Goldilocks local government

There has been much hullabaloo in the past week over the CBI’s call for a reduction in the number of Welsh local authorities.  While we all have different views how best to achieve the ‘Goldilocks effect’ (not to many, not too few) we all agree that if you…

Who’s to blame for child poverty?

The news that one in seven children in Wales lives in severe poverty is no surprise but no less disgraceful for that. And for every child in poverty there is a parent in poverty too, making the real extent of the problem even worse.

As the news broke, attention…

Time to get serious about corporate social responsibility

With parts of Wales amongst the poorest in the UK, it’s time businesses and public bodies in Wales and beyond got serious about their social responsibilities.

Many of Wales’s social and economic problems stem from businesses abandoning their bases here over the years, from Corus in…

Metro system? or local investment?

Last night’s Week in Week out documented the reality of what cuts will mean for disadvantaged people living in areas of Wales that have long been in decline. The documentary, partly made by two sisters from Merthyr, brilliantly exposed the reality of what will happen with benefit cuts….

Education: build on what we have, but do better.

In two major speeches recently, Leighton Andrews has provided both challenge and future direction for the schools system in Wales. It may be possible to quibble over some aspects of his evidence and to question parts of his solutions, but it is undeniable that he is right to highlight…

• Improving outcomes for citizens, collaboration and saving money – a practical example

There is no doubting the bleakness of the economic situation we face and as a consequence we are all being told to save money, work together and involve citizens whilst at the same time protecting our most vulnerable groups. If you want to see all of these principles in…

Visit Wales – but not on a Sunday

I’ve invented a new parlour game. It’s called ‘The Impossible Journey’. Want to have a go?

Equipment: a map of Wales; access to the wonderful Traveline Cymru website. A grim sense of humour.

Rules: chose two towns in Wales, not too far apart, which it might be reasonable to travel…

Local Government Trouble Ahead

An email has just arrived in my in-box headed ‘Local Government Services Pay Update’.  It may as well be headed ‘Local Government Trouble Ahead’, because the bold, and terse, announcement it contains is as follows:

“The LGS Employers have this morning informed the local government trade unions that…

Devil in the detail of welfare reform bill

Today’s welfare reform bill is supposed to deliver Iain Duncan Smith’s vision of a system that helps people into work rather than trapping people on benefit.  The White paper on Universal Credit and the accompanying paper on 21st Century welfare promised much but was light on detail. Sadly the…

Fuel Poverty is about how people cope with cold weather

Last week, Gareth Price introduced a report showing the effects of fuel poverty on children. The report highlighted a growing problem in wales, and an issue that – despite the best efforts of the assembly – remains a serious issue for families in poverty. Our own contribution to…