If Labour win next May's Welsh Assembly election, the party have pledged to legislate to strengthen the role of backbench councillors. The pledge follows an investigation which found councillors were unhappy because they had so little to do, with many of them prepared to quit the council. Welsh Labour's pre-manifesto policy document lauds their role as a 'citizen's champion', but says both backbenchers and the full council need to be strengthened in the decision-making process. The party have also promised legislation requiring other public services in Wales to collaborate with local authorities, and for them to co-operate with each other. After the last local government reorganisation in Wales in 1996, when eight counties were replaced with the current 22 unitary authorities, the local government minister has put pressure on councils to co-operate. And this has worked over transport. But major problems persist in health and welfare. A senior official said particular difficulties remained in dealing with adult social care, children's services, youth services and provisions for the mentally ill.
