Public services – towards a new model

18 May 2010

WCVA has produced this paper on the future of public services, which now includes the Welsh Assembly's response to its contents. It outlines the benefits of the co-design and co-delivery of public services in Wales, which would deliver enhanced services at a reduced cost.

The current debate on the future of public services is based upon assumptions that substantial spending cuts are coming, but there is little evidence that ‘efficiency’ savings can produce the level of saving required, or that even a cut down version of existing services will produce the saving needed. However there is scope to achieve significant savings via collaborative and joint services – that ‘smarter’ ways of working can result in improved services.

A new approach based on co-design and co-delivery of public services, where activities and services are designed and delivered by a wide range of actors – bringing together the independent third sector and the public sector with the citizen and the community at the centre. It means investing in community capacity and initiatives in order to provide mutual support that complements, and reduces demands on, other services.