08/01/2017 BBC Wales Today

Good evening.

The rising cost of social care could force some councils to merge,

according to a leading Welsh local government official.

Steve Thomas,

the chief executive of the Welsh Local Government Association,

says social care costs are expected to double in the next 15 years.

This report from our political correspondent Arwyn Jones.

Social care is the second-largest service within local government,

costing around ?1.6 billion a year.

It supports over 125,000 vulnerable people, and employs more

than 70,000 workers.

But according to Steve Thomas, the extra costs of care could be

too much for councils, which are already struggling.

With an increasingly ageing population, Mr Thomas

predicts care costs will double over the next decade.

He told BBC Wales's Sunday Supplement programme

the only way councils

will be able to cope will be to merge.

Authorities will struggle if the current prognosis in terms

of finance continues.

We know, as I said earlier, that the costs of social care

will double in the next 15 years.

That is the elephant in the room for us, in term of finances.

That is the thing that is going to drive a lot of change.

It also crowds up some of the other services.

So, I think active consideration of either mergers of authorities

or at least mergers of services will be commonplace

in the next period.

Last week the Welsh government announced an extra ?10 million

a year to help ensure the social care sector is strong

and is sustainable for the future.

Much of that money will help meet the extra costs associated

with the introduction of the National living

wage for social workers.

Elections will be held in all of Wales's 22 councils in May.

Whoever wins, councillors will have to grapple with a key sector whose

costs are spiralling pilot the same time to cope with further

cuts to their budgets.

-- care sector.

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member, Adam Price, says the deal to change

Tata steel's pension scheme is "unacceptable" and

employees should reject it.

Some workers at Port Talbot have previously expressed concerns over

plans which would mean accepting a less generous pension in return

for future investment on site.

The unions say they respect Mr Price's opinion, but it's vital

the workforce understands the proposals - and maintaining

steel production has been key to discussions.

Tata says it can't comment while the consultation

process is under way.

Parents in Wales could be prevented from smacking their children,

under plans to change the powers of the national assembly.

An amendment to the Wales Bill - going through UK Parliament -

would clarify that powers over parental discipline

would rest in Cardiff.

In 2015 Assembly Members voted against banning

the smacking of children - which would have come under

the Violence Against Women and Domestic Abuse bill.

Proposals promising to create 25,000 jobs in South East Wales have taken

another step forward.

The leaders of ten local authorities have endorsed an independent

report into a ?1.2 billion regeneration plan.

The report urges the leaders to move quickly.

Caroline Evans reports.

From Chepstow up to the heads of the valleys, the Cardiff capital

region city deal is a plan to grow the economy over the next 20 years.

Signed in March last year, ?1.2 billion is to be invested

into public transport and other projects.

The aim, to create 25,000 jobs and attract a further ?4 billion

in private sector investment.

An independent report has found the region could be more prosperous

and more sustainable if it becomes better connected and

more interdependent.

Now the leaders of the ten local authorities covered by the plan have

unanimously endorsed the report, saying they accept the need

to develop a regional economic growth strategy

with immediate effect.

Video

Video plans

Video plans to

Video plans to start

But last month concerns were raised that Cardiff councillors may not

The leaders endorsement means that work has now begun

on an implementation plan.

This will be considered by individual councils, including

Cardiff, in the next few weeks.

Football - and Cardiff lost 2-1 against Fulham at a poorly attended

Cardiff City Stadium in the third round of the FA Cup.

The Bluebirds manager, Neil Warnock, said the sparse cloud was a sign

of the FA Cup's declining status.

-- crowd.

He made five changes to his team as he admitted

Cardiff's Championship fixtures took priority.

Meanwhile Swansea City's new boss, Paul Clement, is planning for a busy

January transfer window, at the Liberty Stadium.

Clement lost his first game in charge yesterday

in a third-round FA Cup tie at Hull.

He says he's disappointed with the 2-0 defeat, in what he cold

an evenly played game.

Now, we pushed for the equaliser at the end and they have hit the

counterattack, so I think 2-0 flatters them, and I say to the

players we are looking for a performance to back up what we did

against Crystal Palace.

For long periods I got it, and we have to

build on the positive things that we were doing.

A look at the weather - and it'll remain cloudy

with some hill fog overnight.

Light rain and drizzle likely but it will stay frost free.

Rain will sweep across the country tomorrow morning, heavy

in places and strong winds.

Highs of ten Celsius.

And that's it from the Sunday team here on BBC Wales Today.

I'll be back with the latest at the slightly later

time of 10:50pm tonight.

Join me then.

Nos da.