The Recession; Better Ways of Doing Business; and Transport Developments
Third sector networks met the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, on 3 March 2009 under the auspices of the National Assembly Voluntary Sector Scheme.
The third sector sought a response from the Minister on a paper already presented to at the Wales Economic Summit: Responding to the Financial Crisis: Opportunities for Different Ways of Doing Business' which puts the case for a new mixed economy and new terms of trade. The co-operative, mutual and social enterprise sector provides a structure of financial, social and economic development that can help redress the balance between the continual drive for global economic growth with the needs of the real economy - its people, families, community and society. Ieuan Wyn Jones responded that access to finance was essential for both financial organisations and the consumer and that his department was therefore interested in:
• Stimulating and enhancing credit unions, co-operatives and social enterprises
• Refocusing Flexible Support for Business to protect existing businesses and not just promote growth.
The third sector received updates from the Assembly Government on the re-timing of Regional Transport Plans: with final plans now being submitted by 30 September 2009, aligning it better with the development of the National Transport Plan, which will be consulted on in the summer. The third sector raised the issue that they had not been included as a stakeholder in the drafting of the National Transport Plan.
The joint Welsh Assembly Government/Welsh Local Government Association/Regional Transport Consortia working group has been considering a range of possible future capital funding models for delivering the Regional Transport Plans. The third sector highlighted the need for revenue funding with the Minister: Ieuan Wyn Jones admitted that there were ‘enormous pressures on revenue funds' and in identifying revenue streams: his department was trying to address this need for a balance in the spending programme.
The Assembly Government confirmed it is currently exploring ways of continuing the pilots of the Community Transport Concessionary Fares Initiative scheme, scheduled to finish on 31 March 2009, and expected to make a positive announcement in the next few weeks.
The Minister agreed to the following for transport:
• Third sector to be involved as a stakeholder in the development of the National Transport Plan
• Third sector to feed in ideas identifying possible revenue funding from April 2010 onwards.
Following the meeting, the Minister announced funding on 10 March to extend the Community Transport Concessionary Fares Initiative until 31 March 2012 and an extra £1m in 2009/10 from the Welsh Assembly Government for 15 community transport schemes for people with disabilities. The Minister said, ‘This pilot project has proved to be extremely popular, and has given many people greater independence and improved quality of life - particularly in our rural communities.'
The Economy and Transport department is the first government department to complete its action plan with the third sector under The Third Dimension: a strategic action plan for the Voluntary Sector Scheme. The plan will be implemented from 1 April and provides a ‘good starting point' for focused work with the third sector.
For more information on any of these items please contact Constance Adams, Senior Policy Officer, WCVA cadams@wcva.org.uk, or for a set of the full papers from the meeting go to http://www.wcva.org.uk/policy/dsp_paper_ministerial.cfm?paperid=68&display_sitedeptid=9