10. The Scrutiny Capacity of Civil Society in Wales - Click on Wales
10. The Scrutiny Capacity of Civil Society in Wales - Click on Wales
10. The Scrutiny Capacity of Civil Society in Wales - Click on Wales
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Chapter 10<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>y</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Capacity</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Civil</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Society</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Rebecca Rumbul
10<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>y</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Capacity</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Civil</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Society</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Rebecca Rumbul<br />
Introducti<strong>on</strong><br />
A diverse and vibrant civil society is essential to a functi<strong>on</strong><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g democratic system.<br />
Few would argue with this statement. But why is civil society so important? What role is it that<br />
civil society plays <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> improv<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the quality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> public life? And how does it execute this role? More<br />
importantly perhaps, given its importance, how is it supported by the public and our govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> perform<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g its vital role <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil life? In 2001, reflect<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <strong>on</strong> the early days <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> devoluti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Kev<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> Morgan and Gareth Rees stated:<br />
“<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Welsh governance system now enables much greater accessibility, at least to those<br />
with the organisati<strong>on</strong>al capacity to capitalise <strong>on</strong> the opportunities which are newly<br />
available.” (Morgan and Rees, 2001)<br />
Over ten years <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Welsh devoluti<strong>on</strong> later, this paper explores if, and how, that accessibility has been<br />
utilised. It centres <strong>on</strong> the capacity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Welsh civil society to engage with the govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> a scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>y and development role, from propos<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>is<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g legislati<strong>on</strong> to manifesto<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s and policy development and delivery.<br />
It was stated that, should a ‘Yes’ vote be achieved <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Welsh 2011 referendum, a str<strong>on</strong>ger civil<br />
society would need to emerge <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> order to both take advantage <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, and regulate the quality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>, public<br />
life <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g> (Nicholl, 2010). <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> def<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>iti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> what civil society actually is. Too<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten, ‘civil society’ is narrowly c<strong>on</strong>sidered to be the voluntary sector. However, trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, public<br />
affairs organisati<strong>on</strong>s, political parties and campaign<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g organisati<strong>on</strong>s also have an important role <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>fluenc<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>is<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the activities <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> government. One comm<strong>on</strong>ly cited def<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>iti<strong>on</strong> is that civil<br />
society occupies the space between government, the market and the <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividual, and this is the base<br />
from which this paper is approached.<br />
A wide variety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> research has now been carried out <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to civil society <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g>. However, very little<br />
academic literature has specifically exam<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ed the capacity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Welsh civil society to fully scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ise<br />
the work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g>, the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly and the Welsh Government.<br />
Unlike Scotland, where the C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> bound civil society together <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
achiev<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g devoluti<strong>on</strong>, Welsh civil society was largely absent from the devoluti<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>versati<strong>on</strong> pre-1999<br />
(Day, 2006). This meant that Welsh civil society was somewhat <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>f-the-pace from the very beg<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>n<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> understand<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the mechanisms put <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> place, and how to work with them. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re has been<br />
Chapter 10 136
ecogniti<strong>on</strong> with<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> voluntary sector c<strong>on</strong>ferences and speeches (Davies, 2010; McAllister, 2010) that<br />
scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>y needs to be set apart from general oppositi<strong>on</strong> and ‘nit-pick<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g’ (Rees and Chaney, 2011), and<br />
needs to be opened up to wider civil society and members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the public (Williams, 2011).<br />
Day (2006) notes that positive structures were put <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> place to ensure <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>clusivity was built <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to the<br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly’s remit. However, he notes that the “speed and <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>tensity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy formulati<strong>on</strong><br />
and review admits <strong>on</strong>ly the well-resourced, and skilled, <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to the process”. Hodgs<strong>on</strong> (2004) has<br />
accused the Welsh Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ‘manufactur<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g’ civil society, corrall<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g organisati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to its own<br />
visi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a helpful and productive sector. This, he says, suggests a tendency for govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
to impose their own values up<strong>on</strong> the sector.<br />
Generally, the academic literature highlights the many opportunities for Welsh civil society, and the<br />
positive structures put <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> place to <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>clude and support it. Many papers are critical <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certa<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> aspects<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mean<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>gful <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>clusi<strong>on</strong> and capacity to engage, but are <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten forgiv<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> light <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the youth and <strong>on</strong>go<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> devoluti<strong>on</strong>. Look<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to the future, it is perhaps prudent to ask, at what po<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>t do we<br />
become less forgiv<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g?<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> differences between the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly’s and Welsh Government’s approach and to the<br />
engagement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society were, at least <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the limited scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this research, quite marked. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
efforts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Assembly have clearly evolved over the four terms. Initial efforts to engage with those<br />
outside its walls focused <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> a rather scattergun manner through presence at shows<br />
and popular public events. In the Third Assembly, external engagement and civil society capacity<br />
build<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g shifted towards def<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the Assembly as an <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong> and understand<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the powers held<br />
by it, <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> anticipati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the 2011 Referendum.<br />
S<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ce the <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>cepti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Fourth Assembly, there has been a recogniti<strong>on</strong> that the Assembly needs<br />
to focus its engagement activities with civil society <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> a more targeted and strategic manner <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
order to achieve mean<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>gful change. Accord<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>gly, it has developed a range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tools to try to improve<br />
its engagement with civil society, and appears genu<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ely enthusiastic about try<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>crease<br />
participati<strong>on</strong>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se tools <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>clude a newly re-focused outreach team, which is target<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g specific<br />
areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> society to engage, and a ‘toolkit’ available to AMs <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> which a menu <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities and events<br />
are laid out for use <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> successfully engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g relevant groups and <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals for the purposes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
policy development and legislative scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>y. All this reflects a reality that the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly<br />
has historically been a misunderstood organisati<strong>on</strong>, both by the media and civil society generally,<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> media coverage and civil society understand<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g, so it is perhaps not surpris<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g that its<br />
corporate attitude is somewhat eager.<br />
On the other hand, the Welsh Government is generally accepted to be less energetic and <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>novative<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> widen<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g participati<strong>on</strong> by civil society. This <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>al lethargy towards engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with civil society<br />
was evident <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>terviews c<strong>on</strong>ducted for this paper. It is also is detectable <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>formati<strong>on</strong> available to civil society <strong>on</strong> how to get <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>volved with policy development and delivery.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Welsh Government’s website is widely regarded as difficult to navigate and unhelpful <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> direct<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals to the relevant <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>formati<strong>on</strong>. Similarly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals expressed difficulty <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> f<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the ‘right<br />
pers<strong>on</strong> to talk to’ when try<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to c<strong>on</strong>tact the Government about specific issues, whether by teleph<strong>on</strong>e<br />
or email. Two <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>terviewees used the term ‘faceless’ to describe the Welsh Government, illustrat<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the<br />
lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mean<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>gful <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>formati<strong>on</strong> available to those try<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to generate a dialogue <strong>on</strong> specific issues.<br />
Most resp<strong>on</strong>dents <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> this study identified Welsh Government’s c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> processes as time-<br />
Chapter 10 137
c<strong>on</strong>sum<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and, occasi<strong>on</strong>ally, superficial. Some <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals cited a feel<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> powerlessness, say<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
they felt they had to resp<strong>on</strong>d to c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> order to dem<strong>on</strong>strate their engagement. However,<br />
the process <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten felt po<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>tless, as their c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s rarely appeared to <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>fluence the Welsh<br />
Government’s th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>k<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g. This was most str<strong>on</strong>gly felt by voluntary organisati<strong>on</strong>s that did not have<br />
particularly good l<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ks with government.<br />
This was not experienced across the board, however, and some <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals, <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
recalled very positive c<strong>on</strong>sultative processes with the government. At the same time, the quality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s appears to be dependent up<strong>on</strong> the civil servants and departments <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>volved, the level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
expertise <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society and the capacity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s to engage. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stances where<br />
the <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>volved are enthusiastic and receive support from their managers/m<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>isters, it works<br />
well. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stances where expertise is lower, where political will appears weak or where organisati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
cannot afford to devote time to engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g further than resp<strong>on</strong>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to a c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>, the quality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />
process itself appears to decrease, with civil society satisfacti<strong>on</strong> decl<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with it.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Welsh Government established structures to engage with the voluntary sector through its<br />
obligati<strong>on</strong>s as part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act 1998 and the later Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g> Act 2006.<br />
This gave birth to the Third Sector Partnership Council. However, this is a narrower obligati<strong>on</strong> than to<br />
civil society as a whole. Nevertheless, the Council <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>cludes a wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> thematic representati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
and its facilitati<strong>on</strong> by the WCVA enables it to engage a wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organisati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> tackl<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
comm<strong>on</strong> issues.<br />
Nevertheless, the Partnership Council has been subject to some criticism, rang<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g from the lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
time allocated to it by the Welsh Government and the M<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>isters resp<strong>on</strong>sible for it, a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> diversity<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> its representati<strong>on</strong> (‘the same old faces’ sitt<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g around the table), and a tendency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the thematic<br />
representatives to represent the <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>terests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their own organisati<strong>on</strong>s, rather than the variety <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> their area. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se criticisms are not necessarily representative <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the sector, and many<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals have over-estimated the scope <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Council, leav<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g them disappo<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ted with its outcomes.<br />
In the current f<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ancial climate, fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g is <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> course a significant issue, and while the Council has<br />
addressed this, some perhaps felt that this wasn’t generat<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g for the sector for which<br />
they were hop<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g. Possibly the most fitt<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g descripti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Council was that it was “a good th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
to have. Not amaz<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g. But better than not hav<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g it”.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Welsh Government provides significant fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s to support their<br />
work and c<strong>on</strong>tribute to their operat<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g costs. Several organisati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dicated this support was vital<br />
to their c<strong>on</strong>t<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ued existence. Over time, the relati<strong>on</strong>ships they developed with civil servants was key<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> their development, their ability to deliver, and their ability to secure other funds, for <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stance from<br />
the European Social Fund<br />
Yet such l<strong>on</strong>g-term <strong>on</strong>-go<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g Welsh Government support raises two c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s. First is<br />
the extent to which established relati<strong>on</strong>ships between the Welsh Government and civil society<br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s impedes the development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> relati<strong>on</strong>ships with other organisati<strong>on</strong>s operat<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
similar policy areas. Several participants felt that some organisati<strong>on</strong>s were the ‘go-to’ organisati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
for certa<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy areas, and found it difficult to get their voices heard or to ga<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g from the<br />
government due to the dom<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these trusted organisati<strong>on</strong>s. Whilst there will always be<br />
c<strong>on</strong>spiracy theorists dissect<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g these relati<strong>on</strong>ships, these organisati<strong>on</strong>s are mostly <strong>on</strong>es which<br />
have worked with the Welsh Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the past, and are simply those that are automatically<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered as operat<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> their areas. More <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten than not, they are able to deliver activity <strong>on</strong> a<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g>-wide basis.<br />
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However, if the Welsh Government fails to make new relati<strong>on</strong>ships or to keep <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>formed <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> activity <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
civil society, and c<strong>on</strong>t<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ues simply to fund the same activities with<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the same organisati<strong>on</strong>s, then it is<br />
likely that civil society will stagnate. S<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ce the f<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ancial difficulties <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 2008, a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society<br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s have ceased to operate, and this has not <strong>on</strong>ly reduced the plurality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the sector, but has<br />
reduced the pool <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organisati<strong>on</strong>s not reliant up<strong>on</strong> some support from the government.<br />
This leads to the sec<strong>on</strong>d c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>, which is the extent to which organisati<strong>on</strong>s reliant up<strong>on</strong><br />
fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g from the Welsh Government are properly able to scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ise and hold it to account. One <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
the key roles <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society is to advise the govern<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s, and to challenge proposals that<br />
could be <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>appropriate or <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>effectual. Are organisati<strong>on</strong>s reliant up<strong>on</strong> state fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g able to do this<br />
without c<strong>on</strong>cern that this will later impact their <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>come?<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> f<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>d<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>gs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this research show that, generally, organisati<strong>on</strong>s exercise choice and strategy <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
their scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>y role, but few feel fully able to criticise government. This is not to say that Welsh<br />
Government fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g is c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>al up<strong>on</strong> the support <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the organisati<strong>on</strong> for all its aims. In fact,<br />
the government and also the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly were steadfast <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> their belief that civil society<br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s should be their critical friends and partners <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy development.<br />
However, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> such situati<strong>on</strong>s, there is a difference between the <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficial l<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>e and practice.<br />
In theory civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s may be defiant about their ability to stand up to the Welsh<br />
Government. In practice they tend to deploy significant diplomacy <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> their criticism <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> government.<br />
One participant noted a ‘good-cop/bad-cop’ approach, where the policy <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficer would be critical<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Welsh Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> a c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> resp<strong>on</strong>se or <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the media, and the organisati<strong>on</strong>’s chief<br />
executive would meet their relevant Welsh Government or Assembly c<strong>on</strong>tacts to smooth th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>gs<br />
over. This uneasy role has been reflected <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous research (Day, 2006).<br />
It is clear that there exists a tensi<strong>on</strong> between the relati<strong>on</strong>ships that government quite rightly<br />
cultivate with civil society, and the ability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society to separate these relati<strong>on</strong>ships from their<br />
scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>y and advice role.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> view from civil society<br />
Ask an average Welsh pers<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the street what their level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> knowledge is about the Nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Assembly, and the chances are, that at least 52 per cent will exhibit some uncerta<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ty <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> their answer<br />
(Scully et al, 2008). This is slowly chang<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g as devoluti<strong>on</strong> matures. N<strong>on</strong>etheless, many people, even<br />
some pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als with policy functi<strong>on</strong>s with<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society, rema<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> unsure <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> themselves when<br />
describ<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly and dist<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>guish<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g it from the different functi<strong>on</strong>s served<br />
by the Welsh Government.<br />
Policy and public affairs pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als with<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society predom<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>antly talk about policy delivery<br />
activity with the Welsh Government when discuss<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g their engagement <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> governance. This activity<br />
mostly c<strong>on</strong>sisted <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> participati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the Third Sector Partnership Council, various steer<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g groups<br />
or through grants awarded for core work carried out. This is very much the th<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the wedge<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>fluenc<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g how government addresses issues, as room for manoeuvre is limited to the<br />
manner <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> which policy aims are delivered. At this po<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>t, broad policy aims have been enshr<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ed <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
manifesto pledges, and attempt<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to work outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these priority areas can, <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e participant’s<br />
words, feel like an uphill struggle.<br />
When discuss<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the potential ways <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>fluenc<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g political and government priorities before<br />
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delivery stage, that uncerta<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ty identified earlier <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> this secti<strong>on</strong> creeps back <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to a lot <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>ses.<br />
Probe a little further and query engagement with the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly, and activity frequently<br />
appears to centre <strong>on</strong> lobby<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividual AMs for more fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g for particular service delivery areas.<br />
Participati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> committee’s and c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> processes is evident <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> larger organisati<strong>on</strong>s, but very<br />
much less so <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> smaller organisati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was an evident lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> understand<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the opportunities available to civil society<br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s through petiti<strong>on</strong><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and legislative processes. Several organisati<strong>on</strong>s that did have a<br />
basic understand<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these mechanisms exhibited a degree <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>difference to those opportunities,<br />
even whilst admitt<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g that these would probably be the best routes to <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>fluence policy and fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
at a later date. Some recognised that engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with these mechanisms would entail an enormous<br />
amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> work that they would have to take <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong> to their exist<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g duties. Others were<br />
daunted by the length <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> time such activities would take to bear fruit. Generally, participants<br />
were reluctant to c<strong>on</strong>sider such activities because they would not receive the support from their<br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> staff resource and expertise to cope with the additi<strong>on</strong>al workload.<br />
A number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> research participants from the voluntary sector were <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> roles with multiple<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities. Whilst larger organisati<strong>on</strong>s had dedicated posts for policy and public affairs, the<br />
majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> smaller organisati<strong>on</strong>s bound policy and public affairs resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities up <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to the roles<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> director, manager or other <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficer posts. This means that many organisati<strong>on</strong>s have employed<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals <strong>on</strong> the basis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their management skills or expertise <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the organisati<strong>on</strong>s policy area,<br />
with resp<strong>on</strong>sibilities for public affairs and media engagement bolted-<strong>on</strong>. It is these <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals<br />
that exhibited the greatest frustrati<strong>on</strong>. Many wanted to be more active <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> public affairs through<br />
engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly and Welsh Government, but felt powerless to do so. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y<br />
wanted the opportunity to participate <strong>on</strong> Steer<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g Groups or Advisory Committee’s adm<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>istered by<br />
the government or the WCVA, they wanted to give evidence to the Assembly where appropriate,<br />
and were will<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to put <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the extra hours to do so. However, they were <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten at a loss as to how to<br />
achieve these goals.<br />
Most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> them had not received any support from their organisati<strong>on</strong>s such as tra<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g or development<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> understand<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g Welsh <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s and their functi<strong>on</strong>s, and found it difficult to identify appropriate<br />
opportunities to do so. A general feel<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g am<strong>on</strong>gst this group was that there was an upper tier<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> people <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society that not <strong>on</strong>ly knew how it all worked, but also had good c<strong>on</strong>tacts and<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>ships that facilitated their engagement.<br />
Whilst it is debateable whether such an ‘upper tier’ exists <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> practice, there does exist a group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
policy and public affairs pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als who are extremely knowledgeable about the devolved system<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g>, and are c<strong>on</strong>fident <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with the Welsh <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s. Most have a public affairs or<br />
political background. Many hav<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g studied politics at Aberystwyth or Cardiff Universities, or have<br />
been employed by politicians <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> previous pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al roles. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y tend to be much more c<strong>on</strong>nected<br />
to other public affairs pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g> through social, family and pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al ties than other<br />
voluntary and civil society workers. Indeed, many are members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> political parties.<br />
This group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als are dem<strong>on</strong>strably better at engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al issues than<br />
‘sector people’ – a term used by <strong>on</strong>e research participant to refer to <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals whose employment<br />
history is <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the voluntary sector, and who have a greater <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>terest <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> their organisati<strong>on</strong>s charitable<br />
aims rather than politics.<br />
This difference between those who understand and engage with the Welsh governance framework<br />
and those who d<strong>on</strong>’t, presents a dilemma for assess<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society engagement <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Chapter 10 140
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are undoubtedly very positive and engaged people actively <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>fluenc<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>is<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
the work <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Welsh <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s. However, there is not a broad or deep enough pool <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such<br />
pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als. Meanwhile, there a significant number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> other people feel disengaged, disillusi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
and disregarded by the political and public sector <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g>, either because they feel<br />
situated outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the ‘go-to’ organisati<strong>on</strong>s or lack the right knowledge about how to engage.<br />
This poses the questi<strong>on</strong> - where does resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for civil society engagement lie? Those <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>volved<br />
must accept a certa<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> amount <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> criticism for fail<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>alise public affairs with<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> their<br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s. It is clear that those organisati<strong>on</strong>s that have hired public affairs pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als are<br />
benefitt<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g from their expertise and are more engaged with government. Organisati<strong>on</strong>s that have<br />
hired people who are not from a public affairs background struggle engage effectively.<br />
At the same time the <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s that rely <strong>on</strong> civil society for expertise, scrut<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>y and advice are<br />
not without blame. In particular, the Welsh Government appears happy to ma<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ta<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the status<br />
quo, exert<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g very little effort <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> keep<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g abreast <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society work or engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with other than<br />
the ‘usual suspects’ <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy development and delivery. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> efforts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly<br />
as an <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>, as discussed earlier <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> this paper, are more positive, but somewhat scattergun<br />
and superficial. Arguably, AMs rely too heavily <strong>on</strong> the support and knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their special<br />
advisors and political parties, a collecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals who have significant expertise <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> public<br />
and c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al affairs, but, more <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten than not, lack mean<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>gful knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society<br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s and their work.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> representatives<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council for Voluntary Acti<strong>on</strong> divides op<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>i<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> Welsh civil society.<br />
Champi<strong>on</strong>ed by some as key <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and up-skill<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the voluntary sector over the first decade<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> devoluti<strong>on</strong>, others are less c<strong>on</strong>v<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ced <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> its ability to facilitate the voluntary sector to develop its<br />
own voice, rather than simply speak<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g for it. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Voices for Change Cymru project it developed<br />
with Nati<strong>on</strong>al Lottery fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g between 2008-2011 was cited by many participants <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> this research<br />
as a standout <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>itiative. Certa<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ly, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all the tra<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer at WCVA and other Voluntary Councils,<br />
it was this programme that was most enthusiastically discussed by those who had benefitted<br />
from it. However, there will always be those with greater ambiti<strong>on</strong>s for such <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>itiatives than the<br />
projects themselves can reas<strong>on</strong>ably achieve. Several commentators suggested the project was not<br />
ambitious enough. While it provided a basel<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>e knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Welsh <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s and opportunities<br />
for engagement, it was c<strong>on</strong>sidered a ‘missed opportunity’ by some <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> giv<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g organisati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
a greater push towards approach<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly. Despite this, the end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the project, due<br />
to lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fund<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g, was lamented by a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> participants. Undoubtedly, and it has left a gap <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
provisi<strong>on</strong> for civil society.<br />
Tra<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and other public affairs activities are, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> course, available to organisati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> other forms.<br />
Commercial lobby<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g occupies an <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>terest<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g space <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society, represent<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g organisati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
provid<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g updates and generally negotiat<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g waters with which some organisati<strong>on</strong>s are unfamiliar.<br />
Several civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s operat<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g> have turned to public affairs firms, at some<br />
expense, <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stead <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cultivat<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g expertise with<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> their organisati<strong>on</strong>s. Participants <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> this study mostly<br />
purchased <strong>on</strong>ly select services, such as m<strong>on</strong>itor<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and policy analysis, as their own <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>-house teams<br />
did not have the capacity for these activities. Others opted for a larger package <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> services. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
short-term nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> procur<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g these services was most comm<strong>on</strong>ly cited as a reas<strong>on</strong> to use this<br />
route over employ<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g staff. Procur<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g a public affairs firm was a more versatile opti<strong>on</strong>, and reduced<br />
f<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ancial obligati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the l<strong>on</strong>g-term.<br />
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Trade Uni<strong>on</strong>s appear to be the most organised corner <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> their approach<br />
to representati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their members and engagement with the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly and Welsh<br />
Government. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y placed greater emphasis <strong>on</strong> recruit<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g public affairs and policy staff with political<br />
educati<strong>on</strong> and experience, and generally had a very good overview <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Welsh governance<br />
mechanisms. However, they are focused up<strong>on</strong> empower<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividuals <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> very specific, work-related<br />
issues, and stand somewhat apart from the voluntary sector. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are also political organisati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
themselves, and have histories <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>fluenc<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with particular parties. At a senior<br />
level, social and pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al l<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ks to the parties and to civil servants enable the Uni<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>fluence<br />
at a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> levels, <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> manifesto development, dur<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the progress <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legislati<strong>on</strong> through the<br />
Assembly, and <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> policy. Whilst political associati<strong>on</strong> may not be <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> huge<br />
benefit to <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dividual civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s, the importance the Uni<strong>on</strong>s appear to assign to public<br />
affairs dem<strong>on</strong>strates how effective organisati<strong>on</strong>s can be when they have the right resources to<br />
engage with the governance <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
Compar<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g Scotland and Northern Ireland<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> devolved nati<strong>on</strong>s each operate <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> a different civil society landscape. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Scots have made strides<br />
to set themselves apart from their UK counterparts, whereas organisati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> Northern Ireland<br />
appear less enthusiastic about champi<strong>on</strong><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g their differences from Westm<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ster. In Scotland civil<br />
society organisati<strong>on</strong>s matured dur<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g a decade <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> experience with the C<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong><br />
prior to the 1997 referendum. This provided a cornerst<strong>on</strong>e for them to develop work<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g relati<strong>on</strong>ships<br />
with political organisati<strong>on</strong> and to ga<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> a deep understand<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> government.<br />
Organisati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> both Scotland and Northern Ireland were able to rely <strong>on</strong> separate jurisdicti<strong>on</strong>s as clear<br />
examples <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their ‘separateness’ from the rest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the UK, which was key to establish<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g str<strong>on</strong>g, and<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>dependently branded organisati<strong>on</strong>s. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y appear to enjoy more aut<strong>on</strong>omy from UK policy teams<br />
than their Welsh colleagues. Certa<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ly <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> Scotland, several organisati<strong>on</strong>s appear to have larger budgets<br />
and greater evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> engagement with the government. Nevertheless, Scotland and Northern<br />
Ireland experience similar frustrati<strong>on</strong>s. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is also a similar split <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society between some<br />
organisati<strong>on</strong>s which have very good access, and a large pool <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> others with very little (Meade, 2005).<br />
Recommendati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Key areas that could be targeted to achieve improvement <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>clude greater provisi<strong>on</strong> high quality<br />
tra<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and development, greater <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>vestment by the Assembly and Welsh Government <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g l<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ks with civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s, and greater <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>vestment by civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
themselves <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with the government.<br />
Tra<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and development:<br />
A gap <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> the market exists <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g> for public affairs tra<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g. With the excepti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e or two<br />
bespoke courses, the cost <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which is bey<strong>on</strong>d many civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s, there is little tra<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
available for organisati<strong>on</strong>s wish<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to improve the skills their employees. It would be <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>appropriate<br />
for Welsh Government to completely fill this gap. Universities should explore provid<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g tra<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
courses and c<strong>on</strong>t<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>u<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>al development aimed at governance and civil society.<br />
However, both the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly and the Welsh Government should certa<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ly c<strong>on</strong>sider ways<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> demystify<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g their organisati<strong>on</strong>s. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Assembly is try<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to do this through its communicati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
toolkit and through its recent partnership with the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g> Governance Centre. However, the Welsh<br />
Government appears impenetrable to many <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society. Both <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s could benefit from<br />
Chapter 10 142
etter engagement, either through <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>vit<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s to specially organised events,<br />
with sec<strong>on</strong>dments, or through partner<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with organisati<strong>on</strong>s such as WCVA to deliver tra<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g or<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>formati<strong>on</strong> sessi<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Greater <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>vestment by the Welsh Government and Assembly:<br />
At present a small pool <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> people <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> some civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s tend to be ‘over-c<strong>on</strong>sulted’<br />
and a large pool <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> people are ignored. By task<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g their workforce to become more actively<br />
knowledgeable about civil society activity and its organisati<strong>on</strong>s, the Welsh Government and the<br />
Assembly would benefit by improv<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the quality <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their policy development and service delivery.<br />
Both already have teams tasked with civil society knowledge and engagement. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se could either<br />
be enlarged or refocused to a <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>clude commitment to actively develop<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and ma<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ta<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g their<br />
knowledge <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society, and to act <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> an advisory capacity for the rest <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their organisati<strong>on</strong>. This<br />
would ensure a broader level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> engagement, and reduce the distort<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>fluence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the ‘Cardiff<br />
bubble’ <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essi<strong>on</strong>als.<br />
Greater engagement by civil society:<br />
With the excepti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a small number, most civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s did not present themselves as<br />
tak<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g public affairs and engagement with the Welsh level <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> governance as seriously as other areas<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their activity. That is not to say that the employees <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those organisati<strong>on</strong>s charged with oversee<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />
public affairs and policy do not take their roles seriously. Often these people went above and bey<strong>on</strong>d<br />
their remit to engage with the <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>stituti<strong>on</strong>s. Rather, it appeared that organisati<strong>on</strong>al management is<br />
fail<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to assign adequate importance to understand<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g and engag<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with Welsh devoluti<strong>on</strong>, and<br />
this was most comm<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> UK-wide organisati<strong>on</strong>s. Whilst the extent to which civil society should<br />
engage is arguable, many organisati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g> appeared under-staffed, under-skilled and undersupported<br />
by their UK parent organisati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> public affairs and policy roles. Leaders and trustees<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> civil society organisati<strong>on</strong>s must make a c<strong>on</strong>scious choice to do public affairs well, and to use<br />
their expertise to <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>fluence policy development and delivery at every level. This requires leaders<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organisati<strong>on</strong>s to <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>vest their own time <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> ga<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g an understand<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Welsh c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
landscape and the opportunities it <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fers. It also requires Welsh employees to be bold and vocal<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>ternally <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> order to raise awareness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the differences <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> Welsh policy.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong><br />
Whilst there is much to be positive about civil society engagement <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g>, there is also much work<br />
to be d<strong>on</strong>e. A vibrant and engaged civil society is an important feature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a high quality and <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>formed<br />
democracy. If <str<strong>on</strong>g>Wales</str<strong>on</strong>g> is to boast such a system, both civil society and the Welsh Government and<br />
Nati<strong>on</strong>al Assembly themselves must commit to improv<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g the current state <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> affairs.<br />
Chapter 10 143
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