The Welsh Assembly Government is working closely with local government, the Audit Commission in Wales (ACiW) and other audit and inspection bodies to improve the delivery of public services. The Wales Programme for Improvement, introduced in 2002, is the main vehicle for achieving that improvement. Local authorities are required to review their capacity to deliver services efficiently and effectively and to work with audit and inspection bodies to prepare and put into action plans for improvement. WPI is overseen by the Wales Improvement Board. Click here for membership and terms of reference.

The WPI Process

On a five year basis each council undertakes a Whole Authority Analysis that shows where it may need to improve. Each autumn a Joint Risk Assessment, which also takes into account the views of other regulators, is agreed with the ACiW. The council must use this to develop an Improvement Plan. ACiW gives its views on the council's Improvement Plan and prepares a Regulatory Plan that sets out the level of audit and inspection that will be undertaken over the following year.

Elements of the Annual Audit Letter that is issued each year by the council's appointed auditor also relate to the Wales Programme for Improvement. Click here for all Annual Audit Letters.

A new element of the process is developing. Improvement Journeys chart the progress of each council to date and serve as an easy to understand summary of the council's progress and how it needs to go forward to deliver better services.

Improvement Studies

Common themes from councils' risk assessments help to identify topics where a study in all councils would be helpful. These studies lead to a national report as well as reports to each council.

Fire and Rescue Services

Following devolvement of responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Services to the Welsh Assembly Government, WPI is being developed for the Fire and Rescue Services in Wales , for implementation from April 2005.

Key Contacts for WPI in the Audit Commission in Wales

Clive Grace, Director General of ACiW, Chair of Local Government Programme Board

Anthony Snow, Corporate Director

Julie May, WPI Co-ordinator

Click here for more information about WPI and how the Programme may be developed.

Wales Programme for Improvement 2003/2004 - Report of the Director-General of the Audit Commission
in Wales
Wales Programme for Improvement 2003/2004 - Briefing

Performance Indicator information in Wales can be downloaded from the Local Government Data Unit website here.