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Independent Intelligent Information One Wales : a progressive agenda for the government of Wales (LGIUandSTEER)

26/7/2007 Author: Juliet Morris Reference No: PB 1553/07L This covers: Wales Overview

Talks between the political parties following the National Assembly for Wales elections in May concluded, earlier this month, with an agreement between the Labour Party in Wales and Plaid Cymru to govern in coalition. Last week, First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, announced his new ministerial team of Labour and Plaid Cymru Assembly Members (AMs) and described One Wales as “the blueprint for our next four years in Government”. In effect, it provides the strategic agenda for the new Welsh Assembly Government.

One Wales – a progressive agenda for the government of Wales draws together a range of commitments made in the respective parties’ manifestos. It expresses a shared commitment to governing in coalition for a full term of office (i.e. until the elections in May 2011) and sets out a wide range of specific actions which the coalition government intends to progress:

“This programme for government is ambitious yet realistic. It is radical yet deliverable. It makes best use of the powers and resources available to the government and puts on the agenda whether further changes are needed."

This briefing outlines the broad direction and details the actions of most interest to local authorities. These are most notable in relation to:

z governance - at local and national levels z regional economic development z schools' organisation z affordable and social housing z rural support and development z sustainability and energy. Briefing in full

One Wales : a progressive agenda for the government of Wales

“Our ambition is no less than to transform Wales into a self-confident, prosperous, healthy nation and society, which is fair to all.”

One Wales reflects commitments to social justice, sustainability and inclusivity and proposes a comprehensive programme of government, for a full four year term, which addresses themes across the whole policy spectrum.

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A strong and confident nation

The focus is upon strengthening governance in order to “transform people’s lives” and is proposed in three key areas:

z full law-making powers for the Assembly –with a referendum “at or before the end of the Assembly term” and the establishment, within six months, of an all-Wales Convention to undertake the preparatory work; z Assembly funding and finance – reviewed by an independent Commission and to include a study of the Barnett Formula, of tax-varying and borrowing powers and the feasibility of corporation tax rebates in the Convergence Fund region; z public services - a new strategy for the continual improvement of local services in Wales which embeds “the imperatives of efficiency and citizen-centred services in the context of the Wales Spatial Plan”, a review of public service bodies' governance structures to ensure alignment with this improvement agenda, a commitment to developing Local Service Boards and Agreements and the establishment of a Strategic Capital Investment Board to ensure best use of capital finance.

A Healthy Future

Health service improvements will “put democratic engagement at the heart of the NHS” and “guarantee public ownership, public funding and public control of this vital public service”, including:

z a new approach to NHS reconfiguration – a moratorium on existing proposals for community hospitals and greater emphasis on local accountability, consultation, participation and agreement; z changes to NHS finance and management – ending, by 2011, the internal market, the use of private sector hospitals by the NHS, the Private Finance Initiative and competitive tendering for NHS cleaning contracts; z health service developments – new multi-purpose well-being centres and an additional £190 million in public health and health improvement; z access to health care – waiting times reduced, free prescriptions maintained, an extension of the Health Inequalities Fund, a Charter for Patients Rights, legislation on NHS redress requirements and a new Rural Health Plan; z social care – new legislation to address domiciliary care services' charges, the development of not-for-profit nursing homes, a review of the Carers Strategy, new legislation on the rights of carers and on vulnerable children, looked-after children and children in poverty.

A Prosperous Society

A set of actions are proposed to create “a strong and enterprising economy and full employment based on quality jobs” in which everyone has “the opportunity to achieve a reasonable standard of living, no matter where they live or what they do” and best use is made of all the available tools “from public procurement and support for private investment to European Union funding to enable businesses to flourish and expand”:

z job creation across Wales - a labour market strategy with a long term goal of full (80%) employment, guaranteed investment in all regions of Wales, a 'green jobs' strategy and exploration of a public sector investment agreement with the European Investment Bank; z enterprise and business growth - an All-Wales Purchasing Code of Practice to increase public purchasing from business in Wales, a single investment fund for business support with provision for social enterprise and environmental incentives, an enhanced business

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rate relief scheme and greater support for tourism; z skills for jobs - a targeted programme to improve skill levels, better links between education and entrepreneurship, procurement which 'incentivises' training opportunities for the unemployed and support for Union learning initiatives.

Living Communities : a home for all

Efforts centre around tackling the shortage of affordable housing which is identified as one of the greatest challenges facing communities in Wales:

z housing need – new legislation to suspend the Right to Buy in areas of housing need, a revised Technical Advice Note (TAN) 20 to allow Language Impact Assessments for planning purposes and powers for local authority to permit 100% affordable housing on some development sites and to control the conversion of full-time dwellings into second homes; z access to housing - grants for first-time buyers and the inclusion of a ‘rural enterprise worker category’ in TAN 6 affecting essential dwellings in the countryside; z the supply of affordable housing - increased funding for social housing, a social housing requirement in all sizeable new housing developments, greater freedom to local authorities to designate non-development sites for the sole purpose of affordable housing, new Section 106 guidance on ‘affordability’ and ‘local’ criteria, a radical increase in the supply of publicly-owned land for local, affordable housing and a statutory duty on local authorities to prepare a specific affordable housing delivery plan; z 21st-century housing quality - a review of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard and possible extension of the compliance time-table, ensure the availability of impartial advice to tenants during stock transfer ballot processes, a restriction on re-ballots within a local authority's term of office and additional funding for the Supporting People programme.

Living communities : Access for all

A Wales is envisaged “where travelling between communities in different parts of Wales is both easy and sustainable”. Proposals take account of the needs of those without a car and the unavoidable costs of car-ownership for those in non-urban communities by prioritising a “modern, integrated public transport system”:

z regional and national transport - improved North-South travel, a new all-Wales Traws Cambria integrated transport network with electronic cross-ticketing, improved arrangements for regional and national strategic planning for transport and £50 million investment in major road link improvements; z accessibility - use of new local powers to develop new bus routes between communities, linking up cycle routes on an all-Wales basis, enhancing rail discounts for pensioners, investing in community transport, cycling, safe routes to school and 20 mph zones, new legislation to improve school transport and a plan to move freight from road to rail.

Learning for Life

The role of education for children, young people and through adult life and the contribution of “a learning culture …to achieve social justice, ensure economic productivity and meet the challenges of new technology” will be supported by:

z a new right to learning to 18 - a broader-based baccalaureate incorporating vocational and academic learning, a new Welsh-medium education requirement on local authorities and national Welsh-medium Education Strategy; z funding reforms - a move to three year funding arrangements, a review of the school

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funding formula and continuation of the existing grant arrangements for small and rural schools; z young children – additional finance to progress and extend universal, affordable childcare; z 21st-century schools - reduced class sizes for three to seven year olds, further support for community schools and out-of-school activities, increased physical education and sporting opportunities including a retention of playing fields, continued investment in school buildings and free school breakfasts, a pilot scheme for laptops for children, new legislation on Additional Learning Needs, an inquiry into disengagement from learning and assessments of the financial implications of the new 14 – 19 curriculum and of the impact of in-migration, particularly from accession countries; z adult learning - extra assistance with student debt and maintenance of existing fee levels to 2009/10, increased availability of apprenticeships, progress on the Webb Report recommendations on Further Education and a new National Youth Service Fund.

A Fair and Just Society

“The government will be unswerving in its adherence to the principles of inclusion, pluralism and fairness. We will ensure that all sections of the Welsh population are engaged as citizens.”

The activities emphasise the need to tackle the causes of problematic behaviour and to protect vulnerable individuals or groups from harm or discrimination:

z equality – work with the new Single Equality Body in Wales and Interfaith Forum to disseminate good practice within Welsh public bodies, new ways of engaging citizens and a new strategy to reduce hate crime; z citizenship and community cohesion – a new overarching, all-Wales community cohesion strategy and units in every local authority area to encourage positive citizenship, anti-social behaviour tackled through approaches such as mediation, reparation orders, child safety orders and acceptable behaviour contracts, a new All-Wales Alcohol Reduction Strategy, increased availability of substance misuse counselling services and a review of harm-reduction programmes; z community regeneration - 'positive and purposeful' engagement with community representatives, extra help for pensioners with council tax, integrated and cross-cutting initiatives aimed at local-level economic development and regeneration, a refocused Post Office Development Fund which builds upon their contribution to local service delivery, the roll-out of Communities Next (from Communities First), a strategy to ensure the comprehensive availability of benefit advice across Wales and continued support for the voluntary sector's contribution to policy formation; z child poverty - an extra Children’s Bond for all children entering school, a statutory duty on public agencies to contribute to ending child poverty, an ‘expert group’ to address the wider policy requirements necessary to meeting Wales’ child poverty targets and increased availability and capacity of credit unions; z an effective youth and criminal justice system - prioritisation of preventative intervention and non-custodial solutions for young people, an examination of effective models of cross-cutting practice (between the youth justice system and education, housing and mental health services) and consideration of the devolution of the criminal justice system.

A Sustainable Environment

The programme spans the global and the local:

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“We will not digress from playing our part in tackling global environmental challenges, in caring for our environment and in placing the family farm at the heart of our strategy for sustainable food production and rural development.”

z climate change - a Climate Change Commission for Wales, a 3% reduction in annual carbon reduction-equivalent emissions in areas of devolved competence by 2011, a commitment to targets on the carbon neutrality of public buildings and support for a 'carbon sink' of indigenous woodlands, with a tree for all new babies and adopted children, creating a Welsh National Forest of native trees; z rural development - a 2007/13 Rural Development Plan based on the 2007 Tir Mynydd funding level, a major initiative on local food procurement, research into the particular needs of deep rural areas and maximum restrictions on GM crops; z sustainable energy production and consumption - a comprehensive Energy Strategy spanning technologies, planning and environmental issues and addressing citizens' and communities' information needs, support for a study on the Severn Barrage concept, a review of TAN 8, a revision (upwards) of energy from renewables targets, research and development into renewable technologies (on and off-shore) and the promotion of energy efficiency, renewable energy production and energy cropping in agriculture; z local environment – new legislation and targets for local environmental quality, recycling and improved waste management, a new initiative to support local environmental improvements and devolution of building regulations.

A Rich and Diverse Culture

“We celebrate Wales as a community of diverse cultures: united for our common good, celebrating our many traditions, ensuring that Wales uses its two national languages to their full potential, and bringing people of all origins together” and the actions proposed encompass:

z the Welsh Language – new legislation to confirm official status for Welsh and English, linguistic rights in the provision of services and the establishment of a Language Commissioner, increased funding and support for Welsh-medium magazines and newspapers and research into population shifts in order to promote balanced populations in all parts of Wales; z arts and culture – continued free access to museums and galleries and free entry to Assembly-funded heritage sites for Welsh pensioners and children, implementation of the Stephens Review recommendations on the future development of the arts, a statutory obligation on local authorities to promote culture and encourage partnership to deliver high-quality cultural experiences for communities, a major programme of capital investment in public libraries and support for the St. David’s Day campaign; z sport and physical activity - continued funding for schemes to provide and increase free swimming for older people and children, further investment in school, after-school and grassroots level sports to ensure five hours of physical activity per week for each school child, promote mass participation in walking, cycling and running, and foster a sense of public ownership in relation to the countryside, the coastline and urban green spaces; z Wales in the World - a more strategic approach to putting Wales on the world map, widening Wales' membership and effectiveness in appropriate international bodies, promoting the 'Wales Brand' and raising the international profile of Wales as a place for people to live, work, study, visit and do business, contributing to international development and supporting the campaign for Wales to become a fair trade nation.

Coalition Government Arrangements

The agreement concludes by clarifying its purpose - “to form and maintain in partnership the devolved Government of Wales, until the dissolution of the Assembly before the election in

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2011” - and its set of guiding principles - “good will, mutual trust, and agreed procedures which foster collective decision-making and responsibility while respecting each party’s distinct identity”.

The importance of collective responsibility and the need for close consultation between the First Minister, Deputy First Minister; other Ministers and the AMs of the two parties are perceived to be “the foundation of the Government’s success”.

Operational details, including Ministerial appointment processes, the roles of the First and Deputy First Minister, shared financial governance, Government/backbench liaison, party identity and dispute resolution procedures are also laid out.

Coalition Cabinet appointments

Following ratification of the agreement by both parties, the Cabinet has undergone a substantial revision with Ministerial allocations now finalised:

z First Minister - Rhodri Morgan (L) z Deputy First Minister/Economy and Transport - Ieuan Wyn Jones (PC) z Counsel General/Minister for Assembly Business and Communications and Leader of the House - Carwyn Jones (L) z Education, Children and Young People - Jane Hutt (L) z Finance and Public Service Delivery - Andrew Davies (L) z Health and Social Services - Edwina Hart (L) z Heritage - Rhodri Glyn Thomas (PC) z Rural Affairs - Elin Jones (PC) z Social Justice and Local Government - Brian Gibbons (L) z Sustainability and Housing - Jane Davidson (L)

Changes have also been made to the Deputy Minister appointees:

z Social Services - Gwenda Thomas (L) z Regeneration - Leighton Andrews (L) z Skills - John Griffiths (L) z Housing - Jocelyn Davies (PC) Additional Information Covers

z Wales z Democracy, Governance, Councillor issues, Standards board, Neighbourhood governance, Regional governance, Local government information Question

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