An independent councillor has launched an astonishing attack on Anglesey’s ruling group by opening old wounds and claiming that “party politics has no place in local government.”
On Wednesday, members voted by 23 votes to six in favour of the Plaid Cymru-led administration’s budget proposals – which will see council tax bills rise by 9.5%.
This was despite the council’s independent opposition group tabling its own amendment that would see a rise of 5% instead, but failed to gain the support of any other councillors including the non-aligned Labour group.
This led to a fierce attack from the opposition’s finance spokesman, who claimed that the authority’s reserves were “very healthy” until Plaid Cymru took power.
But a leading Plaid Cymru figure retorted that they did not want to see a return to the “dark days” of a “scandal hit” authority that regularly hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Historically, since its formation in 1996 , the authority has been led by various coalitions of independent councillors.
But following years of allegations regarding corruption, “petty politics” and infighting, 2011 saw the Welsh Government finally lose patience.
Commissioners were parachuted in from Cardiff Bay, citing a breakdown in relations between senior officers and councillors after a damning audit report highlighted serious concerns over its running.
Before setting the authority “free” in 2013 , the Welsh Government insisted on amendments to the voting system which saw the number of councillors slashed from 40 to 30 and 11 new multi-member wards replacing the traditional single-member units.
This led to accusations from former leader, Bryan Owen, that decision makers were “gerrymandering” the system to favour political parties.
But according to the island’s MP, Albert Owen, “For too long Anglesey has had independents who are always changing groups and people cannot hold them accountable.”
In the subsequent elections, the independent group managed to retain control thanks to a coalition with the three member Labour group and the sole Liberal Democrat, with Plaid winning 12.
But four years later, Plaid Cymru gained power after winning 14 of the 30 seats , pushing the independents into second place.
In the days that followed, a coalition was formed which saw seven independents cross the floor to support Plaid, leaving the remaining six to form the main opposition “Annibynnwyr Mon” group with the sole Liberal Democrat councillor.
But speaking on Wednesday, one veteran councillor attacked the ruling group, claiming that “party politics should be kept to the Assembly and Westminster.”
“A Plaid Cymru council, a party that prides itself on a manifesto that claims to put the welfare of the electorate at the top of their agenda, is asking you to join forces and put the rates up by 9.5%,” said Cllr Bob Llewelyn Jones.
“This is unheard of on Ynys Môn, rate rises were typically capped at 3%.”
He went on to say, “Historically this council has never been run by a political party, its always been independent.
“We don’t answer to Cardiff but the electorate of Anglesey, politics should be kept to the Assembly and Westminster.
“Party politics has no place in local government, local government has to be answerable to local people.”
But a member of the ruling group hit back and pointed to the “years of failings” that finally led to Welsh Government intervention.
“I don’t want to raise council tax but we have no choice,” said Plaid’s Carwyn Jones, the portfolio holder for economic development.
“Cllr Jones speaks of the land of milk and honey pre-2013, but I must say that as an Anglesey ratepayer that I did not view it that way when the council was always on (current affairs programme) Week In Week Out and ongoing scandals being highlighted, councillors being suspended and commissioners being brought in.
“When I was elected in 2013, one thing that scared me was the level of debt facing the authority, and this dating back to a time when money was sloshing around.
“I don’t want to go back to a time when councillors are being suspended and commissioners having to come in to take over.
“We’ve restored Anglesey’s good name since 2013.”
The Labour leader was also critical of the standard of debate in the chamber which saw several political jabs landed during the almost three hour debate.
“Plaid Cymru, Labour, everyone seems to be getting the blame,” said Cllr John Arwel Roberts.
“In the last administration, to be fair, the opposition didn’t give us too many problems. They accepted matters as we’d discussed beforehand, brainstormed, and knew where we all stood.
“I was minded to abstain but when I hear the opposition group unable to answer questions (on their budget)… I can’t believe what I’ve heard today.”
