Blaenau Gwent Well-being Assessment 2017 SUMMARY CONSULTATION DRAFT This document supports the main consultation draft document produced under the requirements of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The main consultation document provides further details on the assessment of local well-being for the Blaenau Gwent area. Mae’r ddogfen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg This document is available in Welsh Section 1: A welcome Welcome to Blaenau Gwent Public Services Board Summary of the draft Well-being Assessment 2016. The purpose of this document is to summarise the assessment of well-being which will help the newly formed Public Services Board for the area to set objectives for an exciting new plan for the local area. The draft assessment has been developed collaboratively with a wide of range of partner organisations contributing evidence. It also benefits from significant input from local people, following the first phase of our really successful engagement programme, “The Blaenau Gwent We Want”. If you are interested in further details please consider the main consultation draft, which is available via: http://www.blaenaugwentpsb.org.uk/ If you want to stay involved, I would urge you, or the organisation you represent, to join one of our engagement panels. Councillor Steven Thomas Chair of Blaenau Gwent Public Services Board Leader of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Section 2: Context The National Assembly for Wales passed a new law for Wales called the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The legislation is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales, and creating a Wales that we all want to live in, now and in the future. The ground-breaking piece of legislation places sustainable development at its core and places a duty on our public service sector (covered by the Act) to: think about the long-term; work better with people and communities and each other; look to prevent problems; and take a more joined-up approach. This is known as the five ways of working. To make sure we are all working towards the same vision, the Act puts in place seven well-being goals for everyone to aspire towards. The Act also requires public body partners to work together through a new partnership board called a Public Services Board to prepare an assessment of well-being in its area by April 2017. 1 Section 3: Approaching our assessment in Blaenau Gwent The assessment of well-being for the Blaenau Gwent area presents a summary analysis. It includes: An introductory chapter focuses on providing an overview of the area, the main communities and the people that live within them. An economic well-being chapter, which summarises information on the local economy such as employment, business, income, education and skills. A social well-being chapter, which summarises information on a variety of social issues such as health, care, lifestyle, childhood development, ageing well, community safety, housing and transport. A cultural well-being chapter, which summarises information on issues such as Welsh language, cultural identity, cohesion, sports and recreation, arts and culture, tourism and technology; and An environmental well-being chapter, which summarises information on issues such as landscapes, nature, water, environmental footprints, renewable energy and waste and recycling. This summary version of the assessment follows the same format. 2 Blaenau Gwent People and Places Summary 3 Section 4: Blaenau Gwent Overview of the area Blaenau Gwent became a county borough council in 1996 following local government reorganisation, changing from a district of Gwent County Council. The area as a whole has a rich heritage which is reflected in our monuments, buildings, landscapes and people. In the last 30 years the area has faced many challenges, with the closure of all the coal mines in the late 1980s and the Ebbw Vale Steelworks in 2002 leading to many job losses. We cannot underestimate the effect of this, however the area has seen significant structural and environment improvement, following major levels of capital investment and the greening of our valleys as nature recovers from the long-term scaring caused from our historical industries. In 2015, the population of Blaenau Gwent was 69,544. This makes the area one of the smallest local authority areas in Wales. The population of the area is falling, however the rate of decline is more stable than at any point since 1921 (when the population was over 125,000). The population is expected to continue to fall with a 1.2% decrease in the next 10 years. The population density in Blaenau Gwent was 638 people per square kilometre, compared with 149 per square kilometre for Wales. Analysis shows that many parts of area have density levels similar to city areas. Blaenau Gwent, like the majority of places in the UK, has an overall population which is ageing. Generally, this is because less people are being born and those people that are alive are living longer. 28% of all people who live within Blaenau Gwent stated they had a limiting long-term health problem or illnesses, where day-to-day activities were limited. This was higher than Wales overall (23%) and was the 2nd highest level in Wales (behind Neath Port Talbot with 28%). 4 The Blaenau Gwent’s Black and Ethnic Minority population in 2011 was just under 1,900. However, the number had increased from 1,300 in 2001. The area has one of the lowest levels of people from black and minority ethnic groups in Wales. Just over 41% of the Blaenau Gwent population stated they have no religion, which is above the Welsh average of 37%. This is a notable increase compared to 2001, with respective levels of 25% and 19%. Blaenau Gwent is the area in Wales with the highest percentage of small areas in the most deprived 10% (23.4%). Neighbourhood Areas in Blaenau Gwent The assessment is focused around four neighbourhood areas which align to our valleys, towns and neighbourhoods. The map below summarises the four areas, with Sirhowy coloured red, Ebbw Fawr coloured blue, Upper Ebbw Fach coloured orange and Lower Ebbw Fach coloured green. North Ebbw Vale Pop: 6,976 Brynmawr Pop: 5,593 Nantyglo & Blaina Pop: 9,228 North North Tredegar Abertillery Pop: 7,034 Pop: 8,927 South Tredegar Pop: 8,122 South Abertillery Central Ebbw Vale Pop: 7,273 Pop: 7,850 South Ebbw Vale Pop: 8,541 5 Sirhowy Valley The Sirhowy Valley neighbourhood area contains the main town of Tredegar, and its neighbourhoods such as Waundeg, Golwg y Mynydd, Sirhowy, Dukestown, and Scwrfa in the north, and Ashvale, Cefn Golau, Georgetown, and Peacehaven in the south. The area also includes the surrounding villages and settlements of Trefil, Tafarnaubach and Princetown in the north, and Troedrhiwgair, Bedwellty Pits, and Pochin in the south. The area is home to 15,156 people, which is 22% of the population of the Blaenau Gwent area. Feedback from ‘The Blaenau Gwent We Want’ engagement programme showed: Special things in Sirhowy area Bryn Bach Park St James Woodland Bedwellty House and Park Sirhowy Woodland Tredegar Town Clock Kids R Us Things to make Sirhowy area a better place Improving roads and transport infrastructure Making the area safer Better shopping opportunities in the town Access to employment opportunities Clean environment Making recycling easier More community involvement and social participation Play facilities and sensory gardens If you are interested in finding out more about the area please go to chapter 3 of the main well-being assessment document. 6 Ebbw Fawr Valley The neighbourhood area contains the main town of Ebbw Vale, and the neighbourhoods of Rassau, Garnlydan, Beaufort, Glyncoed, Glanyrafon, Newchurch, Willowtown, Pontygof, Newtown, Hilltop, and Briery Hill. The area also includes surrounding villages and settlements such as Tyllwyn, Waunlwyd, Victoria, and Cwm. The Ebbw Fawr area is home to 23,367 people, which is 34% of the overall population of the Blaenau Gwent area. Feedback from ‘The Blaenau Gwent We Want’ engagement programme showed: Special things in Ebbw Fawr area Ebbw Valley Train Line Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan The Works Site Beaufort Woodland Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone The general environment Things to make Ebbw Fawr area a better place Clean environment Access to local employment opportunities More accessible towns for people with disabilities Better services and amenities located in the town Better services for people with mental health difficulties e.g. autism Improvements in health services & smoke free zones Attractions of inward investment for Circuit of Wales & Enterprise Zone Improving education attainment Better quality and more choice of homes More community involvement and social participation If you are interested in finding out more about the area please go to chapter 3 of the main well-being assessment document. 7 Upper Ebbw Fach Valley The neighbourhood area contains the main town of Brynmawr, the settlements of Nantyglo and Blaina and their outlining neighbourhoods. The overall population of Upper Ebbw Fach area is 14,821, which is 21% of the overall population of the Blaenau Gwent area. Feedback from ‘The Blaenau Gwent We Want’ engagement programme showed: Special things in Upper Ebbw Fach area Bert Denning Centre Brynmawr Foundation School Market Hall Cinema Natural landscapes Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan Things to make Upper Ebbw Fach area a better place Tackling anti-social behaviour and substance misuse Better transport, e.g. being a better, more reliable bus service Preserving the landscape for people and animals Better health services for older people Supporting the town high street More support for small businesses Fairer deal for the area Tackling obesity Cleaning our streets If you are interested in finding out more about the area please go to chapter 3 of the main well-being assessment document.