THE Welsh Government “must learn lessons” when formulating future poverty tackling programmes, a National Assembly committee has said.

The equality, local government and communities committee’s report - which was released this week - concluded that future programmes should be “measurable” and “based on evidence of what works”.

The report goes on to make a list of recommendations about flagship anti-poverty programme Communities First, which is due to end in February next year.

The report’s recommendations include for the Welsh Government to transfer all of the programme’s activities to other public services “as soon as possible” when it eventually winds down.

The report also found that an overall assessment of Communities First had been “difficult” to make because of “insufficient performance management”.

John Griffiths, chairman of the equality, local government and communities committee said: “For many people, Communities First has had a life-changing impact, and we know it has done great work in communities across Wales.

“We are concerned that the Welsh Government must learn lessons for future tackling poverty activities, ensuring progress is measurable, based on evidence of what works, and that the successful elements of Communities First, which could be delivered by other public bodies and are valued locally, are transferred to other public services to deliver.

“The need for these services hasn’t disappeared, but faced with uncertainty, we have heard that Communities First staff are already leaving for other jobs.

“Their expertise and relationships cannot easily be replaced.”

Communities First has operations in Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly.

Carl Sargeant AM, cabinet secretary for communities and children previously told the Argus: “While it is clear that Communities First was successful in its impact on many individuals, it has not had an impact on overall poverty levels in these communities, which remain stubbornly high.”