to pay for this re-organisation.<br /><br />Whatever the end result, local taxation in Wales has to fall dramatically in real terms. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com