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Big shake-up in public services Big shake-up in public services
(10 minutes 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 pubic 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.
BEECHAM RECOMMENDATIONS Reducing bureaucracy, simplifying grant regimes, less inspection and regulationMuch more joint workingNo major reorganisation of structures but review in 2011Willingness to embrace "mixed" provision including public, private and not-for-profit sectorsEnhanced role for scrutiny in the assembly and local government Piloting contracts between the assembly government and partnerships of local organisationsManaging performance better, rewarding good performance and intervening earlier when neededRedress where service failure occursBEECHAM RECOMMENDATIONS Reducing bureaucracy, simplifying grant regimes, less inspection and regulationMuch more joint workingNo major reorganisation of structures but review in 2011Willingness to embrace "mixed" provision including public, private and not-for-profit sectorsEnhanced role for scrutiny in the assembly and local government Piloting contracts between the assembly government and partnerships of local organisationsManaging performance better, rewarding good performance and intervening earlier when neededRedress where service failure occurs
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 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 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.
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.Ahead of the announcement, Sir Jeremy said it was necessary to "make the Welsh pound go further" in the provision of public services.
But he added that the public also had to accept changes in services locally.But he added that the public also had to accept changes in services locally.
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.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.
"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.""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."