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| Regeneration scheme is under fire | Regeneration scheme is under fire |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A flagship £214m regeneration programme in Wales has not delivered good value for money, according to a report by assembly members. | |
| The public accounts committee says assembly government management of Communities First is largely to blame. | The public accounts committee says assembly government management of Communities First is largely to blame. |
| It says the scheme has lacked clear leadership from the top down. | |
| The assembly government said it welcomed the report and would consider its conclusions and recommendations before responding substantively. | The assembly government said it welcomed the report and would consider its conclusions and recommendations before responding substantively. |
| The committee inquiry followed a critical report into Communities First from the Wales Audit Office last year. | The committee inquiry followed a critical report into Communities First from the Wales Audit Office last year. |
| "Communities First... has not delivered good value for the significant amount of public money spent on it... largely because of weaknesses in the Welsh government's construction and management of the programme" Welsh assembly public accounts committee report | "Communities First... has not delivered good value for the significant amount of public money spent on it... largely because of weaknesses in the Welsh government's construction and management of the programme" Welsh assembly public accounts committee report |
| The latest report concludes that overall Communities First "has not delivered good value for the significant amount of public money spent on it", which it largely blames on "weaknesses in the Welsh government's construction and management of the programme". | |
| The committee reports recognises local benefits but says "we are unconvinced about the additional impact of the programme." | |
| "We are particularly concerned that the Welsh government provides insufficient direction to service providers and is not adequately monitoring the programme." | "We are particularly concerned that the Welsh government provides insufficient direction to service providers and is not adequately monitoring the programme." |
| Reports published in 2003 and 2006 also recorded concerns about the programme. | Reports published in 2003 and 2006 also recorded concerns about the programme. |
| Committee chair Jonathan Morgan said: "This is the fourth report to be highly critical of Communities First since its inception in 2001. | |
| "The committee heard that while the programme is operated with the best of intentions to help deprived communities, there still isn't enough support and guidance from those at the top to help those at the coal face. | "The committee heard that while the programme is operated with the best of intentions to help deprived communities, there still isn't enough support and guidance from those at the top to help those at the coal face. |
| "We urge the Welsh government to make major changes to the way this programme is run to ensure it meets the admirable aims it was set up for." | "We urge the Welsh government to make major changes to the way this programme is run to ensure it meets the admirable aims it was set up for." |
| The PAC report says failings are 'largely because of weaknesses' in assembly government management.' | The PAC report says failings are 'largely because of weaknesses' in assembly government management.' |
| The committee heard evidence that the Welsh government was, in many cases, unable to demonstrate a direct link between Communities First and any improvement of standards in areas which had received investment. | The committee heard evidence that the Welsh government was, in many cases, unable to demonstrate a direct link between Communities First and any improvement of standards in areas which had received investment. |
| The committee has recommended that the assembly government reassessed existing policies. | The committee has recommended that the assembly government reassessed existing policies. |
| It also argued for better monitoring of outcomes to show whether the investment of public money was returning tangible results. | It also argued for better monitoring of outcomes to show whether the investment of public money was returning tangible results. |
| Youth worker Debbie Bryn of the Wildmill Youth Works in Bridgend said she was convinced Communities First funding had helped about 200 young people who had used the facility in recent years. | Youth worker Debbie Bryn of the Wildmill Youth Works in Bridgend said she was convinced Communities First funding had helped about 200 young people who had used the facility in recent years. |
| She said: "In our own community we've definitely seen the benefits for us as workers and the young people. | She said: "In our own community we've definitely seen the benefits for us as workers and the young people. |
| "We've been able to access funding through Communities First to enable us to put on different activities. | "We've been able to access funding through Communities First to enable us to put on different activities. |
| "We've had money for camping equipment. We've had residential trips, arts and crafts projects, cultural events, music and creative events." | "We've had money for camping equipment. We've had residential trips, arts and crafts projects, cultural events, music and creative events." |
| The report acknowledged that many Communities First partnerships had achieved "some local benefits". | The report acknowledged that many Communities First partnerships had achieved "some local benefits". |
| It noted that "...it is important to state that we recognise that good work is being done locally by Communities First partnerships, and anecdotally we have received evidence of this. | It noted that "...it is important to state that we recognise that good work is being done locally by Communities First partnerships, and anecdotally we have received evidence of this. |
| "The focus of our inquiry has been on the Welsh government, and not on the dedicated people striving to deliver outcomes for the Communities First programme, and their communities, on the ground." | "The focus of our inquiry has been on the Welsh government, and not on the dedicated people striving to deliver outcomes for the Communities First programme, and their communities, on the ground." |
| Communities First was set up in 2001, initially working in 142 areas across Wales. |