THE leader of the Vale of Glamorgan council has lashed out at the latest proposals for council mergers in Wales, calling Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews' plans "bizarre".

Councillor Neil Moore responded to new maps revealed by the Welsh Governmen which illustrate plans to merge Wales' 22 local authorities into either eight or nine councils.

When plans to reduce the number of local authorities first emerged, the Vale of Glamorgan intended on remaining as a stand alone authority. Then, when plans were drawn up proposing the Vale merge with Cardiff, the council expressed a preference in voluntarily joining with Bridgend and submitted a declaration of interest to Leighton Andrews, who rejected it.

The latest map of Mr Andrews plans once again pairs the Vale with Cardiff, and council leader Neil Moore said that he is "bitterly disappointed" that "yet again, the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s preferred option has been ignored".

He said: "It is even more galling, when the same Minister had previously rejected our joint proposal for a merger between the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend Councils because it would cross a health authority boundary.

"Yet this new proposal sees Bridgend join with RCT and Merthyr Councils and by doing so perversely crosses health authority boundaries.

"This is a bizarre proposal. As is the option to have three authorities in North Wales, included one that was also rejected as a voluntary merger."

Cllr Moore added that he was also disappointed that the latest statement won't dispel the cloud hanging over Local Government in Wales, the people who work within it and those who rely on the services it provides.

He attacked the minister's declaration that "this is not a final decision" but merely the "next phase" in an ongoing process of consultations.

"This is less than helpful," said Cllr Moore, "and in my opinion could mean that local government reorganisation may not be a certainty, particularly in light of recent announcements from other political parties with Wales, who now appear to be making their opposition to these proposals known, albeit late in the day.

“It is clear to me that there is still a task ahead in trying to persuade Welsh Government to rethink their proposals.

"Please be assured that I will continue to do my utmost and work for the best interests of the citizens of the Vale of Glamorgan.”