The Implications for Planning of Local Government Reorganisation in Wales: Purpose, Process, and Practice

Local government in Great Britain is currently undergoing reorganisation. The reorganisation process is being progressed separately in each of the three countries of Great Britain—England, Scotland, and Wales. Reorganisation itself has always been a sensitive issue, and the current process is no exception. Political implications of the process have often tended to cloud the practical implications for the delivery of local authority services. In this paper support by senior members of the planning profession in Wales for central government's reorganisation proposals is measured. The content of the proposals is examined and the principal planning-related issues that arise from them are identified. The paper highlights current debate on the implications of local government reorganisation for the future delivery and nature of planning in the principality, with particular reference to three key areas: Planning in a unitary local government structure, the nature of strategic planning within a reorganised local government structure, and the role of community and town councils in the planning process. It is shown that despite general dissatisfaction with central government's regard for the planning function in its proposals for reorganisation, there is considerable support for the underlying principles and content of those proposals. The paper is concluded by progressing the debate to the form of local authority planning postreorganisation.