Local government yesterday set out its collective “offer” for improving public services in Wales during the biggest public sector conference to be held post elections and the Referendum.
Over 250 delegates consisting of political leaders across local and national Government in Wales, opinion formers, private and voluntary sector experts are meeting in Swansea today during the WLGA Annual Conference 2011.
The aim is to share their priorities for improving public services against a economic backdrop of restricted public sector finances, tough budgetary decisions and service challenges.
Opening yesterday’s event, Cllr Meryl Gravell, WLGA Presiding Officer said:
“We can all be proud at the way in which local authorities in Wales have risen to the challenge of managing this very difficult financial challenge. We have all had to find ways of making savings and at the same time protecting front-line services as far as we possibly can. By finding innovative ways to make our services more efficient – and often by pooling resources and collaborating with each other or with other partners such as the Local Health Boards – we have managed to protect services for the most vulnerable in our communities, and to soften the impact of these changes.”
“One of our challenges in local government in Wales is to publicise a little better just how much collaboration and joint working goes on already.”
Welcoming the new Welsh Government but also setting it some challenges, Cllr Gravell added:
“As someone who sat on the Commission which paved the way for the referendum I am pleased that the people of Wales chose to bring power a little closer to home. We hope that the Welsh Government is ready for its new term as there are real Welsh challenges. Just as in local government, Welsh Government faces some tough decisions over the next few years. We wish the First Minister the very best in his negotiations over the Barnett Formula and to secure a fairer share of funding for Wales, working with his counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, whatever the outcome of these negotiations, it is clear that we will have no choice but to continue our quest to find more and more innovative ways to make our services still more efficient and cost effective.”
Elaborating on Cllr Gravell’s bold vision for improving through collaboration, Cllr Davies, WLGA Leader focussed on three key priority areas for local government: improving educational outcomes, increasing the pace of collaboration and engaging in a meaningful partnership compact with the Welsh Government.
Highlights from each of these areas included: –
1. Education
Cllr Davies said: “Local Government is fully committed to supporting the Education Minister’s commitment to raising the standard of education in Wales. All Leaders see education as their number one priority. We recognise that our children and young people deserve better. To support the Welsh Government in creating a world class learning environment for Welsh pupils, the WLGA is leading on innovative work that will see a greater delegation of budgets to schools and an innovative approach to identifying and sharing best practice across Wales (via the “Learning from our Best” project which is being delivered alongside Professor David Reynolds, Southampton University). The WLGA is also working with the Welsh Government to develop a new categorisation system of school performance.
However, whilst local government recognises its responsibility, Cllr Davies said “improving education is a shared responsibility and addressing this issue must be the top priority for government. If we truly want to invest meaning into the label of Wales as a “smart little country” and change it from a platitude to a reality, then this is a political imperative.”
2. Collaboration agenda
Setting out local government’s priority to improving services through an increased pace of collaboration, Cllr Davies said:
“My caveat for collaboration is: – if it doesn’t pass the test of providing a better service or save on resources then don’t do it. Collaboration must be seen as a means of adding value and not a dogma that is pursued at all costs.”
He added: “Local Government has been asked to come forward with a “big offer” on the concept of the most appropriate delivery of services: local, regional or national. The WLGA has invested huge energy into this debate and we embrace this approach fully. With confidence I can say that the collaboration agenda is progressing at some pace across many Welsh councils who are driving forward transformation through regional boards, project management and collaborative service groupings.”
“We thank the Minister for Local Government in supporting local government to take this agenda forward and would like to assure him that delivery remains our watchword. As our Minister he will be in a position to celebrate the scale and ambition of our collective offer which could amount to £800m of services through regional collaboration.”
3. Improving services through partnership
Finally the WLGA leader called on the Welsh Government to recognise its responsibility in improving public services through a partnership approach. Whilst local government is fully committed to a compact with Welsh Government, “it must be a two way street” said Cllr Davies.
During the Conference Cllr Davies announced that this will be his last Conference address as WLGA Leader and Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council. He will be standing down in next year’s local government elections.
The WLGA Annual Conference 2011 is being held in the Liberty Stadium Swansea.
