Communities and businesses across Central and West Wales are set to benefit from better protection and support as a result of the local authority leaders across this region signing an agreement to deliver their public protection and regulatory services regionally in the future.
At a meeting of the WLGA Co-ordinating Committee in Cardiff on Friday, leaders of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys County Councils have made a firm commitment to work in collaboration with one another and through the Welsh Assembly Government’s National Enforcement Priorities. This will include pooling knowledge and expertise to deal with local public protection and regulatory issues and to implement solutions.
Following the signing Cllr Keith Evans (Ceredigion), WLGA Regulatory Spokesperson said:
”The work of local authority Public Protection and Regulatory Services has a significant impact on local communities and also contributes to the wider strategic ambitions that the Welsh Assembly Government and WLGA are striving to deliver.
“Local regulation influences everything from the general health of communities to delivering consumer protection and animal health. It protects our environment and ensures the food we eat is safe, as well as being a key contributor to reducing alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour. Local economies and businesses are supported too, with a wide range of advice.
“We (signatories) recognise the strategic importance of the National Enforcement Priorities, therefore our charter builds on partnership arrangements that already exist. At a time when public finances are under pressure and councils are looking closely at service priorities, this is a creative solution to reducing risks and dangers to citizens, businesses, our environment and animal health and welfare. By working collaboratively we can ensure that public protection and regulatory services can be maintained in the region.”
Cllr Evans added:
“This collaborative charter has excellent opportunities for improving consistency in service delivery and protecting the interests of communities and businesses across the region. Our close link with the Assembly’s National Enforcement priorities reflects the important contribution that local authority regulatory activity can make to the national, strategic priorities by controlling risks through targeted activity and mutual assistance. The Assembly’s National Enforcement Priorities reflect issues of concern which we recognise in our own communities. By pooling knowledge and expertise on a regional basis and using this to support and implement local solutions, then we will be able to achieve better outcomes for citizens and businesses across the region.”
The Welsh Assembly Government’s National Enforcement Priorities for Wales were published in April 2010.
