Blaenau Gwent Overview of the Area

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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.

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.

Blaenau Gwent People and Places

Summary

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%).

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

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.

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.

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.

Lower Ebbw Fach Valley The Lower Ebbw Fach neighbourhood area includes Abertillery and the neighbourhoods of Bourneville, Rosheyworth, Blaenau Gwent, Pen y Bont, Rhiw Park, and Cwmtillery. The area also includes Six Bells, and villages and settlements of Aberbeeg, St Illtyd, Brynithel, Llanhilleth, and Swyfrydd. The overall population of the Lower Ebbw Fach area is 16,200, which is 23% of the overall population of the Blaenau Gwent area.

Feedback from ‘The Blaenau Gwent We Want’ engagement programme showed:

Special things in Lower Ebbw Fach area  Local landscapes  Guardian, Six Bells  Cwmtillery Lakes  Six Bells Nature Reserve  Local festivals  GP Surgeries Things to make Lower Ebbw Fach area a better place  More for children and young people to do  Encourage people to be responsible for health and welfare  More community safety presence and enforcement  Fairer care services for people with physical and mental disabilities  More effective waste and recycling  Better shop opportunities  Improve public transport opportunities and infrastructure  More effective use of grants and fairer deal for Abertillery  Remembering people in the community without access to cars and internet

If you are interested in finding out more about the area please go to chapter 3

9 of the main well-being assessment document.

Economic Well-being

Section 5: Economic Well-being

Below is a summary of the key facts relating economic well-being from the draft assessment for the Blaenau Gwent area.

Economic Activity  32,000 people are economically active but this is low in general terms.  29,200 or 65.4% are employed, the lowest rate in Wales.  Almost 77% of 25-34 year olds are employed, however less than 32% of 16 to 19, and 50 and over are employed.  People in area are generally employed in less affluent occupations.  2,200 or 7% are unemployed, the highest rate in Wales.  12,300 are economically inactive but this is high in general terms  Every four out of ten people who are economically inactive are long term sick, which equates to almost 5,000 people.  The area has below average levels of economically inactive students (2,000 people) and has above average levels of economically inactive people looking after the family (over 3,000 people).

Working Households  In 2015, three-quarters of households in Blaenau Gwent (76%) have at least some of the residents in employment. This is an improving trend as in 2011 only 68% of household had at least some of the residents in employment.  This means the number of workless households is decreasing. In 2015, just under one-quarter of households in Blaenau Gwent (24%) are workless households where none of the residents are in employment. This is above the Wales average (18%).  The area does witness comparably high levels of dependent children living in workless households (22%), which is above the Welsh average (14%).

Income  In 2016, the average gross full time weekly pay of residents of Blaenau Gwent is the lowest in the Gwent region and notably less than in Wales in general.

 If the current trend in average weekly earnings for people continues, by 2020 people in Blaenau Gwent will on average earn £100 less than the overall Wales level.

 The Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation shows Blaenau Gwent has significant pockets of income deprivation across the whole area.

 The area has comparably high levels of people claiming working age benefit.

 Job Seekers Allowance claimants aged 17 to 24, is significantly above the levels noted for Wales overall.

 Blaenau Gwent has high levels of people claiming incapacity benefit or severe disablement benefit (12.0%) when compared to Wales overall (8.4%).

Business  Blaenau Gwent Rates has 294 active businesses per 10,000 working age population which is low when comparing to neighbouring areas and Wales overall (481 per 10,000 working age population).

 There has been an increase in the rate of business start-ups within Blaenau Gwent, from 6.6% of total business stock in 2010 to 13.1% in 2013.

 Manufacturing remains a key employment sector within the area, however, a high proportion of jobs are low skilled and relatively low paid.

 Over three-quarters of businesses in Blaenau Gwent employ between 0 and 9 employees.

 Only 3.6% of businesses employ between 50 and 249 people and less than 1% of businesses employ more than 250 people.

 The area has a high level of public sector employment.

Education and Skills for Work

 In 2015, one out of every five working age people in Blaenau Gwent has no qualifications (19.6%). This is significantly above all neighbouring local authority areas and the overall level for Wales (9.6%).  41.1% of working age people in Blaenau Gwent are qualified to NQF level 3 or above, which is considerably below the Wales average of 57.5%.  Blaenau Gwent has seen a significant reduction in the number of Year 11 school leavers becoming NEET between 2010 (8.7%) and 2015 (2.4%). The level is now below the Wales average (2.8%).

What we know from engagement

Feedback from ‘The Blaenau Gwent We Want’ engagement programme showed the following key issues relating to economic well-being:

 Blaenau Gwent schools were the 4th highest identified asset when people were asked about what was special about the area. This was most likely to be identified by children and young people.

 The availability of employment and income was the 3rd most referenced topic when people were asked what is important to live well and enjoy life.

 Employment and Income was the 3rd most things people felt would make the area a better place.

A summary of ‘The Blaenau Gwent We Want’ public engagement programme held in 2016 to support the production of the draft well-being assessment is available by following the link: http://www.blaenaugwentpsb.org.uk/well- being-assessment/blaenau-gwent-we- want.aspx

Social Well-being

Section 6: Social Well-being

Below is a summary of the key facts relating to social well-being from the draft assessment for the Blaenau Gwent area.

Life Expectancy, General Health and Mortality  Average male life expectancy, for babies born today, in Blaenau Gwent was 76 years (2010-14) less than the Wales average of 78 years. Life Expectancy for Females is about four years more than males at 82 years which is similar to the Welsh average.  Blaenau Gwent males born today can expect 60 healthy years of life and females 59 years. For both males and females, Blaenau Gwent has significantly lower healthy life expectancy than Wales as a whole (males, 65.3 years; females, 66.7 years).  About 60% of the adults in Blaenau Gwent describe themselves to be in good, very good or excellent health, a slightly lower rate than in other areas of Wales.  In Blaenau Gwent, fewer than 70% of working age adults reported that they are free from limiting long term illness compared to just over three quarters (75.4%) for Wales as a whole.

 Whilst gradually improving over time, in 2012-14, Blaenau Gwent still had the highest all-cause mortality rate for persons aged under 75 and all ages in Wales.  Deaths from cardiovascular disease are high in the borough compared to the majority of Gwent and Wales.

 The highest cancer mortality rate by local authority in Wales is in Blaenau Gwent. The rate here is 12% higher than the Wales rate, whereas the local authority with the lowest cancer mortality rate is 16% lower than the Wales rate.

Healthy Lifestyles  In Blaenau Gwent 26% of adults smoked in 2014-15. This is higher than in other areas of Gwent (21% in 2014-15) and Wales (20% in 2014-15). Even so, the rate has reduced from above 30% over the past decade.

 The number of people reporting they drink above the national guidance and those reporting binge drinking at least one day in the previous week was 39% and 25% respectively in Blaenau Gwent, both in line with the Welsh rate overall.

 Almost two-thirds of adults (62%) in Blaenau Gwent reported being overweight or obese (2014-15). This is slightly higher than the Wales figure of 59%. Over one-quarter (29%) of adults in Blaenau Gwent reported being obese. This is an increasing trend, up by 6% in the past decade. This is higher than Wales overall (22%).

 The percentage of adults in Blaenau Gwent who reported eating five a day (WHS, 2014-15) is 26%, which is lower than the average for Wales (32%).

 Less than a third (29%) of Blaenau Gwent residents report meeting the physical activity guidelines (WHS 2014/15) for exercise for health, which is similar for Wales (30.6%).

 In Blaenau Gwent more people (40%) report taking physical activity on no days in the previous week than taking the enough activity to benefit their health.

Baby and Children Health & Development  The percentage of low birth weight live births in Blaenau Gwent was 7.5%, slightly above that for Wales overall. This equated to 58 live births in Blaenau Gwent with low birth weight in 2014.  At 26 per 1,000, the rate for Blaenau Gwent is in line with the Wales rate (25). All local authority areas in the region have seen a significant fall since 2010, mirroring the fall across Wales.  In Blaenau Gwent, the proportion of babies exclusively breastfed at 10 days following birth is about 16% which is significantly lower than the Welsh average.  In Blaenau Gwent, immunisation coverage for all vaccines due by age one year are above 95% affording good community level protection. However by age four years when children enter school it is considerably lower, at just 83%.  In Blaenau Gwent, average number of decayed, missing or filled teeth in children aged 5 years was 2.3 which is higher than for the Wales overall (1.3). This is the second highest local area in Wales.  Latest data from the Child Measurement Programme shows even at a young age (4 and 5 years), over a quarter of children in Blaenau Gwent are overweight or obese (29%) and 12% are obese.

Ageing Well  The rate of emergency admissions for hip fractures in people aged 65+ years in 2013 for Blaenau Gwent was 753 per 100,000 population, higher than witnessed in Wales (636) and neighbouring local authority areas.  The number of people with dementia in Blaenau Gwent is estimated to be 869 but is predicted to increase to 1,110 by 2021.  Employment rates for people aged 50 and over in Blaenau Gwent are low.  In Blaenau Gwent four out of every 10 volunteers are aged 50 and over.

Emotional Health and Well-being

 By 2020, it is estimated that almost 800 children aged between 5 and 15 will have mental health problems in Blaenau Gwent.  Blaenau Gwent have slightly worse mental health in Adults (Mental Health Summary Score, 47) than for Wales as a whole 49.4.  17% of adults in Blaenau Gwent report being treated for a mental illness, with higher proportions of anxiety and depression (Wales, 13%).

Community Safety  Numbers of crime and anti-social behaviour incidents in Blaenau Gwent are decreasing. However, the rate of crimes per resident is still above neighbouring local authority areas.  Rates of fires per 10,000 population is significantly higher in Blaenau Gwent than in neighbouring local authority areas.  In Blaenau Gwent, only half of people (51.5%) agree that it is safe for children to play outside in the local area.

Homes and Housing  In Blaenau Gwent approximately 5% of dwellings are vacant, which is slightly above the Welsh average of 4%. This has decreased since 2001, where it stood at 6%.  The area has a large percentage of terraced dwellings (52%), though there is considerable variation within the area.  In September 2016, the average house price in Blaenau Gwent was £76,377, with the area being one of the most affordable areas for

housing in Wales.

 Blaenau Gwent ranks second in Wales for households that have central

heating.  Blaenau Gwent has above the Wales average rate for the number of homeless people decided to be eligible and in priority (4.77 compared to 3.89).

Local Transport Links and Interconnectivity  Dependency on cars is increasing with two thirds of private journeys by car in South East Wales. This has increased from a half of journeys in 1990.

 In 2011, almost one-third (29%) of people in Blaenau Gwent did not have access to a car or van.

 Key transport infrastructure in the area includes, Ebbw Vale Valley Rail Line, Heads of the Valleys A465 Dualling, and Walking and Cycling trails.

Care and Support

 The Blaenau Gwent area has high levels of ‘children in need’ with 480 children per 10,000 population; this is above the Welsh average.

 13% of Looked After Children in the Blaenau Gwent area have had 3 or more placements.

 In terms of adult care, Blaenau Gwent has relatively low number of delayed transfers of care.

Note: A Population Needs Assessment for the Gwent region is currently being carried out for people who use care and support services, a statutory requirement of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.

What we know from engagement

Feedback from ‘The Blaenau Gwent We Want’ engagement programme showed the following key issues relating to social well-being:

 The availability of social activities was the 3rd most referenced topic when people were asked what is important to live well and enjoy life.

 The transport infrastructure was the 4th most referenced topic mentioned when people were asked what is important to live well and enjoy life.

 Availability of social activities was the 2nd most important thing referenced by people when asked what they felt would make the area a better place.

 Police presence was 4th most important thing referenced by people when asked what they felt would make the area a better place.

Cultural Well-being

Section 7: Cultural Well-being

Below is a summary of the key facts relating to cultural well-being from the draft assessment for the Blaenau Gwent area.

Welsh Language, Cultural Identity & Cohesion  Blaenau Gwent has the lowest percentage of its population (3 years and over) who can speak Welsh at 7.8% across the Gwent region, which is significantly below the Wales average (19%).  There are higher levels of Welsh language ability in those aged 0-15 (31%), compared those aged 16 to 64 years (5%) and those aged 65 and over (1%).  As well as having low levels of Welsh speakers, those people that speak Welsh in Blaenau Gwent still do not use the language on a regular basis (2% speak Welsh daily compared to 10% across Wales).  In Blaenau Gwent hate crime offences are 7 per 10,000 people which is in-line with the Wales average. However, there has been an increase in offences reported following the EU referendum in June 2016.

Sports, Recreation, Arts, Culture and Tourism  29% of adults participate in regular exercise and physical activity, with local information showing an improved usage of local sport facilities.  Local information shows increasing attendance at cultural venues.  Blaenau Gwent received 675,530 tourist visitors in 2015, generating £43.2m into the local economy, and supported the full-time equivalent of 582 jobs. This is an increase of 7% in tourism numbers.

Technology  Just under three-quarters of households (71%) in Blaenau Gwent have internet access, which is slightly below the Welsh average (78%).

What we know from engagement

Feedback from ‘The Blaenau Gwent We Want’ engagement programme showed the following key issues relating to cultural well-being:

 Communities within Blaenau Gwent were the 2nd highest identified asset when people were asked about what was special about the area.

 The heritage of the area was the 3rd highest identified theme asset when people were asked about what was special about the area.

 Family and friends was the 1st most referenced topic when people were asked what is important to live well and enjoy life.

 In terms of what individuals could do to help make the area a better place, public responsibility, community spirit, community cohesion and public engagement were all in the top 5 topics.



Environmental Well-being

Section 8: Environmental Well-being

Below is a summary of the key facts relating cultural well-being from the draft assessment for the Blaenau Gwent area.

Landscape  Blaenau Gwent has a distinctive landscape with attractive landscapes, cultural heritage, natural beauty and tranquil settings offering opportunities for recreation, tourism and nature.

 The valleys offer a variety of natural opportunities including include accessible cycleway and parks, such as The Garden Festival Park, woodland and nature reserves.

 Blaenau Gwent is one of the most wooded areas in Wales, accounting for 22.5% of land use. This includes small areas of broadleaf woodland and upland conifer woodlands which are both close to communities.

 Agriculture also significantly shapes the landscape of Blaenau Gwent. There are approximately 300 farming businesses within the area, of which hill farming is the predominant type.

 Two-thirds (65%) of the population in Blaenau Gwent live within 400m of their nearest accessible green space.

 Anti-social behaviour is of concern to our natural landscapes, particularly issues such as litter, fly tipping, and abandoned vehicles.

Nature  There is a wide range of habitats in Blaenau Gwent. The more significant habitats include four Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), seven Local Nature Reserves, 137 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), one Special Area of Conservation and two historic landscapes.  The southernmost slopes of Mynydd Llangyndr and Mynydd Llangatwg SSSIs extend into the north of Blaenau Gwent and are within the Brecon Beacons National Park. The area is a mixture of upland habitats including wet heath, bog and limestone and geological features including caves.  Cwm Merddog Woodlands SSSI (known locally as Silent Valley) is a beech forest at the north-western limit of its European range and at a relatively high altitude.  Connectivity is important for ecosystems. A range of habitats in Blaenau Gwent rely on connectivity along the valley sides and rivers. The area is also important for upland wetland and heathland habitats connectivity.  In Blaenau Gwent, some ecosystems have problems that contribute to resilience, e.g. connectivity and adaption to climate change.

Air, Water and Soils  The air quality in Blaenau Gwent is measured as good.  The quality of the water of the rivers in Blaenau Gwent has improved. The River Sirhowy is currently classified as good quality, and the Rivers Ebbw Fawr and Ebbw Fach as moderate quality. No major watercourses are classed as bad.  Blaenau Gwent’s water supply is primarily from the three small reservoirs - Shon Sheffery and Upper & Lower Carno. Transfers from the rivers Wye and Usk are in place when the local storage declines during dry weather.  The communities in Blaenau Gwent most at risk from flooding are Llanhilleth, Abertillery and Cwm. Victoria, Waun Lwyd, Dukestown and Aberbeeg are also at risk.  Peat in the area is in good condition and supports clean, well- functioning river systems underpinning good environmental quality.  Blaenau Gwent has a long history of heavy industry and as a consequence throughout the area there is likely to be contaminated land.

Carbon & Ecological Footprint  Blaenau Gwent’s carbon footprint is 10.64 tonnes per person, which is below the Wales average of 11.11 tonnes per person.

 Blaenau Gwent’s ecological footprint is 3.10 global hectares per person, which is the lowest footprint of neighbouring areas and below the Wales average of 3.3 global hectares per person.

Renewable Energy  Production of renewable energy in 2015 in Blaenau Gwent was 19.1 megawatts, which is a significant increase from 2014 when it was 3.9 megawatts.  The increase in production of renewable energy is as a result of a major solar farm project (which contributes 70% of all production in Blaenau Gwent).  Other sources of renewable energy include biomass boilers, wind turbines and Building Integrated Technologies (e.g. solar panels, ground source heat pumps).  An assessment has found that there is potential in the area to meet the target of 38% of our total electrical energy need from renewable sources.

Waste and Recycling  Less than half of the municipal waste collected in Blaenau Gwent (48.7%) is sent for reuse, recycling or composting, which is significantly below all neighbouring areas and the Wales average (60.2%).

 The amount of municipal waste collected in Blaenau Gwent which is sent for reuse, recycling or composting is also bucking the national increasing trend, with rates in Blaenau Gwent decreasing from a peak of 54.8% in 2013/14.

What we know from engagement

Feedback from ‘The Blaenau Gwent We Want’ engagement programme showed the following key issues relating to environmental well-being:

 The landscape in Blaenau Gwent was identified as the top asset when people were asked about what was special about the area.

 Parks in the area were the 2nd highest identified asset when people were asked about what was special about the area.

 Clean and tidy streets was the most referenced topic when people were asked what people felt would make the area a better place.

 In terms of what individuals could do to help make the area a better place helping tidy and clean the streets, was the 4th most referenced topic.

Taking Part

Section 9: Taking Part in the Formal Consultation of the Draft Well-being Assessment

This document is a summary document of the draft well-being assessment for Blaenau Gwent. It has been produced to provide a broad overview of the content of the overall draft assessment.

Formal consultation on the draft Well-being Assessment is taking place in February 2017. To find out more information on how you can take part and view the full assessment you can be found by following the link below: http://www.blaenaugwentpsb.org.uk/well-being-assessment/blaenau-gwent- we-want.aspx

Alternatively, you can contact the Policy, Partnerships and Engagement Team at Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council for further information on 01495 355092.