Calls have been raised for poverty reduction to be a priority of future local government reform in Wales.

Tackling poverty is a key theme of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders AM called on the Welsh Government to ensure that a ‘golden thread’ of well-being goals running through reform proposals will include specific marked objectives, strategic ambition, delivery and outcomes for poverty reduction.

The current Communities First programme is due to end next year, after the Welsh Labour Government admitted it “has not had an impact on overall poverty levels in Wales, which remain stubbornly high”, even after spending more than £300m on the programme since 2001.

Janet said:

“The Welsh Labour Government has been dragging its heels in committing to a new poverty-reduction programme to replace the failed Communities First programme.

“The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act gives us a prime opportunity to include a specific poverty-reduction stream to run throughout local government reform.

“The reluctance of the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary to commit to a clear-cut poverty-reduction strategy to run through local government reform – particularly given that they intend to move decision-making on matters impacting this to a regional level – is really disappointing.”

ENDS

Notes:

The White Paper is available here: https://consultations.gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultation_doc_files/170130-white-paper-en.pdf  

The Member raised this matter with the First Minister on 04/07/2017 and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government on 05/07/2017. Record of Proceedings available here: http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/Pages/Plenary.aspx?assembly=5&category=Record%20of%20Proceedings