WIREDGOV

      ‘Promoting improvement and value for money from public services is our aim’, says Auditor General   

    The Wales Audit Office has recently revealed its three-year vision for helping improve public services in Wales. The strategy for 2009-2012, Sustained Impact in a Time of Change, details how the organisation intends to support the Auditor General in promoting improvements to public services through audit and inspection work in an environment of considerable change and economic constraints.

The Strategy also highlights Wales Audit Office progress against the five key objectives set out in its first strategy, which covered the period 2006-2009, establishing itself as a trusted and valued institution within the landscape of external scrutiny, review and improvement.

As the Wales Audit Office enters its fifth year, it is now operating in a climate of significant change which will have far-reaching effects on the public sector. Developments such as the restructuring of the NHS in Wales, and new Assembly legislation make this an opportune time for the Wales Audit Office to review is strategic direction.

The organisation has developed six main strategic themes for particular focus over the next three years:

• helping Welsh public bodies to improve their use of resources within the growing constraints of the economy and environment;
• promoting improved comparisons, clear performance data, and accessible reporting to decision-makers and citizens;
• promoting better outcomes for citizens by working across boundaries to improve the way public services are planned, delivered and reviewed;
• supporting the reform of the NHS by providing high-quality and timely assurance, challenge and diagnosis;
• supporting the translation of Assembly Government strategy into action both directly and through others; and
• helping to ensure the implementation of the local government measure delivers improved services and relationships.

The Wales Audit Office will focus on these themes by providing assurance about how public money is being spent; promoting improvement in services for citizens and helping decision-makers understand the issues and challenges public services face.

The finalised Wales Audit Office Strategy follows a period of consultation with public bodies across Wales. It will be launched at its 2009 conference, Improvement in a Cold Climate: Delivering in Challenging Times, today (May 20) in the Mercure Holland House hotel in Cardiff.

Jeremy Colman, the Auditor General for Wales said today:
“This new three year strategy is being launched at an opportune time. The strategy will guide our work and help us deliver in what is a challenging environment for the entire public sector. It remains our mission to promote improvements to public services and ensure that people in Wales get the best possible value for money.”

Notes to Editors:

• More information and a copy of the new WAO strategy ‘Sustained Impact in a Time of Change’ can be found at http://www.wao.gov.uk/news/news_2591.asp
• Full details of the Wales Audit Office 2009 conference can be found by following this link http://www.wao.gov.uk/news_2467.asp. The event boasts a distinguished line up of speakers and interactive programme. Journalists are welcome to cover the event, but should inform the press office in advance.
• Wales Audit Office is independent of government and is responsible for the annual audit of some £20 billion of annual public expenditure.
• Its mission is to promote improvement, so that people in Wales benefit from accountable, well-managed public services that offer the best possible value for money. It is also committed to identify and spreading good practice across the Welsh public sector.
• The Wales Audit Office was created in April 2005 through the Public Audit (Wales) Act, 2004, which expanded the functions of the Auditor General for Wales and enabled the transfer of staffs from the Audit Commission in Wales and National Audit Office in Wales to his employment.