The first evaluation report was published of the Welsh Assembly Government?s 'Communities First' programme (designed to tackle social disadvantage in the poorest communities by empowering individuals and communities to work with local service providers). It said that the WAG was right to prioritize investment in capacity-building of local community organizations and groups. The main obstacle to progress was a lack of partnership working with agencies who were responsible for local services - there had been no evidence so far of the long-term changes in mainstream programmes that would lead to service provision in deprived areas being more effective in resolving local issues.
Source: Danny Burns et al., Interim Evaluation of Communities First: Final Report, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report | Report (Welsh)
Date: 2006-Sep
A review (chaired by Jeremy Beecham) examined local public services in Wales, both devolved and non-devolved, to see how their delivery could be made more effective and responsive to the needs of citizens. It said that Wales could become a model for how services were delivered in small countries: but to achieve this the programme of reform would need to go faster and deeper. It ruled out re-organization of councils as a way forward.
Source: Beyond Boundaries: Citizen-centred local services for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2080 1384)
Links: Report | WLGA press release | CIPFA press release | BBC report
Date: 2006-Jul
An article examined the impact on rural issues of devolution to the Welsh Assembly.
Source: Peter Midmore, 'A contradictory combination: the Assembly and rural Wales', Contemporary Wales, Volume 17 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
An article examined policies supporting rural economic development in the mid-Wales region.
Source: Nerys Fuller-Love, Peter Midmore, Dennis Thomas and Andrew Henley, 'Euro-commentary: scenario analysis and regional economic development', European Urban and Regional Studies, Volume 13 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
A report said that more emphasis was needed on community participation if the Welsh Assembly Government's 'Communities First' programme were to fulfil its intended objectives.
Source: Walking the Talk: Communities on Communities First, Anti-Poverty Network Cymru (No contact details provided)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Apr
An audit report made recommendations for improving the measurement of performance by local authorities in Wales.
Source: Wales Programme for Improvement Annual Report 2004/2005, Wales Audit Office (029 2026 0260)
Links: Report | WAO press release
Date: 2006-Apr
An article said that housing renewal had a major role to play in economic and social regeneration in areas of council-owned housing. It focused on recent experiences in Wales.
Source: Robert Smith, 'Housing stock transfer: investing in renewal as a tool for sustainable regeneration', Housing Studies, Volume 21 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Mar
A report provided an overview of the housing system as a contributory factor in shaping rural Welsh society and its economy, in order to thereby provide a firmer foundation for considering possible policy responses.
Source: The Role of the Housing System in Rural Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (02920 821718)
Date: 2006-Feb
