Politics
Poverty and complex needs
THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION is working with the Bevan Foundation and others on a major programme to identify ‘what works’ to reduce poverty and to develop an anti-poverty strategy for Wales and other UK nations based on that evidence.
The term ‘complex needs’ refers to the ways in which poverty is complicated by some people’s additional requirements for support with, for example, substance misuse, or the trauma associated with experiences of violence, abuse or neglect. It also includes people whose additional disadvantages are associated with legal status (for example, immigration status restricting employment or welfare rights).
It is very important to understand that poverty amongst these groups of people and their specific needs are two separate things.
Work undertaken to date suggests it is unlikely that poverty amongst people with complex needs will be reduced in the short term. Instead, the focus should be on reducing the additional disadvantages they face so that they are closer to the same position as other income groups, enabling them to access mainstream services and support.
Adults with complex needs
Some key findings have emerged so far:
- Adults often have overlapping complex needs (e.g. homelessness, substance misuse and a history of offending) which should be addressed in a holistic way rather than separately. This suggests that the Welsh Government should bring together these functions, currently located in three different portfolios, under a single Minister and be addressed in a single, ‘complex needs’ strategy.
- Approaches based on people’s assets are more effective than those based on their deficits – so approaches such as Housing First or recovery models of substance misuse are typically most effective. This suggests that the Welsh Government may wish to review and refresh its approaches.
- Community-based support is typically more effective than institutionally-based services. This suggests that the Welsh Government may wish to review its approaches and focus on community-based interventions.
- For a minority of people, intensive, personalised and open-ended support is required.
In the longer term, the close association between persistent family poverty and many complex needs such as substance misuse, living in a disadvantaged area and offending needs to be broken. The most effective ‘primary’ prevention measure is to reduce poverty itself, especially amongst unemployed young men living in disadvantaged areas. This suggests that the Welsh Government should target some future anti-poverty actions on young unemployed men.
Refugees and Asylum-seekers
Emerging proposals to reduce poverty amongst refugees and asylum-seekers include non-devolved issues such as changes to the asylum process and benefits eligibility.
Areas of relevance to the Welsh Government include:
- Improved access to the labour market, so that refugees and asylum seekers can reduce the risk of poverty by working.
- Improved access to housing, particularly on transition from Home Office accommodation to the private rented sector.
- Access to ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) provision.
- Better access to health care services especially for pregnant women and access to rehabilitation and psychological support.
Work remains ongoing on effective approaches for families with complex needs and domestic violence.
Politics
Dowson dissents on new CEO

A PEMBROKESHIRE county councillor has come forward to oppose the appointment of the authority’s new Chief Executive despite not voting against it when an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council considered.
Controversial Pembroke Dock Central county councillor Paul Dowson issued a press release in which he said that the new CEO had ‘no track record’ in the role.
Last Wednesday (March 31) Pembrokeshire County Council overwhelmingly voted in favour of Major-General Will Bramble’s appointment.
Councillors voted 48 votes for with two abstentions and one against.
Milford Central councillor Stephen Joseph’s was the sole vote against the appointment.
Cllr Joseph is a noted booster of former CEO Ian Westley, whose departure with a £95,000 pay-off caused controversy.
An Audit Wales investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Westley’s pay-off is due to report within a few weeks.
Major-General Bramble is currently the Senior British Officer in Italy and Deputy Commander of the NATO Corps in Italy.
His track record was not enough to impress Cllr Dowson, however.
Cllr Dowson said: “He has no experience in a local authority having spent his career entirely in the military.
“I felt that the massive responsibility that comes with this role and the salary level requires more than just one candidate at final stages.
“Cllrs Josh Beynon and Di Clements both stated, ‘give him a chance”.
“I’m afraid at this level you don’t give someone a chance,especially one with no track record in the job.
“He was a very good candidate but I’m not prepared to make a decision on an option already chosen by the senior staff committee and presented to the full council for approval.
“The candidate was strong but the post should have been readvertised and he should have been put forward for the final round when others were competing for the job too.”
Politics
Criticism of Labour’s water pollution policy grow

RIGHT OBJECTIVE WRONG METHOD
Fraser McAuley, CLA Policy Advisor, said: “The Government’s laudable objectives can be better met by an approach which focuses attention where it’s most needed. Where a problem doesn’t exist, we should not be imposing unnecessary costs on a hard-pressed sector in a future of uncertainty.
WG HASN’T LISTENED TO THE SCIENCE
Janet Finch-Saunder said: “CLA Cymru is bang on the money here over Labour’s unfair stance on nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZ).
‘CULTURE WAR’
Carmarthen East & Dinefwr’s MP, Jonathan Edwards, went further and accused the Welsh Government of stoking a ‘culture war’ between farmers and the environmental lobby for electoral advantage.
“The Labour Government have also failed to consider the emergence of innovative slurry management technology.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
Plaid Cymru’s candidate for Preseli Pembrokeshire, Cris Tomos, said: “It is concerning that the Labour Welsh Government continues to ignore farmers and the farming unions.
“These regulations could be detrimental to the farming community, especially to the Welsh family farm.
A TIGHT TIMETABLE
If Labour intends to plough on with its legislation, it really has to get its skates on.
‘GREEN’ CREDENTIALS
Having promised a Clean Air Act for Wales in its 2016 manifesto, it is nowhere near bringing any such legislation forward. It appears it’s more in the presentation and consultation than in the statute book.
As Jonathan Edwards notes above: you’d think there was an election coming.
Suppose Labour cannot form a majority government propped up by votes from individuals like Dafydd Elis Thomas. In that case, it will need to haggle over its future plans or face legislative deadlock.
Education
Senedd approves Wales’ National Curriculum

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