Part 2Local government bodies in Wales

Chapter 2Studies and performance standards

Studies

41Studies for improving economy etc in services

(1)

The Auditor General for Wales must for each financial year undertake F1... studies designed to enable himto make recommendations—

(a)

for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of the functions of F2—

(i)

county councils and county borough councils in Wales;

(ii)

fire and rescue authorities in Wales constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies;

(iii)

National Park authorities for National Parks in Wales;

(b)

for improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of services provided by other localgovernment bodies in Wales;

(c)

for improving the financialor other management of local government bodies in Wales.

(2)

The studies which the Auditor General for Wales is required to undertake F1... under subsection (1) include in particular—

(a)

studies designed to enable the Auditor General for Wales to determine what directions he should give under section 47;

(b)

studies of information published in pursuance of section 47 which are designed to enable the Auditor General for Wales to determine, in relation to each financial year, what comparative information to publish himself about the standards of performance achieved by bodies which are relevant bodies for the purposes of that section.

(3)

The Auditor General for Wales may undertake F1... other studies relating to the provision of services by local government bodies in Wales.

(4)

Where the Auditor General for Wales undertakes F1... a study under this section, he must publish or otherwise make available—

(a)

the results of the study, and

(b)

any recommendations made by him.

(5)

Before undertaking F1... a study under this section, other than a study of a kind mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2), the Auditor General for Wales must consult—

(a)

any associations of local government bodies in Wales which appear to him to be concerned, and

(b)

any associations of employees which appear to him to be appropriate.

(6)

The Auditor General for Wales and F3the Welsh Ministers must co-operate with each other with respect to the exercise of their respective functions under this section and F4sections 149A and 149B of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (reviews of studies and research and other reviews relating to local authority social services functions carried out by the Welsh Ministers).

F5(7)

Subsection (8) applies in respect of the discharge of social services functions by local authorities in Wales.

(8)

The Auditor General and the Social Care Wales must co-operate with each other with respect to the exercise of their respective functions under this section and section 70 of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 (studies by SCW as to economy etc.).

(9)

In subsection (7) “social services functions” has the same meaning as in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.