LG 18 - Cyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru

Consultation - Proposed Local Government (Wales) Measure Committee

A response from WCVA (Saesneg yn unig)

November 2008

WCVA
Baltic House
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff
CF10 5FH

Introduction to WCVA

Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) represents the interests of voluntary organisations, community groups and volunteers in Wales.  It has over 2,100 organisations in direct membership and is in contact with many more through national and regional networks.

WCVA’s mission is to strengthen voluntary and community action at the heart of a civil society in Wales that:

- is inclusive and offers equality of opportunity;e
- empowers people to participate and fosters community leadership;
- encourages and promotes the independence of voluntary action;
- celebrates and reflects linguistic and cultural diversity and choice, and
- engages in genuine partnership with other sectors on a “who does what best” basis.

WCVA’s views and recommendations on the proposed Measure

WCVA thanks the proposed Local Government (Wales) Measure Committee for the opportunity to express its views on this matter. It would be prepared to give oral evidence to the committee if asked to do so.

- The correct terminology for the ‘voluntary sector’ is now the ‘third sector’. This has a broader definition which includes, for example, social enterprises. The wording in the Measure should reflect this.

Part One – Local Government Improvement

- Section 4(3): WCVA welcomes and supports the formal bringing together of the ‘community strategy objectives contained in the current community strategy’ with Welsh local government improvement, as well as the same for fire and rescue authorities and national parks.

- It is surprising that there is no mention of partnership working in the tackling of ‘wicked issues’ and the resultant provision of citizen focused services, in the proposed Measure, even if it is too early to mention Local Service Boards in this context.

- Citizen engagement is currently absent from this part of the Measure. In the light of Beecham and subsequent reports and policies, it is important that the Measure explicitly includes the integration of citizens and communities into the local government improvement processes, beyond the influencing of the community strategy. As the main expression of ‘organised citizens’ the third sector should be firmly included.

- It is recognised that this Measure cannot include the power to co-opt third sector representatives, with voting rights, onto scrutiny committees. It is understood that the National Assembly for Wales may have this power from next year and it will then be important to bring this about.

Part Two – Community Strategies and Planning

- Section 44: The concept expressed in this section: ‘community planning partners to make arrangements to involve and take account of the views of…representatives of the voluntary sector’ is welcomed. However, County Voluntary Councils should be explicitly included as the generic county level infrastructure bodies for the third sector.

In WCVA’s response to the earlier consultation on Local Vision – Preparing Community Strategies attention was drawn to the means of involving the third sector which is described in the Health, Social Care and Well-being Strategies (Wales) Regulations 2003, particularly in paragraphs 3 (c) and (e) below, and devising a ‘procedure for co-operation’ as described in (2) below. These regulations say:

‘Duty to co-operate with prescribed bodies
3. -(1) The responsible bodies shall co-operate in formulating and reviewing their strategy with -

(a) the NHS Trust or Trusts providing services to the local population;
(b) the Community Health Council or Councils representing the local population;
(c) the County Voluntary Council or Councils supporting voluntary organisations in the responsible bodies' area or areas or any part of them, or where there is no such Council, such other body as may be performing functions similar to those performed by such a Council;
(d) the Assembly; and
(e) any private, business, voluntary or other organisation which is concerned with or has an interest in the provision of health and well-being services to the local population.

(2) Before formulating a strategy or taking any action under Regulation 4, the responsible bodies shall in consultation with the persons or bodies listed in paragraph (1) prepare a procedure for co-operation with such persons or bodies’.

Similar wording with regard to community planning will help to ensure that the third sector is a fully active participant. The formulation of a formal ‘procedure for co-operation’ is highly desirable too. It would increase confidence in the likely production of better outcomes from community planning.

Recommendations:

1. Change the wording ‘voluntary sector’ to ‘third sector’ – see 1. above
2. Mention the tackling of ‘wicked issues’ and citizen focused services – see 3. above
3. Integrate citizen engagement into the local government improvement process – see 4. above
4. When it is legally possible, scrutiny committees should include third sector representatives with voting rights – see 5. above
5. Explicitly include County Voluntary Councils in Section 44 – see 6. above
6. Introduce a formal ‘procedure for co-operation’ requirement into the Measure – see 6. above

Timothy J Day
tday@wcva.org.uk
November 2008