The Power of Collaboration Can Transform Our Services; Social Justice Minister Carl Sargeant Doesn't Believe in Change for Change's Sake, but He Is Convinced Public Sector Reforms Can Save Taxpayers' Money and Deliver Better Public Services in Wales

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EARLIER this year I published an essay setting out my vision for public services. My message was simple: the Assembly Government and local authorities must work together for better, more effective services for the citizens of Wales.

To explore how we might do that in more detail, I spent some of the Assembly recess touring Wales, talking to frontline workers, volunteers and citizens to find out what they think of our public services. What is wrong, what is right and how can we do things better? This is more important now than ever. In weeks we will know the outcome of the UK Government spending review. That will not be good news and we will have to turn our attention quickly to setting budgets in the most difficult financial conditions.

Innovation and collaboration will be key to managing over the next few years, balancing growing demand for …