Citizens Assembly members met for the final time last weekend to help shape the principles behind the new Blaenau Gwent Deal.
The Deal is a new way of working between the council, communities and partner organisations, with the aim of building a fairer, more resilient county borough, improving health and well‑being, and reducing inequalities.
The residents, selected at random, have given their time to participate in three sessions where they have heard how the Blaenau Gwent Deal could look and work in practice, and about the five main missions of the Council:
- Early Years: Building a Brighter Future
- Lifelong Learning, Ambition & Resilience
- Well-being through Community Leadership
- Thriving Economy, Vibrant Places
- Empowered Communities, Shared Power & Success
Over the course of the sessions, Assembly members heard how the Council is looking to empower communities to take a more active role in shaping and supporting their communities, inspired by the missions and the Marmot Principles, to build fairer, healthier communities. They have heard from Chief Executive Stephen Vickers and Depuy Chief Executive Luisa Munro Morris; Council Leader Steve Thomas and the Chair of Scrutiny Cllr Joanna Wilkins.
They also heard from local partner organisations about how their work contributes to the Council’s missions and The Deal, including Aneurin Leisure Trust and Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations.
Assembly Member Adam Wate, of Tredegar, said:
“I wanted to lend my voice and my lived experience to drive the thinking for the best Deal available for Blaenau Gwent. I want the best for the place I live, so let’s make a difference together I hope the Deal will create stronger communities, drive improvements in the area and provide a happier and friendlier place to live.”
Jenna Panfili-Tinker, of Abertillery, said:
“I want to shape a society where my children feel proud to live and be part of. I hope the new Blaenau Gwent Deal will provide a new outlook on the future, thinking differently about our communities and changing the industries we used to have into something new.”
Leader of the Council, Cllr Steve Thomas said:
“Thank you to the residents who have given their time to take part in the Citizens Assembly, and for helping us to design the principles which will guide the Blaenau Gwent Deal. We believe deeper collaboration with communities can help achieve real long‑term change for Blaenau Gwent. The Deal is about listening, learning and working more closely with our communities so it’s important that it is our residents who help to shape it through the assembly and through continued public engagement. We’ll be getting back together with the Assembly members at a later date to update them on progress.”
On the final day Assembly members were asked to develop a set of principles to take the Blaenau Gwent Deal forward with residents and communities, and to discuss what long‑term impact they would like it to deliver.
These principles will be presented to councillors for feedback at the Corporate Governance and Resources Scrutiny Committee on Thursday, 19th February. Find out more and how to watch the meeting here.
Last year, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen became Wales’s first joint Marmot Councils, working together to place fairness and well‑being at the heart of local decision‑making.
Citizens’ Assembly meetings have also taken place in Torfaen to develop a Torfaen Deal.
Find out more about the Blaenau Gwent Deal and meet some of the Citizens Assembly members here.
