National Assembly for Wales

Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee

Committee Inquiry: Local Service Boards

Call for Evidence

The Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the progress of the six Local Service Board (LSB) pilots in Wales and how LSBs might develop in future, and is calling for those with an interest or expertise in this area to submit written evidence.

Background

Terms of Reference

Questions to consider in preparing evidence

Written Consultation Responses

Final Report

Minister's Response

Background

The Report of the Beecham Review, Beyond Boundaries: Citizen-Centred Local Services for Wales, made a range of recommendations for the Welsh Assembly Government and other Welsh bodies. Two recommendations for the Assembly Government were:

  • The piloting an ambitious, realistic set of Partnership Action Contracts (PACts) with joint outcomes negotiated with local delivery organisations.
  • Considering piloting a local public service board model after the outcome of PACts has been evaluated. Report of the Beecham Review, Beyond Boundaries: Citizen-Centred Local Services for Wales, 2006.

In Delivering Beyond Boundaries, its response to the Beecham Report, the Assembly Government announced the establishment of Local Service Boards (LSBs) in 2007-08. Welsh Assembly Government, Delivering Beyond Boundaries, 2006. It anticipates that these will grow out of the existing community strategy partnerships. Their role is to pursue joint action where it will mean better outcomes for citizens, based on ambitious joint planning and integrated delivery of services.

Six development projects were subsequently announced in Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd, Neath Port Talbot and Wrexham.

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Terms of Reference

The Committee has agreed the following terms of reference for the inquiry:

To examine the early progress of the six Local Service Board (LSB) pilots in Wales and to make recommendations in respect of the future development of Local Service Boards, with reference to:

  • The process of putting together "local leadership teams” in the pilot areas and the effectiveness of collaboration between core bodies and stakeholders
  • The monitoring and evaluation of progress in setting up Local Service Boards (LSBs) to date and the "action learning” process in their development.
  • The agreement of Local Delivery Agreements (LDAs) in the pilot areas, including the extent to which local citizens have been involved.
  • The relationship between LSBs and existing partnership structures, in particular the community strategy partnerships and sub-regional structures such as the WLGA Regional Boards.
  • The scrutiny and accountability of LSBs.
  • How partners that cover several unitary authorities engage with multiple LSBs.
  • The role of Local Authorities in relation to LSBs.
  • The role of the Assembly Government officials in respect of LSBs.
  • The role of "Spatial Plan” Ministers to LSBs in their area.
  • The extent to which Local Public Service Boards and Local Area Agreements in England have informed the development of the Welsh model.

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Questions to consider in preparing evidence

In preparing responses to the call for evidence, the following issues are ones that we would like you to give particular attention to:

  • The general progress of the pilot LSBs and how the roll out of LSBs to other local authority areas is proceeding;
  • The role and composition of "local leadership teams” that have been assembled in the pilot areas and how effective collaboration has been between core bodies and stakeholders;
  • How progress of LSBs is been monitored and evaluated and what has been learnt so far through the "action learning” process;
  • How Local Delivery Agreements (LDAs) were reached in the pilot areas and priorities identified, including the extent to which local citizens have been involved;
  • The relationship between LSBs and existing partnership structures, in particular the community strategy partnerships and sub-regional structures such as the WLGA Regional Boards;
  • The scrutiny and accountability of LSBs - how are they scrutinised and to whom are they accountable?
  • How partners, such as fire and police authorities, that cover several unitary authorities engage with multiple LSBs;
  • The role of Local Authorities in relation to LSBs;
  • The role of the Assembly Government officials in respect of LSBs;
  • The extent to which Local Public Service Boards and Local Area Agreements in England have informed the development of the Welsh model.

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