Written - Communities Next Task and Finish Group

In the One Wales document the Welsh Assembly Government committed to developing Communities First into its Communities Next phase, drawing on the experience of the wider community development movement in Wales and the findings of the interim evaluation of the programme.

On the 3 August 2007, we issued a Statement on how we intend to honour those commitments and move towards the Communities Next phase.  As part of this process I have established a Task and Finish Group to ensure that Communities Next builds on the interim evaluation of the programme, current good practice and also take on board the views of professionals with extensive experience of the programme and related initiatives.

The Task and Finish Group membership comprises of the following individuals:

• Dave Adamson (University of Glamorgan Programme for Regeneration, worked on original Communities First Policy)
• Barbara Castle (Community Regeneration Consultant, worked on original Communities First policy)
• Roger Tarling (Cambridge Policy Consultants, principal contractors for the Evaluation of Communities First)
• Anne Delaney (Private Consultant with background in Wales Audit Office, consultant on Communities First Evaluation)
• Tim Williams (private consultant and adviser to UK Govt on regeneration and housing)

In addition the group comprises the following officials of the Welsh Assembly Government and special advisors.

• Caroline Turner
• Mike Harmer
• Paul Dear
• Gareth Thomas
• Simon Thomas
• Mike Sullivan
• Ceri Williams

We aim to publish a document for consultation early in the New Year and will also host a number of consultation events across Wales to ensure that all stakeholders have an opportunity to shape the future of the programme.