3. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport: The Foundational Economy

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:28 pm on 26 November 2019.

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Photo of Lee Waters Lee Waters Labour 3:28, 26 November 2019

Thank you. Well, in deference to the warning of the Dirprwy Lywydd, I'll try and keep my answer brief. I'm aware that some community councils did bid into the challenge fund, but I don't think any were successful. It was a competitive fund and there were far more quality schemes than we had funding for, even after tripling the budget. But I think, in my statement, I set out the challenge for public services boards in this, and public services boards should include community councils. I agree with the point that Jenny Rathbone makes about the contribution they have to make in this. And the fact that many applied shows there's an appetite there amongst some of them.

I think the danger we have under the public services boards is that they become strategy factories. And there's a good deal of scepticism that they have yet to deliver anything of substance, and I think this is their opportunity. It's going to be a stretching target for some of them, but they've got to prove their worth. This is an agenda entirely in keeping with the mandate that they have. So I'm discussing with the future generations commissioner developing some joint guidelines between us to allow us to maximise the potential of the public services boards to get the most out of this agenda, and I will take the point that she makes about the role of community councils into consideration as we go about that task.