Burnham welcomes Minister's full commitment to investigate Communities First weaknesses

4.03.00pm GMT Tue 16th Mar 2010

Eleanor Burnham, Assembly Member for North Wales has welcomed the commitment of the Social Justice Minister, Carl Sargeant, to undertake a programme of detailed and urgent inspections of Wales' Communities First partnerships.

The investigation has come about as a result of a detailed investigation of the Plas Madoc Communities First partnership in Wrexham which highlighted "serious and widespread weaknesses in financial control and governance".

Commenting, Eleanor, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Communities, said, "Communities First is meant to be a grassroots scheme that allows individuals and groups to participate in and add value to their communities. It is very disappointing to find that people in disadvataged areas who depend on Communities First have been let down so badly.

"The Assembly Government's Internal Audit Service worked jointly with the Wales Audit Office to identify failings in the Plas Madoc partnership and I am reassured that the Minister will now be working to make sure that all of Wales' 157 Communities First schemes deliver support and services in an appropriate and honourable manner."