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Big shake-up in public services Big shake-up in public services
(about 4 hours later)
The Welsh Assembly Government is to create a series of new groups to help those who deliver public services work more closely together.The Welsh Assembly Government is to create a series of new groups to help those who deliver public services work more closely together.
Local Service Boards will be in charge of directing services that involve a number of different bodies.Local Service Boards will be in charge of directing services that involve a number of different bodies.
Ministers have been told that services in Wales from refuse collection to care for elderly people are delivered in an inefficient and patchy way.Ministers have been told that services in Wales from refuse collection to care for elderly people are delivered in an inefficient and patchy way.
They have promised changes "on an unprecedented scale".They have promised changes "on an unprecedented scale".
The announcement is in response to a report published in July by Sir Jeremy Beecham, a former chairman of the Local Government Association.The announcement is in response to a report published in July by Sir Jeremy Beecham, a former chairman of the Local Government Association.
Sir Jeremy said public services from policing and hospitals to schools and rubbish collection, were overly complicated, suffered from skill shortages and organisations "looking after their own patch" rather than collaborating to improve things.Sir Jeremy said public services from policing and hospitals to schools and rubbish collection, were overly complicated, suffered from skill shortages and organisations "looking after their own patch" rather than collaborating to improve things.
ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT CHANGES New local service boardsLocal service agreements with BoardsNational standards for key servicesOther standards to be agreed locallyCustomer care action planEfficiency drive to save £600M a yearConsultation on plans after ChristmasASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT CHANGES New local service boardsLocal service agreements with BoardsNational standards for key servicesOther standards to be agreed locallyCustomer care action planEfficiency drive to save £600M a yearConsultation on plans after Christmas
The assembly government's response is to say it will be putting itself at the heart of changes, with a series of national standards so that people can expect the same level of service across Wales.The assembly government's response is to say it will be putting itself at the heart of changes, with a series of national standards so that people can expect the same level of service across Wales.
It is to create the local service boards - probably 22 to match the number of councils in Wales - with a unit in Cardiff Bay to monitor their progress.It is to create the local service boards - probably 22 to match the number of councils in Wales - with a unit in Cardiff Bay to monitor their progress.
The local service boards will start in the next financial year, with some gaining budgets for some services in 2008-9. The boards will gradually take on more power and gain bigger budgets.The local service boards will start in the next financial year, with some gaining budgets for some services in 2008-9. The boards will gradually take on more power and gain bigger budgets.
Each board will also involve organisations for which the assembly government does not have direct responsibility, such as the police.Each board will also involve organisations for which the assembly government does not have direct responsibility, such as the police.
The changes aim to ensure local service boards make public services fit around people's needs.The changes aim to ensure local service boards make public services fit around people's needs.
However, the boards will have no legal powers, at least to begin with. Instead, they will build on existing partnership arrangements.However, the boards will have no legal powers, at least to begin with. Instead, they will build on existing partnership arrangements.
Clinging on to small school six-forms, clinging on the every last hospital bed, may actually prevent a better service being provided Sir Jeremy BeechamClinging on to small school six-forms, clinging on the every last hospital bed, may actually prevent a better service being provided Sir Jeremy Beecham
Ministers insisted they were not creating a new level of bureaucracy but instead are bringing together those bodies which do the work currently.Ministers insisted they were not creating a new level of bureaucracy but instead are bringing together those bodies which do the work currently.
They said their plans involve "change on an unprecedented scale" but they are also following the Beecham report's advice and ruling out a wholesale shake-up of local council, for the time being.They said their plans involve "change on an unprecedented scale" but they are also following the Beecham report's advice and ruling out a wholesale shake-up of local council, for the time being.
Ahead of the announcement, Sir Jeremy said it was necessary to "make the Welsh pound go further" in the provision of public services. Sir Jeremy Beecham said he felt encouraged by the response to his report.
But he added that the public also had to accept changes in services locally. "It is action focused and constructive, demonstrating a serious commitment to tackling all the issues we identified," he said.
He said: "People in the community have to recognise that opportunities are being lost. Clinging on to small school six-forms, clinging on the every last hospital bed, may actually prevent a better service being provided. Liberal Democrat Assembly leader, Mike German, also welcomed the plans but said he had worried about some aspects.
"Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom needs to face up to the kind of choices that will actually lead to better services, even if they are not quite in the same familiar places that we currently enjoy." He said: "I have a number of concerns, not least the over-centralising top-down tendancy that runs through these proposals - and indeed has been a hallmark of this Labour government."
Plaid Cymru said the proposals lacked ambition and would only increase bureaucracy. A spokesman said they were expecting new ideas but said the report identified problems but made "little progress on how they will be addressed".
Welsh Conservative local government spokesman, David Melding said it was "too little too late" and promised that an assembly government run by his party would give councils more freedom to decide their own priorities.