This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/8528497.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 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, which covers nearly 200 deprived districts across Wales, lacks clear leadership from the top. | It says the scheme, which covers nearly 200 deprived districts across Wales, lacks clear leadership from the top. |
| The assembly government welcomed the report and said it would consider its conclusions and recommendations. | The assembly government welcomed the report and said it would consider its conclusions and recommendations. |
| 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. |
| The Wildmill youth project has received £4,000 in Communities First grants | The Wildmill youth project has received £4,000 in Communities First grants |
| 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 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." | 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. |
| 'Highly critical' | 'Highly critical' |
| Committee chair Jonathan Morgan said: "This is the fourth report to be highly critical of Communities First since its inception in 2001. | 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 coalface. | "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 coalface. |
| "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 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. |
| Two-thirds of the money has been spent on administration and staff, when more money should be reaching the people most in need Jenny Randerson AM, Liberal Democrat | Two-thirds of the money has been spent on administration and staff, when more money should be reaching the people most in need Jenny Randerson AM, Liberal Democrat |
| 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. |
| Jenny Randerson, a Liberal Democrat member of the committee, called it a "scathing indictment of the Labour-Plaid government's failure to monitor and improve what has always been an approach which focuses to heavily on geography and not enough on individuals". | Jenny Randerson, a Liberal Democrat member of the committee, called it a "scathing indictment of the Labour-Plaid government's failure to monitor and improve what has always been an approach which focuses to heavily on geography and not enough on individuals". |
| She said: "Two-thirds of the money has been spent on administration and staff, when more money should be reaching the people most in need. | She said: "Two-thirds of the money has been spent on administration and staff, when more money should be reaching the people most in need. |
| "This is a long-running programme and it is unforgivable that no proper analysis has been made by the government of its effectiveness." | "This is a long-running programme and it is unforgivable that no proper analysis has been made by the government of its effectiveness." |
| 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. |
| Cultural events | Cultural events |
| "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." |
| Speaking at first minister's questions, Carwyn Jones defended the scheme, saying there "excellent examples" of Communities First working. | |
| "Yes, it's right to say there have been question marks over delivery in some parts of Wales, we know that, that's a matter of public record," he said. | |
| "But the scheme itself is designed to ensure that communities and individuals across Wales once again get the confidence to enter the world of work, to get training and make sure their communities have a voice again." | |
| Communities First was set up in 2001, initially working in 142 areas across Wales which included the most deprived council wards. | Communities First was set up in 2001, initially working in 142 areas across Wales which included the most deprived council wards. |
| The scheme has grown to a total of 188 Communities First areas. | The scheme has grown to a total of 188 Communities First areas. |