0:00:09 > 0:00:12Good evening.
0:00:12 > 0:00:21The rising cost of social care could force some councils to merge,
0:00:21 > 0:00:23according to a leading Welsh local government official.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24Steve Thomas,
0:00:24 > 0:00:26the chief executive of the Welsh Local Government Association,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29says social care costs are expected to double in the next 15 years.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32This report from our political correspondent Arwyn Jones.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Social care is the second-largest service within local government,
0:00:34 > 0:00:35costing around ?1.6 billion a year.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37It supports over 125,000 vulnerable people, and employs more
0:00:37 > 0:00:42than 70,000 workers.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45But according to Steve Thomas, the extra costs of care could be
0:00:45 > 0:00:52too much for councils, which are already struggling.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54With an increasingly ageing population, Mr Thomas
0:00:54 > 0:01:04predicts care costs will double over the next decade.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06He told BBC Wales's Sunday Supplement programme
0:01:06 > 0:01:07the only way councils
0:01:07 > 0:01:09will be able to cope will be to merge.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Authorities will struggle if the current prognosis in terms
0:01:11 > 0:01:12of finance continues.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15We know, as I said earlier, that the costs of social care
0:01:15 > 0:01:17will double in the next 15 years.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20That is the elephant in the room for us, in term of finances.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25That is the thing that is going to drive a lot of change.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28It also crowds up some of the other services.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31So, I think active consideration of either mergers of authorities
0:01:31 > 0:01:33or at least mergers of services will be commonplace
0:01:33 > 0:01:34in the next period.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39Last week the Welsh government announced an extra ?10 million
0:01:39 > 0:01:41a year to help ensure the social care sector is strong
0:01:41 > 0:01:45and is sustainable for the future.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Much of that money will help meet the extra costs associated
0:01:48 > 0:01:50with the introduction of the National living
0:01:50 > 0:01:51wage for social workers.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Elections will be held in all of Wales's 22 councils in May.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Whoever wins, councillors will have to grapple with a key sector whose
0:01:56 > 0:01:59costs are spiralling pilot the same time to cope with further
0:01:59 > 0:02:08cuts to their budgets.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10-- care sector.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Plaid Cymru Assembly Member, Adam Price, says the deal to change
0:02:13 > 0:02:14Tata steel's pension scheme is "unacceptable" and
0:02:14 > 0:02:15employees should reject it.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Some workers at Port Talbot have previously expressed concerns over
0:02:18 > 0:02:20plans which would mean accepting a less generous pension in return
0:02:20 > 0:02:22for future investment on site.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24The unions say they respect Mr Price's opinion, but it's vital
0:02:24 > 0:02:26the workforce understands the proposals - and maintaining
0:02:26 > 0:02:28steel production has been key to discussions.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Tata says it can't comment while the consultation
0:02:30 > 0:02:35process is under way.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37Parents in Wales could be prevented from smacking their children,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40under plans to change the powers of the national assembly.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43An amendment to the Wales Bill - going through UK Parliament -
0:02:43 > 0:02:44would clarify that powers over parental discipline
0:02:44 > 0:02:46would rest in Cardiff.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50In 2015 Assembly Members voted against banning
0:02:50 > 0:02:59the smacking of children - which would have come under
0:02:59 > 0:03:01the Violence Against Women and Domestic Abuse bill.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04Proposals promising to create 25,000 jobs in South East Wales have taken
0:03:04 > 0:03:05another step forward.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07The leaders of ten local authorities have endorsed an independent
0:03:07 > 0:03:09report into a ?1.2 billion regeneration plan.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11The report urges the leaders to move quickly.
0:03:11 > 0:03:17Caroline Evans reports.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20From Chepstow up to the heads of the valleys, the Cardiff capital
0:03:20 > 0:03:23region city deal is a plan to grow the economy over the next 20 years.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Signed in March last year, ?1.2 billion is to be invested
0:03:26 > 0:03:31into public transport and other projects.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34The aim, to create 25,000 jobs and attract a further ?4 billion
0:03:34 > 0:03:42in private sector investment.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45An independent report has found the region could be more prosperous
0:03:45 > 0:03:47and more sustainable if it becomes better connected and
0:03:47 > 0:03:51more interdependent.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Now the leaders of the ten local authorities covered by the plan have
0:03:54 > 0:03:57unanimously endorsed the report, saying they accept the need
0:03:57 > 0:03:58to develop a regional economic growth strategy
0:03:58 > 0:04:08with immediate effect.
0:04:10 > 0:04:11Video
0:04:11 > 0:04:11Video plans
0:04:11 > 0:04:18Video plans to
0:04:18 > 0:04:18Video plans to start
0:04:18 > 0:04:19But last month concerns were raised that Cardiff councillors may not
0:04:19 > 0:04:21The leaders endorsement means that work has now begun
0:04:21 > 0:04:22on an implementation plan.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24This will be considered by individual councils, including
0:04:24 > 0:04:34Cardiff, in the next few weeks.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Football - and Cardiff lost 2-1 against Fulham at a poorly attended
0:04:40 > 0:04:44Cardiff City Stadium in the third round of the FA Cup.
0:04:44 > 0:04:50The Bluebirds manager, Neil Warnock, said the sparse cloud was a sign
0:04:50 > 0:04:58of the FA Cup's declining status.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59-- crowd.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02He made five changes to his team as he admitted
0:05:02 > 0:05:11Cardiff's Championship fixtures took priority.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Meanwhile Swansea City's new boss, Paul Clement, is planning for a busy
0:05:14 > 0:05:15January transfer window, at the Liberty Stadium.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Clement lost his first game in charge yesterday
0:05:17 > 0:05:19in a third-round FA Cup tie at Hull.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22He says he's disappointed with the 2-0 defeat, in what he cold
0:05:22 > 0:05:23an evenly played game.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Now, we pushed for the equaliser at the end and they have hit the
0:05:26 > 0:05:29counterattack, so I think 2-0 flatters them, and I say to the
0:05:29 > 0:05:32players we are looking for a performance to back up what we did
0:05:32 > 0:05:33against Crystal Palace.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36For long periods I got it, and we have to
0:05:36 > 0:05:38build on the positive things that we were doing.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40A look at the weather - and it'll remain cloudy
0:05:40 > 0:05:41with some hill fog overnight.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Light rain and drizzle likely but it will stay frost free.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Rain will sweep across the country tomorrow morning, heavy
0:05:46 > 0:05:48in places and strong winds.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49Highs of ten Celsius.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52And that's it from the Sunday team here on BBC Wales Today.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55I'll be back with the latest at the slightly later
0:05:55 > 0:05:56time of 10:50pm tonight.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57Join me then.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Nos da.