Specialists parachuted in to help sort council woes
SPECIALIST advisers are being parachuted in to help a struggling Welsh council. There had already been measures put in place to help Merthyr Tydfil council after a damning Wales Audit Office letter raised significant issues around finance, leadership, and governance.
That prompted council leader Kevin O’Neill to ask for support from the Welsh Government.
Minister Julie James appointed an improvement and assurance board, made up of independent external members, at the end of last October with the aim of helping Cllr O’Neill to bring about the required improvements.
In an update to Assembly Members yesterday Ms James said an assessment of what support was needed was “also used as an opportunity to take a wider look at other service areas, such as education, to inform the understanding of the improvements required”.
External advisers will be appointed in:
■ Education and social services: The exact remit and purpose of these external advisers will be developed with the relevant external member of the board and the respective director;
■ corporate governance: An external adviser will develop a fit for purpose and meaningful transformation and improvement agenda, as well as an effective performance management and scrutiny system. “This should be informed by, but not limited to, responding to the key findings and recommendations from the scoping review and rapid assessment,” said Ms James;
■ leader, cabinet and member development: To provide support for political leadership and relations. Running alongside this, a longer-term programme of support will also be developed, in conjunction with the Welsh Local Government Association, in relation to wider member development, chairing skills, and scrutiny training. Ms James said all external advisers will be appointed on a short-term basis of between three and six months to help the council meet immediate and longer-term challenges.
She said the board which had already been set up will continue to monitor progress and seek assurance from the council that it has a robust improvement plan in place and is delivering at pace.
Ms James said: “I have said previously there needs to be widespread commitment from all members and officers to achieve a sustainable future for the council and to deliver good quality services to the people of Merthyr Tydfil.
“This will enable the board to form a view on the council’s capacity and capability to address its challenges independently and sustainably. I will be looking for a view on the whole council’s progress at the end of May.”