Welsh Government Reg Kilpatrick Director Local Government and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Reg Kilpatrick Director Local Government and Public Service Department Welsh Government

Community Councils You are an essential element of the

democratic structures in Wales

Time of Change

• Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011
• Delegation of services
• Local Government Democracy Bill.

The Power to Promote Wellbeing

• Take any action likely to promote or improve the

economic, social or environmental well-being of their area and/or persons in it

• Action should be informed by, and responsive to the

views of the people and communities in the area

• Draft guidance is currently out to consultation.

There are limits…

• A discretionary power
• Can only be used if the council is not restricted from

undertaking the action by other legislation including the Equalities Act 2010

• Cannot be used to raise funds
• Cannot be used to create bye-laws for the regulation
• f conduct.

Using the New Power

• Enhance local service delivery
• Promote sustainable development
• Improve mental, social and physical health
• Tackle poverty and deprivation
• Reduce inequalities and promote equalities
• Promote economic development
• Improve community safety.

Possible Actions

• Give financial assistance to any person
• Enter into arrangements or agreements with any

person

• Co-operate with, facilitating or co-ordinating the

activities of, any person

• Exercise on behalf of any person any functions of that

person

• Provide staff, goods, services or accommodation to

any person.

Local Government Democracy Bill

• Paper ‘Promoting Democracy’ published in May and

detailed the proposals for the Local Government Democracy (Wales) Bill

• Draft Bill to be published in late November 2012
• Likely to complete its passage through the Assembly

during summer 2013

• 91 consultation responses received to the White

Paper, 35 from town or community councils.

Local Government Boundary Commission and Mathias Report

• Power to propose changes to community boundaries

when making proposals following county electoral reviews

• Duty of principal council to keep communities under

review likely to become time bound

• Potential new power to carry out community reviews.

Community Councils and Websites

• Information about membership and business must be

accessible to the public electronically

• Members of the public must be able to communicate

with their community council electronically

• Welsh Government are considering what support could

be available to community councils and will consider publishing guidance.

Looking Forward

• Time of opportunity and challenge for all layers of local

government

• Chance for the town and community council sector to

shape its own future

• Chance for community councils across Wales to take
• wnership and drive forward change and improvement
• Support available from One Voice Wales and Welsh

Government to utilise these opportunities and deliver for the people of Wales.