Is Wales really a small, clever country?  The SOLACE Wales Conference will be asking if the landscape we all operate in has been intelligently designed; or whether, alternatively, an overly-complex system has evolved here in Wales.

Beecham recognised “Complexity” as one of the key challenges facing local public service delivery in Wales.  18 months later, SOLACE Wales will consider what progress we have made in clearing up the public sector landscape…

• Should the burden of regulation and inspection be reduced?
• How could inspection bodies become more co-ordinated? 
• Why has the number of performance indicators organisations are expected to report on continued to rise?  
• What about the increasing number of specific grants? 
• Has local government grasped the opportunity of plan and partnership rationalisation?  If not, why not?

Financially local government is facing its toughest period in recent memory.  Tight budgets will inevitably lead to a return to a focus on delivering core services.  It is within this context that public service officials must now operate.  Reducing the complexity of this landscape will free up time and resources for real services. 

The SOLACE Wales Annual Conference will present real-life examples of the bureaucratic burden placed on local authorities from within Wales, how and why the tide is moving in the other direction in both England and Scotland, and crucially, through exploring central / local relations in Wales over the life of the Assembly and into the future, will ask why this is the case.  Finally, through the contributions of speakers and delegates, we hope to propose some constructive solutions to the questions asked above.