Partnership Council for Wales: progress report 2022 to 2026

Section 72 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (the Act) requires the Welsh Ministers to establish and maintain a body to be known as the Partnership Council for Wales (the Partnership Council). 

Section 73 of the Act requires the Welsh Ministers to make a Local Government Scheme (the Scheme), setting out how they propose, in the exercise of their functions, to sustain and promote local government in Wales. That section also requires Welsh Ministers to publish a report on how the proposals set out in the Scheme were implemented each year. 

The Partnership Council continues to serve as the embodiment of the Scheme and the statutory forum for collaborative discussion on key issues for public services in Wales. This report summarises the most significant activities and collective progress made by Partnership Council during the period April 2022 to March 2026. 

This report evidences the journey and impact of partnership working on shared priorities such as climate change, streamlining the Welsh benefits system, tackling the cost-of-living crisis, achieving equality and inclusion across our communities, and the future of our health and care systems. 

Membership of Partnership Council includes the Welsh Ministers, all 22 council Leaders, the Welsh Local Government Association and One Voice Wales as representative associations of Welsh local government, National Parks, Police and Crime Commissioners, NHS Wales and Fire and Rescue Authorities. Observers include the Wales TUC, Audit Wales and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.

Whilst there is no statutory requirement to consult on this report, it has been shared with the WLGA and as a paper for Partnership Council on 9 March 2026. WLGA and Partnership Council members’ views have informed this published report.

Agendas and minutes for each Partnership Council meeting during the period covered by this report can be accessed from the Welsh Government website.

The relationship between national government, local authorities and public and third sector partners is critical to delivering the best possible outcomes for the people of Wales.

The Partnership Council provides the space for open, transparent discussions on shared public service priorities and challenges in a formal partnership setting. Agendas, papers and minutes of the meetings are in the public domain on the Welsh Government website (See Annex A). Members of the public can attend meetings if they wish.

The Welsh Government works closely with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and Partnership Council members to ensure the ongoing relevance of Partnership Council agendas, including through co-development of a forward work plan. In this way the forum continues to provide timely and focused opportunities to discuss priorities and challenges in a way that can drive improvement and further embed partnership working.

The COVID-19 inquiry in its Module 2, 2A, 2B and 2C report noted at paragraph 14.26 that it ‘encourages its [the Partnership Council] use in Wales in any future pandemic to facilitate engagement and communication between the Welsh Government and local government in Wales’. This builds on the role the Partnership Council played as a key element of the regular, transparent and collaborative engagement between national and local government in Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As we enter a new era following the co-development and launch of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Welsh Government and local government in Wales, the Partnership Council will continue to provide a platform to enable and further embed the principles and ways of working as trusted partners.

During the period from April 2022 to March 2026, the Partnership Council considered a range of key issues relating to public service delivery. This included a standing item on Climate Change, a range of Programme for Government commitments and major challenges facing communities across Wales. 

Standing item: climate change

Climate change is a standing item at Partnership Council meetings. The Partnership Council set up the Local Government Climate Strategy Panel (the Strategy Panel) to give leadership, develop local government commitments for ‘Net Zero Wales Carbon Budget 2’ and support councils in pursuing those commitments. The Climate Strategy Panel was charged with reporting back on progress. 

Cross-sector oversight in the Partnership Council enables useful challenge and broader learning from the work of the Strategy Panel with lessons which could be applied across wider public sector organisations in Wales or be undertaken in partnership.

The Strategy Panel oversees four decarbonisation groups supporting local authorities in achieving their commitments in the Net Zero Wales plan and a group established to consider adaptation and resilience measures, for council services and for the wider community. Regular updates on the work of these groups are included in the progress reports to Partnership Council members. 

The Strategy Panel has also reported to members on work with local government pension funds to explore opportunities for place-based impact investing that can support local economies and communities in sustainable ways.

As part of regular Strategy Panel updates, an assessment has been made in relation to progress by councils against the public sector route map to net zero, the Net Zero Wales plan, and the Climate Adaptation Strategy for Wales, emphasising the need for long-term funding and supportive regulation to enable and facilitate mitigation and adaptation work by local authorities.

The Partnership Council has also received a presentation from the UK Climate Change Committee. 

Programme for Government commitments

The Programme for Government (PfG) aims to maximise Welsh Government’s contribution to Wales’ collective future and create a stronger, fairer, greener and more compassionate Wales, addressing the unprecedented challenges we face. It focusses on ways we can improve the lives of people in Wales both now and in the future.

The Partnership Council has created a collaborative forum to facilitate discussion and provide support on PfG commitments relevant to both the Welsh Government and Local Government during this period.

These PfG commitments have included:

• to keep regional partnerships under review
• to reduce the administrative burden on local authorities
• Cymraeg 2050: a million Welsh speakers
• the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan
• the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill (now an Act)
• the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales
• the Foundational Economy

Other issues discussed at meetings 

During this period, Partnership Council has received updates on and discussed several other relevant issues, including:

• cost of living
• Welsh benefits system and charter
• future of our health and care system and winter pressures
• Partnership working within Policing and Criminal Justice in Wales
• One Welsh Public Service
• Homes for Ukraine scheme in Wales
• introduction of the Building Safety (Wales) Bill
• economic recovery, green growth and planning reform
• regional working, Corporate Joint Committees
• Well-being of Future Generations Act

In addition, the former First Minister for Wales, the Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, addressed Partnership Council members at the meeting on 13 March 2024, reflecting on his time as First Minister and emphasising the importance of working in partnership with local government and public services across Wales.

At the meeting on 17 March 2025, Eluned Morgan MS, Prif Weinidog, led a discussion on the implications of the change in UK government, particularly in relation to funding, welfare reform and the opportunities and challenges for Wales.

The Finance Sub Group (FSG) is a sub group of the Partnership Council and the main forum for discussions relating to the Local Government Settlement and the financial framework for local government, including local taxes and finance reform. It provides the political oversight for changes to the local government settlement formula. 

At a special meeting in January 2024, the FSG provided a forum for discussion on the work to reduce the administrative burden on local authorities, specifically in relation to reducing the number of revenue grants paid by the Welsh Government to local authorities. Discussions focused on opportunities to dehypothecate or consolidate grants, and to streamline the administration of those grants that remained.

Later FSG meetings continued to review progress on the dehypothecation or consolidation of specific grants, and the ongoing work to encourage consistency and proportionality in approach. 

Agendas and minutes of FSG meetings can be found on the Welsh Government website.

At the Partnership Council meeting on 7 July 2025, the Cabinet Secretary spoke about the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Welsh Government and local government in Wales (the Agreement) which had been signed at the WLGA Conference in June.

The Cabinet Secretary stated the signing of the Agreement marked a significant step in strengthening the collaborative relationship between the Welsh Government and local government. It formalised how both spheres of government worked together as trusted partners, setting out clear roles and responsibilities to support a stable and enduring partnership.

The Agreement established a shared set of principles to guide joint working, building on the collaborative approach developed over recent years. It reaffirmed a shared commitment to equity, inclusivity, and tackling poverty and health inequalities. It also identified key areas for ongoing collaboration such as developing diversity in leadership and tackling abuse directed at people in politics or the public sector workforce.

Reviewing the Local Government Partnership Scheme

The Scheme was last reviewed in 2017. It is proposed to review the Scheme following the Senedd elections in May 2026, bringing it up to date and aligning it with the Strategic Partnership Agreement. The revised Scheme would be considered for approval at a future Partnership Council meeting. 

It is proposed that the Terms of Reference for Partnership Council for Wales be reviewed by members to ensure it remains fit for purpose. 

The WLGA values the Partnership Council for Wales and looks forward to fostering good relations with the next administration.

Partnership Council for Wales members are thanked for their commitment to the work of the Council and for bringing their expertise to discussions about Wales’ biggest challenges in the pursuit of the best outcomes for communities and people across Wales.

All the papers for the Partnership Council meetings can be found on the Welsh Government website.