Local Service Boards – Assembly Committee response

The Assembly’s Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee has published its report into the operation of Local Service Boards.

Local Service Boards (LSBs) are meant to bring together public sector services in local council areas to improve local service delivery, particularly in fields where organisations need to work together to improve services.  

Six pilot LSBs have been established with the aim of creating 22 across Wales.  Senior officials will represent the Welsh Assembly Government on each LSB.

The Committee’s report, published today, raises questions over future support for these 22 bodies.  

Jonathan Morgan AM, Chair of the Committee, said: “LSBs may offer real potential for resolving some of the more intractable problems at a local level.  But we need to strike a note of caution.  LSBs get a lot of hands-on support from very senior Assembly Officials, support that is seen as being crucial to their effectiveness.  We have to question whether the continued involvement of such senior staff is feasible when there are 22 LSBs rather than just 6.  

We’ve also flagged up other issues, including ensuring that LSBs are scrutinised effectively at a local level, that the voluntary sector is able to make an effective contribution to their work and that there is clarity on their role – particularly whether they are primarily there to deliver the objectives of the Assembly Government or to help resolve local service delivery issues.”