Reform of Welsh public services ‘still too slow’, report suggests

Reform of the Welsh public services is still too slow and needs to radically change if it is to meet the challenges of the future, according to a report from the Welsh Audit Office.

The report, entitled ‘A Picture of Public Services 2015’, advises that public provision in Wales needs to develop long term plans for change in order to respond to pressures they currently face and will continue to face in the future.

The Welsh Audit Office compliments the Welsh government on preparing a way for future transformations, but argues that the pace of change is still too slow.

According to the report, some key areas that need to be looked at include: new tax-raising powers and legislation; technological change; demographic change; and the reconfiguration of local government.

Huw Vaughan Thomas, Auditor General for Wales, said: “No part of the Welsh public service has escaped the financial pressures that have resulted from austerity. It is therefore positive to be able to report that despite these pressures, I am seeing improvement across some areas of well-being, service performance and financial management. But I am also concerned that there are signs of strain in some key areas.

“With further cuts expected it is encouraging to see that the Welsh government has set a clearer direction and is placing a particular emphasis on involving the public more in designing and providing services. But, there are still many obstacles to overcome before the wholesale transformation that is needed to put public services on a sustainable footing is a reality.”

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