An official review group examined the role of community transport in Wales, identified best practice and made recommendations for developing it. It said that community transport in Wales is less well developed than in England, and does not generally appear to be accepted as part of the public transport system.
Source: Wales Community Transport Review Action Plan, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Dec
An Audit Commission report in Wales called for an end to the practice of taking court action to recover rent arrears that are due to delays in processing housing benefit. A second report offered a practical guide for councils and housing associations on how to prevent and manage rent arrears.
Source: Rent Arrears, Audit Commission (0800 502030) and University of Cardiff | Closing the Gap, Audit Commission and University of Cardiff
Links: Arrears report | Closing the gap report | Closing the gap (Welsh) | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A paper provided draft guidance to local authorities in Wales on developing local arrangements for charging for 'Supporting People' services (services for older people, those with a disability or other vulnerable people, to continue to live independently in their own home), and for paying subsidy to service providers in respect of users who cannot afford to pay the full cost of the service.
Source: Charging and Financial Assessment for Recipients of Supporting People Services, National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5111)
Links: Paper
Date: 2002-Nov
Local authorities in Wales are failing to deliver results on housing, according to an article. It criticised the 'tyranny of partnership' that exists between central and local government in Wales, and said that the 'cosiness' of this partnership has reduced the Welsh Assembly government's appetite and ability to deal with the current problems on housing issues.
Source: Peter Williams, 'Stand and deliver! Tackling the housing challenges in post-devolution Wales', in Steve Wilcox (ed.), UK Housing Review 2002-03, Chartered Institute of Housing (024 7685 1752) and Council of Mortgage Lenders, for Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Review summary | CML press release
Date: 2002-Oct
The Welsh Assembly Government announced that it will be seeking additional powers in line with those already held by the Greater London Assembly to enable the development and implementation of a better public transport system in Wales.
Source: Press release 2.7.02, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5537)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
The National Assembly for Wales launched a new housing model, under which local authority housing would be transferred to tenant-centred organisations.
Sources: Community Housing Mutual Model Rule Set, National Assembly for Wales, available from Wales Co-operative Centre (029 2055 4955) | Press release 8.5.02, National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5111)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-May
