This event is aimed at our Welsh AMO Members.
The prospect of a General Power of Competence (GPOC) for Welsh local authorities has generated significant interest across the sector, offering the potential to fundamentally reshape how councils approach service delivery, partnership working, and public sector innovation. Unlike their counterparts in England, Welsh local authorities have historically operated without such a broad enabling power - but that landscape is changing, and the implications for Monitoring Officers are considerable.
In this webinar, Laura Hughes and Peter Ware explore the development of the GPOC in Wales and, crucially, its potential as a driver of innovation within local government. The session is tailored for Monitoring Officers who will be at the forefront of advising their councils on how to use this power lawfully, proportionately, and to its fullest effect.
Laura and Peter will examine the scope and boundaries of the GPOC, the conditions and limitations that attach to its use, and the legal safeguards that Monitoring Officers must keep firmly in view. The session will also consider the practical opportunities the power presents - including novel approaches to service design, collaborative ventures with partners in the public, private and third sectors, and the potential to pilot innovative solutions to longstanding challenges facing Welsh communities.
Drawing on real-world examples and the latest policy developments from Welsh Government, this webinar will equip Monitoring Officers with the knowledge and confidence to support their councils in embracing the GPOC as a genuine tool for innovation, while managing the associated legal and governance risks effectively.
Peter Ware has been at the forefront of Browne Jacobson's national procurement practice for several years, driving the sector to new heights of excellence and leading its growth across a range of areas. Peter heads the firm's government and infrastructure department. He is an active committee member of the Procurement Lawyers' Association, serving as finance and membership secretary, and contributes to the LexisNexis procurement act guidance suite.
Peter is currently leading several high-profile, high-value procurements for central government, including the GCA multi-billion-pound pan-government commercial marketplace and a novel public sector framework for intermediaries for the Ministry of Justice. Beyond his legal practice, Peter is a member of the CBI Regional Council, is involved in the Council Company Network and the Midlands Engine and has recently been appointed as a trustee of Citizens Advice.
Laura Hughes is head of the insurance and public risk department at Browne Jacobson and an experienced public law expert who advises clients across government, local government, education, health, audit, sports and natural resources. She brings more than 20 years' experience advising public sector clients on the full range of public law matters, including decision-making, consultation, statutory interpretation, statutory and guidance drafting, judicial review and civil enforcement.
Laura has led the way in helping areas establish Combined County Authorities under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, acting on the very first of these deals and subsequently acting for two further areas on both Level 2 and Level 3 deals. Following the publication of the Devolution White Paper, Laura has led the firm's offering on devolution and local government reorganisation and is regarded as a leading figure nationally in this area.
AMO Partner
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14:00 - 15:00
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