20 November 2008
An action plan for further strengthening and developing the role of the voluntary sector in delivering public services across South West Wales is being considered by Leaders and Chief Executives across Wales’ South West authorities.
At a meeting held in Carmarthenshire this week, the region’s four council leaders and chief executives agreed to pursue opportunities for bringing local government and the third sector into closer collaboration in the future as a means of improving services across the region and to deliver greater efficiency gains.
Cllr Meryl Gravell (Carmarthenshire), meeting chair said:
“As a region we already have excellent links with our partners in the third sector. Our hugely successful ‘Regional Funding Fair’ held earlier this year, indeed the first of its kind in Wales, has been a catalyst for local government and third sector collaboration at a regional level and I am delighted to announce that during 2010 we will be hosting a second event to enable charities, community groups and voluntary organisations to access free, up to date information and advice about funding opportunities.”
Collaboration is central to driving service performance and improvement across our region. Our focus is geared towards improving outcomes for our communities not processes. One area where we envisage a strengthened role for the third sector is through our already established Regional Learning Partnership that brings together partners from across HE, FE, work based Learning as well as local authorities to deliver better learner experiences and services.”
During the meeting Board Members also agreed a project to investigate the benefits of a shared service for delivering legal services across the region. Next week the South West Wales Board will hear from Suffolk council which is currently developing a “virtual” shared service model for delivering legal services in partnership with the county’s seven district councils.
Ends
Notes to editors
• The Regional Partnership Board for South West Wales was established by the WLGA in 2006 and comprises of the four council leaders and chief executives across South West Wales (Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot)
• The South West Wales Partnership Board meets on a bi-monthly basis with meetings chaired on rotational basis.
For more information contact: Natasha Weeks