The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has reported a 37% increase since 2019 in the number of new complaints received about public services and the behaviour of local councillors. In its annual report and accounts for 2023/24, the watchdog added that it had received 1,110 complaints about local councils, a 28% increase over the last five…
The Welsh Parliament’s Local Government and Housing Committee is to hold an inquiry into the role, governance and accountability of the community and town council sector. It said the terms of reference for the inquiry are to examine: To share your views electronically, please send to SeneddHousing@senedd.wales, or by post to Local Government and Housing Committee, Welsh Parliament,…
A study on care pathways and placement stability for adolescents in Wales has been published by the Family Justice Data Partnership – the first in the UK to examine both entry to care and change of legal status beyond initial entry to care for this population. The authors noted that the elevated number of adolescents…
A bill proposing to remove private profit from the care of looked-after children has been introduced by the Welsh Government today (20 May). The move would make Wales the first country in the UK to remove profit from both residential and foster care for children. This comes as concerns have been raised over excess profiteering…
National Park Authorities (NPAs) in Wales should improve on a number of areas including member officer relations, as well as the appointment and the diversity of members, Audit Wales has said. In a report on the governance of NPAs, the independent public body said that while it found the governance model provides a clear framework for the bodies, “there are opportunities to strengthen their…
The Welsh Government and Cafcass Cymru have published guidance to help support parents and other carers when they are explaining decisions made in the Family Court to children. The Guidance, published last week (22 April), begins by highlighting the importance of children understanding decisions made by the court. It states: “If children aren’t told what has…
Audit Wales has unveiled plans to improve the timeliness of its performance audit work at NHS and local government bodies and to restore the auditing of accounts of the 800 public bodies across Wales to pre-pandemic timescales over the next few years. In its Action Plan for 2024-25 the watchdog acknowledged that the public sector in Wales…
James Goudie KC will no longer conduct an independent review into social media posts made by an officer at the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales after concerns were voiced about the barrister’s ties to the Labour party. Goudie, who has been head of chambers at 11KBW for almost three decades, was set to lead an…
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council What Do They Know The Information Commissioner, John Edwards, has written an open letter to public organisations to remind them that “transparency is essential” and resources must be dedicated to access to information. This comes as the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has taken regulatory action against five public authorities for “continued…
The Auditor General for Wales has called for public services in Wales to be streamlined in order to “escape from a spiral of short-term firefighting” and boost financial resilience. In a statement responding to the Welsh Government’s draft 2024-25 budget earlier this month, the Auditor General, Adrian Crompton, said costs would be reduced by tackling…
