To the Commission on the Powers and Electoral Arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales :-
February 2003-02-02
Dear Commissioners,
I write to give my personal views on the future of the Assembly. I am an elected City & County Councillor on the Swansea Unitary Authority in the rather unique position as being the only member of that Council who does not belong to any political group or political party – not even to the "Independent" group! I say this, to explain that my views come with the advantage of not being tainted by the dogma of politics, however, my views are at the disadvantage of lacking the peer group collegiate discussions afforded by membership of a party group. Therefore, my views on specific issues may appear rather amateur -–I make no excuse for that – we are not all geniuses!
Before considering your consultation questions, I’d like to get straight in and make a few bold personal assertions. I’ve always believed that Wales could stand alone outside the UK Union and within the European Community with a closer link to our Celtic cousins within that community. It therefore follows immediately that I would personally like to see the powers of the Assembly evolve with far greater powers. We don’t have to keep wanting to ape Scotland’s Assembly as a finishing point. Scotland is different from Wales in that it was a modern stand alone country in Europe until as recent as 250 years ago with the relics of those institutions still in being before the recent devolution. Wales on the underhand has been "England’s little butty" for not far off 800 years.
However, there’s one big caution we need to exercise before rushing in to further devolved powers – that is the stature of those currently "running the show" in Cardiff Bay. [edited] To give any immediate greater powers to such an ineffectual lot would seriously damage Wales. It has to be said now, not in malice but in caution.
Answers to consultation Questions :-
Page 2 – How does the Assembly impinge ?
Of course the assembly impinges on everyone’s lives in Wales. Any body that "carved up" the Welsh public spending purse has an enormous effect on everyone’s lives. This is such a general sweeping question it would need an answer the size of a "tome" sized book to answer it properly. Whoever framed this particular question needs to reconsider their intellectual position!
Page 2 The Act and powers :-
Within the Union of UK the Act certainly allows the effective expectations to be met – within the financial constraints that exist everywhere.
Page 3 Extending powers and Tax raising ;-
Read my preamble on page1 – until the present cohort of A.M.s retire or are deselected then it would be dangerous to give a "Parish Council talking shop" any more powers. Once the calibre of membership of all parties is improved then I would certainly advocate greater powers and a Local Income Tax system – and such a system, be also used by the Unitary Authorities in place of Council Tax.
Page 3 Single consensual body ;-
This was the intellectual dream of Ron Davies as secretary of State for Wales and his then team at the Welsh Office. It’s so sad, that for personal reasons, that this able politician’s visions for the future of the Assembly have faltered. We need to revisit the ideals of Ron Davies and re visit "inclusiveness".
Page 4 Westminster relationships ;-
There lies in the future great potential for grave conflict between a future Westminster Conservative Government and a traditional Welsh New Labour Assembly Government. Much intellectual thought needs to be put into how to avoid this. I do not profess to know the answers, but it’s obvious how the potential exists which will be enormously damaging for Wales.
Page 4 Secretary of State’s role :-
Since the Assembly came in to being the Wales’ Office has become a bit of a joke. It was farcical how few letters of State the Wales Junior Minister had the other year – it was less than ten if I remember. A Community Council Clerk would get more in a week! The present Secretary Of State Peter Hain seems to be devoid of reality – for example his recent posturing on Wind Energy production is so flawed it makes a mockery of being a UK Cabinet member. [edited]
Page 5 Law making :-
This present "parish Council" cannot even make adequate secondary legislation to deal with Laburnum Hedge growth in neighbour disputes, so how can they be ready for primary law making? However, it should be the ultimate goal.
Page 5 Costs of any new system ;-
One would assume in theory that it would cost less elsewhere eg far less in Whitehall if greater costs went to greater administration at Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast, but then that’s not the real world – so no doubt costs would escalate at each end to pay the mandarins. This needs very serious audit scrutiny of the systems. It should not deter the evolution of devolution.
Page 6 Overlapping :-
I have no experience of this, but in the real world I do not doubt that this must exist. If so it needs to be eliminated.
Yours sincerely, these are my personal views and perceptions,

Ioan M. Richard , Councillor
Community Councillor since 1976;
Borough Councillor 1985 - 1996 – and one time Borough Council Opposition leader;
City & County Unitary Councillor 1996 since inception of Unitary Authorities;
School Governor and Chair of a school Governing body;
Community Activist NOT a member of any political group;
Family man ; married since 1969, three children & six young grand children – to keep me in contact with young persons;
Worked in coal; steel and education. Age 58yrs.