Learning about the Welsh way!

APSEs Assistant Chief Executive, Mark Bramah held a lobbying meeting with Dr. Brian Gibbons, Minister for Social Justice, at the Welsh Assembly

Brian was particularly interested in the research we are carrying out into the economic footprint of local government in Swindon with CLES. He has an agenda about promoting local economies and employment opportunities for some of the valley communities in Wales.

Brian agreed to speak at APSEs next Wales seminar and to write a piece for Direct News around the changes proposed to the Wales Programme for Improvement in a forthcoming consultation due probably after the local government elections in Wales. Brian is also keen on the shared services agenda in Wales and cross sectoral working particularly between local government and health and wanted to learn from the progress being made in England. This probably has a lot to do with his health background. He discussed progress with the collaborative approach to improvement in Wales and contrasted this with the more carrot and stick approach as per England - CPA.

He was also very keen on the performance improvement agenda and the work APSE is doing through Performance Networks. His Civil Servant told us about "Ffynnon" which is the Pan-Wales Performance Management System.