overview of the considerations community and town councils must be aware of when dealing with the...

Lyn CadwalladerChief ExecutivePrif Weithredwr

Asset or Service Devolution – Implications for Community and Town Councils

One Voice Wales Un Llais Cymru

The Voice of Community and Town Councils

Llais Cynghorau Chymuned a Thref

www.onevoicewales.org.uk


Un Llais Cymru

Gweithio i Gynghorau ar draws Cymru

Tri gweithgaredd craidd:

Cynrychioli cynghorau’n genedlaethol – dylanwadu gwaith cyrff eraill er lles y sector.

Hwyluso datblygiadau ar y cyd – yn ffurfiol ac anffurfiol

Cynhaliaeth i gynghorau unigol – cyngor, arweiniad a phwyso ar faterion penodol.

One Voice Wales

Working for Councils across Wales

Three key activities:

Representing councils nationally – influencing the work of other bodies in the interests of the sector.

Facilitating joint development – formally and informally.

Supporting councils individually – advice, guidance and lobbying on specific issues.


Gwasanaethau Allweddol

Darparu cyngor cyfreithiol

Arweiniad cyffredinol ar welliannau i systemau a gwasanaethau

Gwybodaeth ar ddatblygu polisïau

Gweithredu’r Strategaeth Hyfforddiant Genedlaethol

Annog cynghorau i fanteisio ar gyfleoedd Cymru gyfan

Hyrwyddo Arfer Orau a darparu cyfleoedd rhwydweithio

Key Services

Provision of legal advice

General guidance on system and service improvements

Information on policy development

Implementation of National Training Strategy

Promoting take-up of all-Wales opportunities

Promotion of Best Practice and providing networking opportunities


Chief Executive

Lyn Cadwallader

Deputy CEO

Paul Egan*

Development Officer

Dr Del Morgan*

Development Officer

Luned Evans*

Development Officer

Shannon Robinson*

Administration Manager

Tracy Gilmartin-Ward

Member Councils

Member Councils

Member Councils

Member Councils

*Part-time

Administration Asst.

Wendi Huggett

Governance & Staffing


Background to Land, Asset and Service Devolution

Cuts to local authority funding Having to do more, better, for less Public assets which have become liabilities Difficult decisions re. cuts in service delivery –

LA’s only providing what they must because of budget cuts

A cost to the community in terms of blight, lost services/assets and lost opportunities


Case for Local Devolution of Assets or Services• Better quality, ‘joined up’ forms of service

delivery informed by community priorities• Lifts the burden of bureaucracy• Empowers CC and TCs to do things their way• Strengthens the accountability of local people• Strengthens the role of local councillors• Develops the enabling role of CC and TCs

involving local stakeholders in local partnerships


Approaches to Devolution of Assets or Services• Budget comes with the transfer of service• Total cut in service if CC and TCs don’t take on

the service• Encouragement of partnerships – co-design and

co-production• CC and TCs coming together on a clustering basis

QUESTION: Do you know of examples of these approaches?


What services are suitable for devolution?• Public conveniences• Parks and Children’s play areas• Maintenance of playing fields• Cutting of highway verges and hedges

What others might there be – also, what are the key issues involved here?


Issues facing Community and Town Councils• Assessing the benefits of retaining/managing the service at

the very local level• How can it be funded?• Would the community/town be prepared to pay more

through the precept?• What is the Council’s experience of working in partnership

with other bodies?• Is there a possibility of joining forces with neighbouring

councils?• Does the Council have the capacity and knowledge?


Land and Asset Transfers – The Issues (1)

Short timescales for local councils to consider taking on land or assets

Lack of due diligence process Lack of skills and capacity in community and

town councils Need for electoral mandate Lead in times for transfers Need to improve communications


Land and Asset Transfers – The Issues (2)

Provision of information

- Business Case for disposal (costs/value for money)

- Environmental impact assessments

- Equality Impact assessments

Transfers are not necessarily savings to end user

Organisation of local councils Future funding of services – who pays?


Addressing the issues

• How can the Council ascertain whether the community/town will pay more?

• How can the Council identify opportunities for co-design and co-production?

• What guidance and support would Councils need to take on a new service?

• How should Councils assess capacity and knowledge requirements and respond to their findings?


Asset Transfers/Devolution of Services – The Risks• Asset or Liability – condition of building/planning

constraints/falling demand• TUPE issues• Managing transferred employees• Funding comes with devolution but how long will this

be the case?

Are there others?


Managing the risks• Due diligence assessments• Independent Building Surveys• Legal guidance on freehold transfers/leases etc.• Ensuring the community/town are on board• Ensuring staff skills, knowledge and capacity• Policies and Procedures in place• Is the Council able to refurbish the asset or take on the service and

maintain it – financial projections• Would the asset/service pay for itself and extra staff?• Opportunity for community action and getting volunteers involved

Are there other risks and what would methods of managing them?


Role of Councillors

• Wealth of local knowledge• Local Champions• Cascading information to electors• Ensuring the community/town are on board• Getting the community involved• Conduit for communication• Taking the community with them• Ensuring a can do attitude is maintained• Engagement with community groups

What other roles might they have and what is the role of the Clerk in this context?


Land and Asset Transfers – Possible Solutions

LA’s – Investing to Save Building capacity and understanding – by the two tiers of

local government Developing new guidance

- Models for transfer

- Double taxation

- ‘Joint delivery partnerships’

Provision of training – to LA’s and for Community and Town Councils (grow capacity and skills)

Making Charter’s work – improving the communication channels


Devolution of Assets or Services – Desirable Impacts

Develop a ‘holistic’ place based approach to local service delivery Maintain community access to services and assets that might

otherwise be at risk, particularly concurrent functions Increase public satisfaction with assets/land/services Provide greater local influence over assets/land/services Enhance the role of local councils in their communities Generate greater community pride in local areas Promote engagement of local communities in local government ;

and…

Achieve ‘value for money’ for the electorate


Useful Sources of Information

Community Asset Transfers in Wales – A Best Practice Guide

Community Asset Transfer Checklist

(Both of the above available via Welsh Government website)

One Voice Wales – Devolution of Services training module

Lyn CadwalladerChief Executive

Prif Weithredwr


Thank You

Diolch yn Fawrwww.onevoicewales.org.uk

overview of the considerations community and town councils must be aware of when dealing with the...

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