PROPOSALS to merge Gwynedd and Anglesey will be debated by councillors this week, despite reservations on both sides of the Menai Strait.

According to a report that will be discussed on Thursday, maintaining a connection with the communities it serves will be forefront in Gwynedd council’s negotiations over the Welsh Government’s Green paper on reorganisation of local authorities.

Under the proposed model, which aims to slash the number of councils from 22 to 10, the new authority would stretch from Cemaes in the north to Aberdyfi in the south – a 102.5-mile journey that takes motorists almost two and a half hours to navigate.

When similar proposals were mooted in 2014, opposition to a merger was stronger on the island, with councillors voting by 25 to one to keep Anglesey separate.

Gwynedd, however, was more receptive to the idea, with 47 members in favour and only five against.

But, when the merger proposals were announced early this year, Gwynedd council leader Dyfrig Siencyn raised concerns that it could lead to politicians “taking their eyes off the ball”.

He added: “Whilst reorganisation could lead to possible financial savings in the long term, it’s a concern that further prolonged discussion could mean that politicians on all levels take their eye off the important work of ensuring that we deliver the services local residents desperately need, at a time when councils are doing their utmost to maintain central services under severe financial constraints.”

A report which will be discussed by Gwynedd’s full council on Thursday will ask members to respond to the Government Green paper.

Among the recommendations are that the council should set out certain principles as part of any discussions, including ensuring that public services are delivered at the “most local level possible”.

“We wish to see a meaningful role for town and community councils in terms of them being responsible for and delivering some services in any pattern of public services developed for the future,” notes the report, which was written by chief executive Dilwyn Williams.

“We believe that leadership is more important than the size of an authority.

“We consider Gwynedd Council to be of an appropriate size, but as the council’s main responsibility is to protect the interests of Gwynedd’s citizens, we should not close the door on any possibility which could lead to cost savings in management, central support or back office costs, which could in turn reduce the cuts which the council might have to make over the next few years.

“Accordingly, the council is prepared to take part in any discussion which would facilitate such an investigation in order to establish the potential benefits which a merger would offer, but any final decision would need to clarify the benefits against weakening of accountability.”

The report also notes that a continuation of Gwynedd’s Welsh language policy would be a fundamental principle that the authority “would not compromise”.

It says: “Accepting that there will be some functions that must be delivered by larger authorities, a balance needs to be struck between authorities of an appropriate size and retaining links with the communities they serve in order to protect local accountability and democracy.”

It’s expected that Anglesey council will discuss its response separately when the full council meets on May 15.