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David Wilcox

Have you looked in the "Current plan for consultation" - download link above? That gives zone diagrams.

Jim

Where can I find a map of the actual spatial plan regions? I haven't been able to find one ANYWHERE!

Jon Waters

How is the Spatial Plan going to be implemented? What are its real implications for service delivery? While it may aspire to an overarching, strategic role, there is already a multitude of separate planning processes underway at any time in services funded through local councils or national quangos, which could fail to articulate with the letter or spirit of the Spatial Plan. Nor is the Spatial Plan the main repository of 'actions'. The Spatial Plan's vague propositions can barely hint at the vast array of planning, prioritising and budgeting exercises going on in education, health, social services, transport, economic development etc., each of which seems to have a local or Assembly level strategy or action plan informing or guiding them.

It remains to be seen how the Spatial Plan and whatever vehicles are set up to guide it can be used to steer existing service delivery. Most public services are bound into their own institutional and legislative frameworks, and many are delivered through semi-independent or indeed wholly autonomous providers (e.g. schools managing their own budgets through the LMS system, NHS trusts, FE colleges, private or voluntary sector training providers and care homes). Thus there are both practical and cultural barriers to making the planning of all this more integrated.

If the Spatial Plan is really going to lead to more integrated service provision and have a genuine impact "on the ground", we really need to consider what practical steps can be taken to create some "joined up government" and address local issues. Nice platitudes in another glossy plan just aren't going to make any real difference to the people of Wales. What about giving shared objectives to ASPBs and local authorities? Pooled budgets? Shared functions? ‘Cross boundary working’ of all kinds to allow joint procurement and delivery should be tested through the Best Value / Wales Programme for Improvement frameworks. Central government and WAG need to review of all of the blockages to these processes, including the ones they cause.
Maybe we'll see some steps in this direction following the Gershon review of efficiency in public services and WAG's recent announcement on the future of the WDA, ELWa and WTB. Here's hoping.

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