Download Consultations Bulletin * week ending 7th March 2008:

Consultation Bulletin – week ending 14 February 2014
1
Newly received this week
Source
Welsh Government
Title/link
Review of weekly maximum
charge
Summary
This is in respect of people who are required to pay for the non-residential
social services they receive.
Issue date
Deadline for
Response
07/02/2014
07/03/2014
07/02/2014
21/03/2014
We ask you to consider:
 a proposal to increase the weekly maximum charge from £50 to £55
per week from April 2014; and
 a proposal to increase the weekly maximum charge from £55 to £60
per week from April 2015.
The weekly maximum charge was introduced by the Welsh Government as
part of the First Steps Improvement Package in April 2011.
This introduced more consistency in the charges local authorities make for
the non-residential social services they provide.
Welsh Government
The Review of Bathing
Waters in Wales 2014
The Bathing Water Directive requires member states to identify all bathing
waters each year. This is so that we ensure all coastal and inland waters
that are used by a large number of bathers during the bathing season (15
May to 30 September) are designated.
The two sites we are proposing for designation for the 2014 bathing season
are:
 Llyn Padarn, Llanberis, Gwynedd
 Rhyl East, East Parade, Denbighshire.
DEFRA
Energy efficiency:
proposals to change
Environmental Permitting
Regulations
The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED – 2012/27/EU) was adopted on 25
October 2012. It updates the EU’s legal framework for energy efficiency,
pursuing the target of saving 20% of the EU’s primary energy consumption
by 2020, and of making further energy efficiency improvements after 2020.
The Directive also repeals and replaces the Energy Services Directive (ESD
– 2006/32/EC) as well as the Cogeneration Directive (2004/8/EC).
10/02/2014
21/03/2014
National Assembly for
Wales
Inquiry into progress made
to date on implementing the
Welsh Government’s
Cancer Delivery Plan
The terms of reference for the inquiry are to examine the progress made in
implementing the Cancer Delivery Plan in Wales including:
 Whether Wales is on course to achieve the outcomes and
performance measures, as set out in the Cancer Delivery Plan, by
2016;
 Progress made in reducing the inequalities gap in cancer incidence
and mortality rates;
 The effectiveness of cancer screening services and the level of
take-up across the population of Wales, particularly the harder to
reach groups;
 Whether patients across Wales can access the care required (for
10/02/2014
04/04/2014
2


example, access to diagnostic testing or out-of-hours care) in an
appropriate setting and in a timely manner;
The level of collaborative working across sectors, especially
between the NHS and third sector, to ensure patients receive
effective person-centred care from multi-disciplinary teams.
Whether the current level of funding for cancer services is
appropriate, used effectively and provides value for money.
National Assembly for
Wales
Orthodontic services in
Wales
The terms of reference are to inquire into the provision of appropriate
orthodontic care in Wales including:
 Access for patients to appropriate orthodontic treatment, covering
both primary and secondary care orthodontic services, and whether
there is regional variation in access to orthodontic services across
Wales.
 The effectiveness of working relationships between orthodontic
practices and Local Health Boards in the management of local
orthodontic provision, and the role of Managed Clinical Networks in
helping to deliver more effective orthodontic services in Wales (e.g.
effective planning and management, improvement in the
appropriateness of referrals and performance management,
workforce arrangements).
 Whether the current level of funding for orthodontic services is
sustainable with spending pressures facing the NHS, including
whether the current provision of orthodontic care is adequate,
affordable and provides value for money.
 Whether orthodontic services is given sufficient priority within the
Welsh Government’s broader national oral health plan, including
arrangements for monitoring standards of delivery and outcomes of
care within the NHS and the independent sector.
 The impact of the dental contract on the provision of orthodontic
care.
10/02/2014
04/04/2014
Home Office
Covert surveillance
This consultation contains proposals to update the covert human
intelligence sources code of practice and the covert surveillance code of
practice. Both codes of practice have greatly improved control and oversight
of the way public authorities use covert investigatory techniques, in order to
protect our right to privacy. The changes made to the draft codes, on which
we are seeking views, are highlighted throughout the documents attached.
13/02/2014
27/03/2014
Department for
Culture, Media &
Sport
Community Radio
Consultation
The consultation sets out policy proposals to relax current financial
restrictions on community radio, whilst not altering community radio unique
role in terms of supporting localness and community engagement.
13/02/2014
23/04/2014
This consultation seeks specific views on:
 The lifting of the restriction on community radio stations preventing
them from taking any income from on-air advertising or sponsorship
if they overlap with a commercial radio licence whose coverage
area includes 150,000 adults or fewer.
 On the restrictions preventing community radio stations from taking
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
Welsh Government
Managing Naturally
Occurring Radioactive
Material (NORM) waste
more than 50% of their annual income from on-air advertising and
sponsorship, if they remain appropriate, and what, if any changes,
are justifiable.
On the case for further licence extensions for community radio
stations in the event of a decision to implement a radio switchover.
On improving the effectiveness of the Community Radio Fund.
We are consulting jointly on a strategy for managing naturally occurring
radioactive material (NORM) waste in the UK.
13/02/2014
08/05/2014
This is a joint consultation with:
 the UK Government
 Scottish Government
 the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment.

Our joint policy is to facilitate the sustainable and efficient management of
low level radioactive waste (LLW). This needs a policy which enables and
encourages waste producers to avoid producing unnecessary waste and
manage it in the most environmentally appropriate way.
**********
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
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
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.
4
BBC Trust
Consultation on proposed
allocation criteria for
Referendum Campaign
Broadcasts and Party
Election Broadcasts
The BBC is required by Parliament under the terms of its Charter and
Agreement of 2006 to ensure that matters of political controversy and
matters of public policy are covered with due impartiality.
23/01/2014
20/02/2014
28/11/2013
21/02/2014
25/11/2013
24/02/2014
13/01/2014
24/02/2014
The referendum on the constitutional future in Scotland is due to be held on
18 September 2014. Elections are also to be held on 22 May 2014 as
follows for:
- European Parliament throughout the UK
- English local government
- Northern Ireland local government
In advance of the elections, the BBC intends to publish criteria for allocating
broadcasts in respect of this referendum and these elections. The Trust is
inviting your views on the draft Referendum Campaign Broadcast and Party
Election Broadcast allocation criteria.
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.
5
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
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.
24/01/2014
28/02/2014
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
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
6
Welsh Government
Council Tax Reduction
Scheme Review
The Welsh Government is reviewing the options for the future of council tax
support in Wales.
12/12/2013
05/03/2014
13/12/2013
05/03/2014
13/12/2013
13/03/2014
19/12/2013
13/03/2014
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
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.
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
7
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.
Welsh Government
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.
Phase 1 - Draft Report:
Review of Audit, Inspection
and Regulation
Consultation to establish by consensus the purpose of audit, inspection and
regulation.
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
[email protected]
20/12/2013
14/03/2014
20/01/2014
14/03/2014
05/02/2014
19/03/2014
17/12/2013
28/03/2014
23/01/2014
28/03/2014
The Panel will have to have regard to Statutory Guidance made by Welsh
Ministers when making recommendations
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
Welsh Government
Welsh Government
8
Consultation on
Amendments to the Council
Tax (Chargeable Dwellings)
Order 1992 For Emergency
Accommodation
This consultation seeks views on the proposal to amend the Council Tax
(Chargeable Dwellings) Order 1992 (the 1992 Order).
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.
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.
The change is necessary to allow the Welsh Ministers to amend the 1992
Order so that properties which are classed as emergency accommodation
and consist of a number of self contained units are treated as one dwelling
for Council Tax purposes.
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.
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.
Welsh Government
The Statement of Public
Participation for the Welsh
National Marine Plan
We want your views on how and when we will have discussions with
interested people on the marine planning process.
03/02/2014
28/03/2014
04/02/2014
01/04/2014
08/01/2014
02/04/2014
We also explain what we will do with the views and opinions we receive
during the marine planning process.
Charity Commission
A consultation on a change
in regulation and Charity
Commission policy - The
regulation of common
deposit funds
Common Deposit Funds (CDFs) are a type of investment fund that are
deemed by law to be charities under the Charities Act 2011. They enjoy the
same tax status as other charities, and are eligible for registration as
charities in their own right. Therefore the Charity Commission has
responsibility for regulating CDFs as charities in England and Wales.
CDFs accept deposits from charities and pool the money to form a large
sum that will then be deposited on the money market. As a pooled and
larger sum, the deposit may secure a higher rate of interest for the
depositing charities than each charity would otherwise obtain if undertaken
separately. As a result, CDFs have been particularly important to smaller
charities that have relatively small amounts of cash to deposit.
The implementation of a European Union Directive, the Alternative
Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) means that the Financial
Conduct Authority (FCA) will be responsible for some aspects of the
operation of unregulated investment funds, including CIFs and CDFs. This
will require the Charity Commission to make significant changes to its model
schemes for CDFs. It will also provide an opportunity to take a significantly
different approach to the regulation of CDFs and investment funds for
charities generally.
Welsh Government
9
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.
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
23/01/2014
17/04/2014
27/01/2014
20/04/2014
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.
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.
The Government will consider responses to the consultation alongside
evidence about marriage of same sex couples, civil partnership and
possible options for the future.
Welsh Government
Proposals for the inshore
crustacean fishery - Phase
1
A review of all fisheries legislation in Wales was commenced in January
2012 with the remit to review all items to ensure they are fit for purpose.
One of the priority areas is the measures for regulating the crustacean
fisheries around the Welsh coastline. Currently there are different sets of
regulations that apply in different parts of Wales and are inconsistent. These
cause confusion throughout the industry and make it difficult for officials to
enforce some of the regulations.
Welsh Government
TB compensation
The Minister wishes to take the views of stakeholders on the introduction of
a table valuation system through this public consultation with the
expectation of introducing any necessary legislation in 2014
28/01/2014
22/04/2014
Welsh Government
Review of Planning
Conditions Circular and
We want your views on updated guidance on conditions for planning
approvals.
29/01/2014
25/04/2014
10
model conditions
Welsh Office Circular 35/95 gives guidance on the use of planning
conditions. It contains an appendix with model conditions. Although much of
this guidance is still relevant, we need to publish an updated version to
include:
 recommendations made in recent studies
 changes to legislation, guidance, case law and practice since 1995.
This proposed new circular will bring advice up to date. It will give a new list
of standard conditions to help promote best practice in the use of planning
conditions in Wales.
Welsh Government
Prevention of Offending by
Young People
The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on proposals to improve
services for young people from Wales who are in the youth justice system,
to ensure their effective reintegration and resettlement following a
community or custodial sentence.
There are many examples of children who fall into the Youth Justice system
due to unmet needs. The proposals will provide the opportunity to
strengthen our support for these young people and help them to break the
cycle of reoffending.
11
05/02/2014
30/04/2014