Consultation Bulletin – week ending 24 January 2014
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Newly received this week
Source
Title/link
Summary
Issue date
Deadline for
Response
Welsh Affairs
Committee
International
Representation and
Promotion of Wales by UK
bodies
Wales is a relatively small nation on the periphery of Europe and faces keen
economic competition to attract skilled workers, tourists and inward
investment, not only within the United Kingdom, but from Europe and further
afield. Both the UK Government and the Welsh Government, and their
associated bodies such as the British Council, Visit Britain, Visit Wales and
UKTI, have responsibility for promoting and representing Wales abroad.
17/01/2014
19/02/2014
Welsh Government
Phase 1 - Draft Report:
Review of Audit, Inspection
and Regulation
Consultation to establish by consensus the purpose of audit, inspection and
regulation.
20/01/2014
14/03/2014
23/01/2014
28/03/2014
WCVA will be submitting a
response to this
consultation If you have any
comments that you would
like us to include in our
response please email
them to
cadams@wcva.org.uk
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to "review the
framework for the external scrutiny of public services and the work of our
auditors, inspectors and regulators".
In early 2013, Welsh Government officials proposed a three phase review of
Audit, Inspection and Regulation (AIR) in Wales in response to the
Programme for Government commitment:
 Phase 1 - to establish by consensus the purpose of audit,
inspection and regulation
 Phase 2 - to consider how far/to what extent the present system
fulfils the principles of Phase 1; and establish a programme for
reform
 Phase 3 - Implementation - comprising one-off reforms or longerterm changes of emphasis.
This report sets out the findings from phase 1 of the review of Audit,
Inspection and Regulation.
Welsh Government
Proposals for the Glastir
scheme, part of the Rural
Development Plan for
Wales 2014-2020
The Welsh Government now wishes to consult on the decisions it proposes
to take for Glastir under the next RDP programming period, 2014 to 2020.
These proposals outline a future for agri-environment in Wales. They are
the result of widespread discussions with the:
 industry
 farming communities
 charities
 and other organisations across Wales
and sets out a vision for a more sustainable use of our natural resources.
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Department for
Culture, Media and
Sport
Consultation on the future
of civil partnership in
England and Wales
The Government has published a consultation paper on the future of civil
partnership in England and Wales. This is the full public consultation
required by section 15 the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.
23/01/2014
17/04/2014
24/01/2014
28/02/2014
The Government will consider responses to the consultation alongside
evidence about marriage of same sex couples, civil partnership and
possible options for the future.
National Assembly for
Wales
Inquiry into Child and
Adolescent Mental Health
Services
The Children, Young People and Education Committee has agreed to
undertake an inquiry into Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
(CAMHS). The Committee has agreed to focus on some key issues around
CAMHS in the context of the Welsh Government’s reforms as set out
inBreaking the Barriers; the implementation of the Mental Health (Wales)
Measure 2010; and the Welsh Government’s 2012 mental health strategy
Together for Mental Health.
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Welsh Government
Designating settlements the
Active Travel (Wales) Act
will apply to
The Welsh Government is consulting on which places in Wales
requirements to map and make year on year improvements to active travel
routes and facilities should apply to.
06/11/2013
28/01/2014
Welsh Government
Neurological Conditions
Delivery Plan
We are seeking comments and views on this draft neurological conditions
delivery plan.
30/10/2013
31/01/2014
14/11/2013
31/01/2014
03/12/2013
31/01/2014
The plan sets out our vision for the population of Wales and what this
means for services for people with neurological conditions. We are asking
for views from:
 the public
 people with neurological conditions
 the third sector,
 the NHS and its partner organisations
Wales Audit Office
Consultation on Code of
Audit Practice and
Statement of Practice
This consultation invites views and comments on two separate but related
documents:
•
•
a draft Code of Audit Practice of the Auditor General for Wales; and
a draft Statement of Practice which describes how the Auditor
General intends to exercise local government improvement audit,
assessment and inspection functions.
Following consultation, a final version of the Code will be issued and
published by the Auditor General. A final version of the Statement will be
prepared and provided to the Welsh Ministers for their approval, before
being published.
National Assembly for
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Inquiry into EU funding
The Enterprise and Business Committee is launching a new inquiry into the
Wales – Enterprise
and Business
Committee
opportunities 2014-2020
EU funding opportunities that will be available to organisations in Wales for
the next seven years (2014-2020).
The terms of reference for the inquiry are to:
 Understand the main opportunities for organisations in Wales from
EU funding programmes for 2014-2020 falling within the remit of the
Enterprise and Business Committee.
 Consider the extent to which Wales takes an effective approach to
maximising the opportunities available from such funding, including
the Welsh Government’s EU Strategy, the extent to which EU
funding is planned into the budgetary cycle of the Welsh
Government and other public authorities in Wales.
 Identify individuals and organisations with a track record of success
in participating in EU projects/programmes/initiatives, and explore
how their experiences and abilities could be used effectively during
2014-2020.
Welsh Government
New guidance for the Risk
Assessment of Walked
Routes to School
The Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 sets out that local authorities
have a duty to risk assess routes to school, including walked routes. To do
this, local authorities refer to various guidance documents.
18/11/2013
07/02/2014
18/12/2014
07/02/2014
Concerns have been raised about the limited scope of the safety factors
considered in the current guidance. The safety of children and young people
of compulsory school age (i.e. 5-16) on the walked route to school should
be of paramount importance and there is a case for extending the criteria by
which routes are assessed before being considered safe.
This consultation applies to Wales only.
Department for
Business, Innovation
& Skills
Assisted Areas Map 2014
to 2020: stage 2
On 31 July 2013, the government launched a first stage consultation on
updating the Assisted Areas Map for 2014 to 2020, in response to new
European Commission guidelines on regional aid. Assisted Areas are those
areas where regional aid can be offered to undertakings, typically
businesses, under state aid rules.
The second stage consultation document on the draft proposal for a new
assisted areas map for the period 2014 to 2020 also sets out the
government’s response to the first stage consultation.
The purpose of the second stage consultation is to seek views on the draft
Assisted Areas Map, taking into consideration the government’s response to
the first stage consultation, and the need to comply with the Commission’s
regional aid guidelines.
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Welsh Government
Welsh Government
Firefighters’ Pension
(Wales Scheme (1992) and
New Firefighters’ Pension
Scheme (Wales) (2007)
Consultation on the proposed increases to employee contribution Rates; to
be effective from 1 April 2014.
Community Polls
Consultation on the proposed amendment of the 1987 rules on community
polls.
13/01/2014
10/02/2014
20/11/2013
12/02/2014
04/12/2013
12/02/2014
11/12/2013
12/02/2014
The consultation seeks views on the proposed increase in employee
contribution rates from 1 April 2014 for members of the Firefighters’ Pension
(Wales) Scheme (1992) and New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Wales)
(2007).
The Welsh Minsters wish to consult on the 1987 Rules with a view to
amendment. The 1987 Rules have received only minor amendment since
they came into force in 1987. The consultation focuses on the requirements
within the rules in relation to polling station facilities and opening times, poll
notice periods and posting voting.
Cabinet Office
Extending Charity
Commission’s powers to
tackle abuse in charities
WCVA will be submitting a
response to this
consultation. If you would
like to contribute to
WCVA’s response, please
send your comments to
Anna Lewis by email at
alewis@wcva.org.uk by
Friday 31 January 2014.
Welsh Government
Local authority
environmental permitting
fees and charges 20142015
This consultation is about strengthening the Charity Commission’s powers
to act where there is abuse of a charity and/or non-compliance with charity
law, in particular where there is misconduct or mismanagement or risk to
charity property, and considering whether the criteria for disqualification
from acting as a charity trustee should be extended.
The aim is to ensure more effective regulation of charities by tackling
malpractice and to support public trust and confidence in charities, the
regulator and the regulation of the charity sector.
Local authorities recover their costs for regulating industry to prevent or
reduce pollution to acceptable levels through fees and charges for
Environmental Permits.
The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 allow for fees and charges
to be set for Local Air Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC) and Local
Air – Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (LA-IPPC) at levels that will
recover costs of local authorities of implementing the system.
This consultation relates to the LAPPC and LA-IPPC fees and charges in
Wales. It will be of interest to Welsh businesses who hold LAPPC and LAIPPC permits. These businesses include:
 chipboard and glass manufacture
 foundries
 animal renderers
 crematoria
 paint manufacture
 larger furniture works
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

Welsh Government
Public consultation on
legislative changes
affecting ambulance
services in Wales
petrol stations
high street dry cleaners.
Following the McClelland strategic review of Welsh Ambulance Services a
number of recommendations were made.
19/12/2013
13/02/2014
12/11/2013
14/02/2014
20/12/2013
14/02/2014
Principal recommendations include:
 transforming the way the ambulance service provides care, with
greater focus on the most appropriate health care professional
treating patients in the right place, and at the right time; and
 achievement of clear lines of funding and accountability.
This consultation invites views on the proposed legislative changes. It is
designed to secure the provision of a clinically-led ambulance service that is
funded appropriately and has clear governance arrangements.
BBC Trust
BBC Trust service review:
BBC One, BBC Two, BBC
Three and BBC Four
The BBC Trust works on behalf of licence fee payers to ensure that the BBC
provides high quality services and good value for everyone in the UK. One
of the ways we do this is by carrying out an in-depth review of each of the
BBC's services at least once every five years.
This consultation is part of our review of BBC television. It will help us to get
the views of licence fee payers on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three and
BBC Four. What do you think are the strength of the channels and what
should the BBC do to make these television services better?
HM Revenue &
Customs
Assistance with electronic
filing of VAT returns
All VAT registered businesses (apart from those excepted on religious
grounds and those subject to insolvency procedures) must file their VAT
returns using an approved means of electronic communication. This
mandatory requirement was introduced in law on 1 April 2012. Prior to this,
following a consultation exercise, HMRC established procedures to help
businesses that required assistance to file online.
However, following a Tribunal decision, the government is carrying out this
review to ensure that:
 the law provides a means by which all VAT registered businesses
that are required to do so can file using an approved means of
electronic communications
 HMRC’s guidance to businesses who have difficulty in filing online
is clear and appropriate options are available to businesses
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Welsh Government
Social services complaints
and representations
We are seeking your views on our proposals to improve the way we deal
with complaints and concerns about social services in Wales.
28/11/2013
20/02/2014
28/11/2013
21/02/2014
25/11/2013
24/02/2014
13/01/2014
24/02/2014
We ask you to consider the draft regulations:
The Social Services Complaints Procedure (Wales) Regulations 2013;
The Representations Procedure (Wales) Regulations 2013; and
draft guidance.
Both the regulations and guidance provide a basis for how local authorities
deal with social services complaints.
Welsh Government
Supporting our public
service workforce through
collective leadership and
legislation
This consultation seeks views on a draft Public Services (Workforce)
(Wales) Bill, which would give Welsh Ministers powers to issue specific
statutory guidance on certain public service workforce matters.
Views are also sought on approaches for reinforcing the role of the
Workforce Partnership Council.
Welsh Government
Welsh Government
Proposed amendments to
the Staffing of Maintained
Schools (Wales)
Regulations 2006
This consultation seeks views on proposed amendments to the Staffing of
Maintained Schools (Wales) Regulations 2006.
Mental health services for
prisoners in Wales
We wish to consult about how mental health services are delivered in
prisons across Wales.
It relates to independent investigation of allegations against teachers and
members of school staff.
The proposed amendments to the regulations aim to ensure that referrals
for independent investigation are appropriate. This is necessary to inform
the school’s disciplinary and dismissal process and in line with the original
intention behind the Welsh Government’s response to the recommendations
of the Children’s Commissioner’s Inquiry into allegations of child sexual
abuse in a school setting in 2004.
Your views are sought on proposals to amend the Staffing of Maintained
Schools (Wales) Regulations 2006, specifically Regulation 7 which deals
with the Conduct, discipline and capability of staff.
This was a commitment we made in our ‘Together for Mental Health’
strategy’ document.
Your views are sought in particular to the importance placed on delivering
our requirements contained within the Mental Health (Wales) Measure
2010.
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Welsh Government
Draft Planning (Wales) Bill
and Positive planning:
proposals to reform the
planning system in Wales
We want your views on the draft Planning Bill and our proposals to
modernise the Planning system in Wales.
04/12/2013
26/02/2014
Welsh Government
Proposed indicators for the
Welsh Index of Multiple
Deprivation (WIMD) 2014
The purpose of this consultation is to seek user views on proposals for
WIMD 2014 indicators.
28/11/2013
27/02/2014
Welsh Government
Delivering Growth: An
Action Plan for the Food
and Drinks Industry 20142020
The aim of the Action Plan is to grow the food and drink sector in Wales.
02/12/2013
03/03/2014
09/12/2013
03/03/2014
07/01/2014
03/03/2014
12/12/2013
05/03/2014
The draft Planning (Wales) Bill and consultation paper contain our
proposals to modernise the planning system in Wales through changes to
primary legislation, secondary legislation, policy and guidance. The
consultation paper identifies the need for culture change, a change in
attitude away from regulating development towards encouraging and
supporting development.
The Welsh Government is seeking your views on a proposed action plan for
Wales.
The plan sets out actions for both Government and the industry. Economic,
environmental and community sustainability is a central consideration
throughout the Plan.
Welsh Government
Proposals concerning the
publication of official
statistics
This consultation document highlights our priorities for the years ahead,
building on the Evidence Plan published in May 2013.
It highlights areas where we will make changes in response to the changing
environment by making more use of electronic dissemination, avoiding
duplication, working collaboratively across organisational boundaries and
reducing work that is of lower value.
Welsh Government
Draft Children’s Rights
Scheme 2014
The 'Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure' 2011,
received unanimous cross party support when it was passed at the National
Assembly for Wales on the 18 of January 2011.
The Measure strengthened and built on the rights based approach of the
Welsh Government to making policy for children and young people in
Wales. It placed a duty on Welsh Ministers to have due regard to the
substantive rights and obligations within the UNCRC and its optional
protocols
Welsh Government
Council Tax Reduction
Scheme Review
The Welsh Government is reviewing the options for the future of council tax
support in Wales.
Our aim is to develop a scheme which is equitable and sustainable, and
delivers the maximum protection for low income and vulnerable households
within the financial constraints.
This consultation seeks your views on the decisions which will need to be
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made as part of the review.
Welsh Government
Proposed Welsh
Declaration of the Rights of
Older People
Wales has led the way in ageing policy by establishing the Strategy for
Older People in Wales, the Older People’s Well-being Monitor and the
world’s first Older People’s Commissioner, all of which reflect the UN
Principles for Older Persons.
13/12/2013
05/03/2014
13/12/2013
13/03/2014
The number of older people in Wales is growing and there is no dedicated
set of rights for older people in the UK. Age discrimination and ageism are
widely tolerated across the world and it would seem fitting that Wales
should again lead the way by publishing a Declaration of the Rights of Older
People in Wales.
Welsh Government
Revising the national
framework for Continuing
NHS Healthcare (CHC)
We are seeking views on arrangements we should put in place to support
the effective delivery of (CHC) by the NHS.
CHC is a package of care provided by the NHS for those individuals with a
complex and primarily health-based, need. Health Boards have a duty to set
in place suitable governance arrangements to ensure the correct provision
of CHC to individuals.
Welsh Ministers are responsible for the production of guidance and advice
for Health Boards.
The 2010 National Framework for Continuing NHS Healthcare provides
these details. Health Boards work with local authority partners, to assess
health needs, decide on eligibility for CHC and provide appropriate care for
adults. Welsh Ministers have been reviewing the effectiveness of the
Framework following the findings of a separate Wales Audit Office’s review.
The arrangements will be set out in the 2014 'National Framework for
Continuing NHS Healthcare'.
Department for
Business, Innovation
& Skills
Zero hours employment
contracts
This is an online consultation that seeks views from as many participants as
possible. It seeks further evidence on the problems identified around the
use of zero hours contracts and invites responses to a number of potential
actions government can take to address them and promote a better
outcome.
At this stage, the government has no preferred options. Views are sought in
particular on maintaining a fair balance between the flexibility provided by
zero hours contracts and ensuring adequate protection for individuals.
19/12/2013
13/03/2014
Welsh Government
Statutory Guidance to the
Independent Remuneration
Panel for Wales in relation
to the salaries of Local
Authority Chief Executives
The Panel will have new powers to make recommendations to Local
Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities on their Pay Policy Statement
relevant to the salary of their Head of Paid Service.
20/12/2013
14/03/2014
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The Panel will have to have regard to Statutory Guidance made by Welsh
Ministers when making recommendations
Welsh Government
Making the most of every
drop - A consultation on
reforming the water
abstraction management
system
We are consulting jointly on proposals to reform the system used to manage
water removal from rivers and ground water across Wales and England.
17/12/2013
28/03/2014
Welsh Government
Marine Strategy Framework
Directive consultation – UK
Marine Monitoring
Programmes
This is a joint consultation by:
 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
 the Northern Ireland Executive
 the Scottish Government
 the Welsh Government.

The Marine Strategy Part One (external link) is the UK’s response to the first
phase of the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
(MSFD). The directive requires that Member States put in place measures
to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) in their seas by
2020.
08/01/2014
02/04/2014
Welsh Government
Service user involvement
framework
We are seeking views on our revised substance misuse service user
involvement framework.
13/01/2014
07/04/2014
13/01/2014
13/04/2014
We want to ensure the sustainable management of our water in Wales. This
includes considering if the water abstraction (removing water from rivers
etc) management system in Wales needs to change. This consultation
explores options for reforming the current system. We welcome your views
on these.
We are asking for views from people of all backgrounds but would
particularly welcome comments from:
 substance misuse service commissioners;
 providers of services;
 people who use substance misuse services and their friends and
families.
The framework offers guidance on engaging with service users in the
design, commissioning, operation and evaluation of substance misuse
services.
It is intended to encourage service user involvement and share examples of
best practice.
Welsh Government
Revising the Learner Travel
Operational Guidance and
evaluating the Travel Code
The Learner Travel Operational Guidance provides local authorities with
statutory guidance on all aspects of the Welsh Government's home to
school/college transport policy.
Concerns have been raised regarding the extent to which certain aspects of
the Operational Guidance are clear, consistent and easy to understand for
users, such as parents and local authorities. The guidance also needs to
reflect wider policy reforms in other policy areas.
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