Agenda item

·        To consider the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery in Wales (Remit attached)

·        To consider the Welsh Government’s Consultation Document – Continuity and Change: Refreshing the relationship between the Welsh Government and the Third Sector in Wales

·        The published remit of the Welsh Government’s Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery in Wales was presented for the Committee’s information.

The Head of Service (Policy) stated that the Welsh Government has commissioned a broad review of the way public services are governed and delivered in Wales via a Commission under the chairmanship of Sir Paul Williams which will report back to the Welsh Government by the end of 2013. The Officer said that consideration needs to be given to the outcome of the Commission and its recommendations as regards models for service delivery when those are published. A consultation process is currently in progress and there will be an opportunity to respond to the Commission through the WLGA and other means. The voluntary sector will be informed of the Council’s input to the Commission. There is a general view that the present structure of public service delivery in Wales is unsustainable in the long term.

The Chief Officer of Medrwn Môn said that it is important for the sector also to respond to the Commission especially given the perception that being able to take action at a local level is increasingly being superseded by regional arrangements.

The Director of Community informed Members that the Social Services’ experience of working does indicate that the thinking at national level is firmly in the direction of broader based working arrangements either on a regional or national basis and the challenge lies in reconciling this approach with evaluating outcomes in local terms and ensuring equal opportunity within the resources whilst at the same time responding to local needs.

It was agreed to note the position.

No further action arising.

·        The Welsh Government’s Consultation Document – Continuity and Change: refreshing the relationship between the Welsh Government and the Third Sector in Wales was presented for the Committee’s information.

The Chief Officer of Medrwn Môn said that the document above forms the basis of a consultation on the relationship between the Welsh Government and the Voluntary Sector. The Management Board of Medrwn Môn has already met to formulate a response to the consultation which has been instigated in part because of the pressure on public funding and because of the movement towards a regional approach towards service delivery. The Chief Officer of Medrwn Môn emphasised that the local dimension lies at the heart of the voluntary sector’s activities and the promotion of such local activities constitutes the strength of Medrwn Môn. However if the financial situation continues to deteriorate other arrangements might have to be considered e.g. working on a more regional basis. There is also a potential loss of funding to the sector in the establishment of alternative forms of support e.g. a bidding process to an Innovative Fund. The Officer said that it would be helpful if the County Council was to provide a response to the consultation document as well. He explained that the concerns generated by the document are around the loosening of local connections and the risk that with the advancement of regional arrangements and a regional approach, the focus on local activities and local needs will be lost.

It was pointed out that with a closing timescale of 8^th August for the receipt of observations there will be limited opportunity therefore for the Liaison Committee to gather its views and present them formally to the Welsh Government.

The Director of Community informed Members that she was the designated Lead Officer on this matter within the Council and would be co-ordinating the response to it.

There was agreement that should it be necessary a small representative group of the Committee be convened at short notice to allow the viewpoint of this forum/ third sector to be reflected within the Local Authority response to the Consultation document.

It was agreed to note the Consultation document.

Action Arising: Head of Service (Policy) to liaise with the Chief Officer of Medrwn Môn as necessary to make appropriate arrangements for the committee’s views with regard to the Continuity and Change Consultation document to be incorporated within the County Council’s response.