Welsh Government needs to speed up local government collaboration – says National Assembly Committee

4 December 2013

The Welsh Government needs to speed up the process of collaboration between local authorities according to a National Assembly for Wales Committee.

The Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee conclude that any future local government structure should focus, as a priority, on the way services should be delivered.

The Committee is urging the Welsh Government to show strong leadership with penalties and incentives to drive collaboration forward.

But it also wants to see more of a focus on areas where there will be the most beneficial outcomes for collaboration rather than across the board.

The Committee was told by witnesses during its inquiry that partnerships and sharing resources was not a ‘magic bullet’ and so recommends any such arrangements are the subject of rigorous cost and benefits studies.

“Local authorities across the country are currently considering the impact of budget cuts caused by the economic climate,” said Christine Chapman AM, Chair of the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee.

“Tough decisions lie ahead but the Committee believe that the quality of service is paramount and should take priority.

“That is why we want to see the Welsh Government show strong leadership in speeding this process up with more of a focus on areas where there will be the most beneficial outcomes for collaboration rather than across the board.”

The Committee makes five recommendations in its report including:

• That strong Ministerial direction, with penalties and incentives, is now needed to drive the collaboration agenda forward in local government;

• The Welsh Government should focus on the areas in which collaboration will have the most beneficial outcomes, rather than pursuing a general policy of encouraging collaboration across the piece; and,

• The Welsh Government should undertake further analysis of the costs and benefits of collaboration between local authorities, including non-financial benefits, and publish its findings.

Report: Progress with Local Government Collaboration