Alun Cairns wants "English" decentralisation for Wales.

It was of course the original National Left that promoted the idea of Decentralised  Socialism . I don't know if this still appears on Plaid Membership cards  but it is a policy that still needs implementing. 

So it is interesting to see Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns calling for more powers should be handed to Welsh regions - rather than ministers controlling everything from Cardiff, says the  

On the 20th anniversary of the referendum that created the assembly, the UK cabinet minister said too much power had been "centralised".

Wales should respond to the challenge posed by new elected mayors in Bristol, Manchester and Merseyside, he said.

A former AM who switched to Westminster, Mr Cairns suggested the creation of English mayors meant there needed to be a new drive to move power out of Cardiff.

He said

"I think it's fair to say that the devolution of powers from Whitehall to English cities has created a new dynamic, and Wales needs to respond to the challenge," 

"Centralising powers in Cardiff doesn't answer the needs of all parts of Wales. So there could well be the need for greater devolution to authorities, to individuals across the whole of Wales rather than keeping them in Cardiff Bay at all stages."

Of course to give powers away you must have them in the first place

True Bristol has had an elected mayor since 2012, with new regional mayors for both Merseyside and Greater Manchester created this year. The regional mayors have significant powers over issues such as housing, planning and transport.

But this is a English solution to their democratic deficit and calls for devolution of power for our neighbours over the boarder.

If you are going to devolve powers downwards then of course you need somewhere for it to go.

You could create City Mayors in Cardiff but why should that city have powers denied to Gwynedd for example.

I have long argued that we should create 5 or 6  super councils to cover the likes of Health, Education and Policing and have  smaller "Community based Councils to deal with the rest'

If that is not acceptable power should go where it is most effective including the existing County Councils  and that includes all the way down to Community Councils.

Certainly I believe that such councils should have more resources to support and instigate local projects, such as my local Community Council have helped my local Library which was closed by the County Council but is now run by volunteers and which has extended it s role in my community.

We should take Mr Cairns at his word and consider decentralising from Cardiff but that does not mean copying Westminster solution , but apply our own that is best suited to our own communities.