Written - Consultation - Local Government Support and Intervention Protocol

The Welsh Assembly Government has issued for consultation its proposals for a revised a local government support and intervention protocol.

A Shared Responsibility[1] set out a number of commitments to adapt regulation, inspection and intervention to the new shape of public services
A report on Local Government Support and Intervention by Bath University School of Management[2], based on research commissioned by the Assembly Government, was published in June 2007 and discussed by the Improvement Board in August 2007. The Board mandated the production of a "Key Principles of Local Government Support & Intervention" paper, informed by the Bath University Report.

At its meeting on 10 October 2007 the Board considered the ‘Key Principles" paper and agreed that it should be further developed to underpin and be incorporated into a protocol for local government support and intervention
that should replace the current protocol drafted in 1999, which still applies to Wales. A Task and Finish Group comprising CSSIW, WLGA, Estyn, WAO,

WAG and local authority representation was commissioned to undertake this piece of work.

The proposals for a revised local government support and intervention protocol, now out for consultation, have been developed to address the commitments set out in A Shared Responsibility and are centered around five key principles:

1. Areas of actual or potential weakness should be known in advance of any moves towards support or intervention.
2. There is no automatic ladder/ratchet of intervention
3. Local authorities are primarily responsible for improving their own performance, including remedying any shortcomings
4. A programme for support and/or intervention activity should be established in consultation with the authority and national organisations along with clear start and exit mechanisms
5. There should be 360° Feedback

The protocol aims to support and complement the Assembly Government's intentions to legislate to reform the Wales Programme for Improvement and strengthen community planning, as set out in "Delivering a Shared Responsibility: Performance Improvement and Community Planning: A consultation document" [1].

The deadline for the consultation on the proposed local government support and intervention protocol is 23 June 2008 and I look forward to considering all responses.