PLANS to merge the Vale of Glamorgan council with Bridgend council have been rejected by the Minister for Public Services.

Leighton Andrews AM, has announced that he is "not persuaded" by any of the three Expressions of Interest submitted by authorities across Wales.

Vale council Leader Neil Moore said that he was "deeply saddened" by the decision.

Among these Expressions of Interest was a proposal submitted by the Vale council in a bid to merge with Bridgend as opposed to Cardiff City council as was recommended by the Williams Commission report at the start of 2013.

Mr Andrews said that the Expression of Interest had failed to provide evidence of "exceptional circumstances" that warrant changing the Welsh Government's preferred option of a merger with Cardiff.

The other two submissions were for mergers between Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent council, and Conwy and Denbighshire council.

Mr Andrews said: "I have considered each Expression of Interest carefully against the criteria set out in the Prospectus. I am disappointed to report that on the basis of this assessment I am not persuaded that any one of these Expressions of Interest sufficiently meets the criteria for moving ahead to prepare a full Voluntary Merger Proposal.

"While there were some positive aspects to each Expression of Interest, the prospectus was clear on what would be required.

"This included the need for both applicant authorities to set out a compelling vision for the new authority and to provide assurance that post merger arrangements would reduce complexity and increase coherence and coterminously of public services.

"Where proposals diverged from our full preferred map authorities were expected to provide evidence of exceptional circumstances as to why they should be approved.

"We also needed to have confidence that authorities would be able to develop comprehensive merger proposals by June 30."

Mr Andrews confirmed that he has spoken with the Leaders of all the authorities involved to advise them of his decision and will be writing to each of them shortly setting out his reasoning in more detail.

Councillor Neil Moore, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said: "The interests of our residents have been our primary concern and this is why I am deeply saddened by the decision of Welsh Government.
"In light of today’s announcement we will be considering what options are now left available to the Vale of Glamorgan and how the needs of our residents can be best met.”

There will now be a second opportunity for voluntary mergers to be agreed by November of this year.