Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009

Community strategies

39Production of community strategy

(1)Once community planning for a local authority’s area has reached the stage described in subsection (2), the authority must produce a document (referred to in this Measure as a “community strategy”) containing the information described in subsection (3).

(2)The stage referred to in subsection (1) is reached when the authority is of the opinion that the degree of consensus amongst the community planning partners and the authority—

(a)as to community strategy objectives for the authority’s area is such that it is appropriate to set such objectives in the community strategy; and

(b)as to the actions to be performed and functions to be exercised for the purpose of achieving those objectives is such that it is appropriate to describe them in the community strategy.

(3)The information to be contained in the community strategy is—

(a)a description of the community strategy objectives which the authority considers it appropriate to set having regard to the consensus referred to in subsection (2)(a); and

(b)a description of the actions to be performed and functions to be exercised for the purpose of achieving those objectives which the authority considers it appropriate to include in the strategy having regard to the consensus referred to in subsection (2)(b).

(4)The community strategy—

(a)must be produced as soon as is reasonably practicable after community planning for the authority’s area has reached the stage described in subsection (2); and

(b)once produced, must be published as soon as is reasonably practicable by the authority.

40Community strategies: duty to review

(1)A community strategy review must be completed in accordance with section 41—

(a)before the fourth anniversary of the date on which the community strategy was published under section 39(4); and

(b)subsequently, before the fourth anniversary of the date on which the last community strategy review was completed.

(2)For the purposes of this section and section 41, a community strategy review is completed on—

(a)the date on which an amended community strategy is published under section 41(6); or

(b)if a review does not result in any amendment to a community strategy, the date on which the local authority decided that it was not required under section 41(4) to amend the strategy.

41Community strategy reviews

(1)This section sets out the process by which a community strategy must be reviewed.

(2)A local authority and, subject to subsection (3), its community planning partners must—

(a)taking into account any statement published under section 42(3) since the community strategy was produced or (as the case may be) its last review was completed, consider the extent to which—

(i)the community strategy objectives contained in the strategy have been met; and

(ii)if an objective has not been met, progress has been made towards meeting the objective;

(b)in the light of the consideration under paragraph (a) and any other factors which the authority or a partner think appropriate, consider—

(i)whether the community strategy objectives should be modified;

(ii)whether new objectives should be set;

(iii)whether the strategy’s description of the actions to be taken and functions to be exercised for the purpose of achieving a community strategy objective should be modified (whether in the light of a modification of an objective or for any other reason);

(iv)where the authority or partner consider that a new objective should be set, which actions should be taken and which functions exercised for the purpose of achieving the objective.

(3)A community planning partner’s duty under subsection (2) extends only to matters connected with its functions.

(4)If the requirement in subsection (5) is met a local authority must, following the consideration required by subsection (2), amend the community strategy for its area by doing all or any of the following—

(a)modifying the community strategy objectives;

(b)setting new objectives;

(c)modifying the actions to be taken and functions to be exercised for the purpose of achieving a community strategy objective;

(d)describing the actions to be taken and functions to be exercised for the purpose of achieving a new objective.

(5)The requirement is that, in relation to a proposed amendment, the authority is of the opinion that the degree of consensus amongst the community planning partners and the authority in relation to the amendment is such that it is appropriate to make the amendment.

(6)The local authority must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after becoming subject to the duty under subsection (4), publish an amended community strategy.

42Community strategies: monitoring

(1)A local authority and its community planning partners must ensure that arrangements are made for monitoring—

(a)progress made towards meeting the community strategy objectives for the local authority’s area contained in the current community strategy; and

(b)the effectiveness of actions taken and functions exercised for the purpose of meeting those objectives.

(2)A community planning partner’s duty under subsection (1) extends only to matters connected with its functions.

(3)A local authority must from time to time (but at least once every two years) publish a statement which describes—

(a)progress made towards meeting the community strategy objectives for its area; and

(b)actions taken and functions exercised for the purpose of meeting those objectives.

(4)It is the duty of each community planning partner of a local authority to provide such information as the authority may reasonably require in order to enable it to comply with its duty under subsection (3).

(5)The first statement under subsection (3) must be produced within two years of the date on which a community strategy is published under section 39(4).

43Community strategies: implementation

(1)This section applies to a local authority or one of its community planning partners if the current community strategy for the authority’s area describes—

(a)an action to be performed by the authority or partner for the purposes of achieving a community strategy objective; or

(b)a function to be exercised by the authority or partner for the purpose of achieving a community strategy objective.

(2)The authority or community planning partner must take all reasonable steps to perform the action or exercise the function in accordance with the community strategy.