PENARTH TOWN COUNCIL

CYNGOR TREF PENARTH

Shân E. Bowden                                                     West House, Stanwell Road, Penarth CF64 2YG

Town Clerk/Clerc Y Dref                                 Ty’r Gorllewin, Heol Stanwell, Penarth CF64 2YG                   

                                                                         Tel/Ffôn: (029)2070 0721   Fax/Ffacs:(029) 2071 2574

                                                                       E-Mail/E-Bost:enquiries@penarthtowncouncil.gov.uk

Please ask for/Cys yllter â; E-mail/E-bost                                                  My Ref/Cyf:                         Your Ref/Eich Cyf:

Shân Bowden /xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      SEB 5/14/23

Committee Clerk

Finance Committee

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff Bay

CF99 1NA                                                                                             18^th January 2016

Dear Sir/Madam

Consultation on the Draft Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill

I refer to your from the Chair of the Finance Committee dated 21^st October 2015 and the enclosed consultation question regarding the draft Public Service Ombudsman (Wales) Bill.

Having considered the documents referred to and the consultation the Town Council wishes to submit the following comments:-

Q1 - Q4

The Council considers that there are resource implications and potential unintended consequences which must be evaluated prior to implementing the provisions. Briefly, these arise from:-

· the potential extent of the investigations in Private Health Care investigations

· the potential duplication of effort where Commissioners already exist

·  or in the case of sustainability are going to exist

·  the redirection of effort from traditional areas such as the Town and Community Council (T& CC) Sector.

As a Town Council we wish to ensure that good governance is safe guarded through the availability of the Ombudsman there is a danger these new roles will grow at the expense of the Local Authority Sector which includes T&CC’s

 Although this Council has previously supported the extension of powers it was not at the expense of current responsibilities and we would like to see an assessment of impact in those areas described above.

We also note there is no reference to the T&CC Sector in this Consultation.

Yours sincerely

Town Clerk

Correspondence is welcomed in Welsh or English/Croesawir Gohebiaeth yn y Gymraeg neu yn Saeneg