North Wales Assembly Member and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Mark Isherwood AM, was left confused this week by the Local Government and Public Services Secretary’s response when he questioned him over Flintshire County Council’s campaign, #BackTheAsk, to get a fair share of Welsh national funds.
Mr Isherwood, who last week spoke in the Assembly Chamber of his support for the campaign launched by Flintshire County Council last month, this week asked the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, Alun Davies AM, what dialogue he has had with the Chief Executive of Flintshire County Council regarding the campaign.
He said:
“What dialogue have you had with the Chief Executive of Flintshire County Council since he wrote to all Councillors there on 16 November, asking them to back the #BackTheAsk campaign to get a fair share of Welsh national funds, which was, on 20 November, backed unanimously by members of all Parties to take, quote, 'the fight down to the Local Government Department in Cardiff'?”
Responding, the Cabinet Secretary said:
“I haven't spoken to the Chief Executive, Colin Everett, on this subject in that time frame, but I will say this: as the Chief Executive was making that statement in Flintshire, the Leader of Flintshire County Council was with me in Cardiff in Cathays Park, telling me that he had no wish to reopen the funding formula or debate or discussions around that formula.”
Mr Isherwood added: "That's very odd, when his Flintshire Labour Group members voted to back this campaign!"
