Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council is moving forward with plans for a new Blaenau Gwent Deal following strong public engagement through a wide ranging consultation.
The proposed Deal aims to create a new way of working between the council, residents, communities and partner organisations, with a focus on improving health and wellbeing and reducing inequality across the borough.
More than 1,500 people visited the council’s online consultation to find out more about the plans, with 250 surveys completed. Engagement also took place face to face, with hundreds of residents spoken to in town centres and at local events in the run up to Christmas. Sessions were also held with key partner organisations.
This weekend, a Citizen’s Assembly will meet in Blaenau Gwent to consider the feedback and begin shaping a new social contract. The Assembly will run over three Saturdays across January and February, providing space for discussion, debate and development of proposals that place the council, residents, community groups and third sector organisations on an equal footing.
Council Leader Steve Thomas thanked residents and partners for their involvement.
“I’d like to thank everyone who took time to learn more about the plans for a new Blaenau Gwent Deal and give us their thoughts.
“Here in our borough, we already have fantastic examples of community groups taking positive action to work with us to improve lives and facilities where they live. The Deal aims to engage more residents and groups in helping their communities become more resilient.
“By investing in prevention and empowering our communities, we can tackle the root causes of inequality and unlock the full potential of Blaenau Gwent together. We will continue to engage with communities and partners as we work to shape a better future.”
The Citizen’s Assembly will be made up of 40 residents selected by the Sortition Foundation. It will be run by Local Partnerships, the public sector delivery partner for Welsh Government and the Local Government Association.
The Blaenau Gwent Deal also supports the council’s wider commitment to becoming Wales’s first joint Marmot Council, alongside Torfaen Council, reinforcing a long term focus on prevention, fairness and tackling the social causes of poor health.
