Leading local public services were presented with Excellence Wales awards at the Welsh Local Government Association’s Efficiency and Innovation Conference today in Llandrindod Wells today.
Steve Thomas, WLGA Chief Executive said:
“Councils are facing unprecedented challenges in the current economic climate, however, today’s awards are a recognition of the commitment, effort and innovation of council staff and their partners in delivering truly remarkable services to the communities of Wales.”
“The Excellence Wales awards follow on from yesterday’s publication of the annual Local Government Performance Bulletin which showed improvement across 64% of performance indicators during the past year in all the key areas of waste, social services, housing and education.”
“Excellence Wales has highlighted a huge amount of outstanding activity, but I would particularly like to congratulate Bridgend, Carmarthenshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wrexham and the South East Wales Improvement Collaborative for their Excellence Wales status awards.
“The Excellence Wales scheme is not just about recognising and rewarding good practice, it is also a key part of our approach to improvement. We aim to support and share best or innovative practice, share expertise and experience so that we are not continually reinvesting or reinventing the wheel. By working together we will improve further our public services in Wales in this difficult financial environment.”
“In times of such financial challenge it is important that we do not lose sight of what is already being done well. We need to know and learn why services in one part of Wales are exemplary, have made significant efficiencies or transformed processes leading to better citizen outcomes. Transferring and embedding what we already know works well is a major focus of Excellence Wales.”
55 applications were submitted for this year’s awards, covering all local authorities and police, national park and fire and rescue authorities, as well as public service partners in health and the third sector.
From a shortlist of 26 finalists, Excellence Wales Status was presented to:
Our Homes- delivering good quality affordable housing
• Carmarthenshire County Council
Our Strong & Healthy Communities- protecting and improving quality and length of life
• Bridgend County Borough Council
Our Services – delivering high quality, citizen-centred services
• Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (Tackling domestic abuse)
• Wrexham County Borough Council (Waste management & PFI funded facility)
• South East Wales Improvement Collaborative (collaborative approach to children’s services commissioning – Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Cardiff, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan)
