Supporting Local Places and Local People: Opportunities and Challenges for Welsh Towns Rebekah Menzies - cloudfront.net
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NEUADD Y DREF
MEDDYGFA
TOWN HALL
LLYFRGELL
MEDICAL PRACTICE
Supporting Local Places
and Local People:
Opportunities and Challenges for Welsh Towns
Rebekah MenziesFlourishing Towns
Policy
Turnaround Towns 2017
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Carnegie UK Trust is grateful for the support of Dave Cook, Anna Nicholl and
Fiona Harris at WCVA for arranging and co-hosting the events, and Peter Davies at
WCVA for expertly chairing the discussions on which this report is based.
The author would like to thank all those who participated in the two roundtable discussions,
and provided comment and input into earlier versions of this report, including Dave Cook,
Anna Nicholl and Russell Todd (WCVA), Kate Hamilton and Mike Palmer (Office of the
Future Generations Commissioner), Ceri Cunnington (Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog), Wendy Jones
(Community and Voluntary Support Conwy), Vanessa Naughton (Welsh Government), and
Jennifer Wallace, Gina Wilson and Lauren Pennycook (Carnegie UK Trust).
The text of this work is licensed under
the Creative Commons Attribution-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
To view a copy of this license visit,
http://creativecommons.org/licenses
by-sa/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative
Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, This report is printed on paper
Mountain View, California, 94041, USA.
that is FSC certified.Supporting Local Places and Local People 1
Foreword
As one of the largest policy and practice foundations in the
UK to be based in a town, the Carnegie UK Trust is focusing
on ‘Flourishing Towns’ as a strategic priority to 2020.
Through our research, policy the wellbeing of their citizens. The
and practice activities we are resulting ‘Turnaround Towns’ report
supporting the development of drew out key lessons from eight
vibrant, innovative and empowered case studies from across the USA,
towns and town communities. One Australia and New Zealand, and
of Wales Council for Voluntary Europe.
Action (WCVA)’s goals for 2022
is to contribute to the third sector While the experience of towns
and volunteering making a bigger overseas cannot be directly
impact on current and future imported to the UK, where themes
wellbeing. As part of this, it is emerge in a range of places, they
working with the voluntary sector are worth paying attention to. Over
to explore how the third sector and the summer of 2017, we took our
voluntary action can contribute Turnaround Towns research to two
to more empowered and resilient Welsh towns – Merthyr Tydfil and
communities. Llandudno Junction – in partnership
with WCVA. Over two roundtable
In 2016 the Trust commissioned events, we tested the resonance
international research to uncover of the themes that emerged from
innovative examples of towns the research, and discussed the key
from around the world that challenges and opportunities for
have experienced difficult times, Welsh towns with stakeholders from
but have made significant Welsh and local government, and
transformations, greatly improving the voluntary and business sectors.2 Supporting Local Places and Local People It is an opportune time to be Based on our roundtable focusing on towns in Wales. discussions, this report sets out Policy shifts, most notably the recommendations for Welsh and world-leading Well-being of local government, the voluntary Future Generations (Wales) Act and business sectors, and indeed 2015, could create significant individuals and communities opportunities for Welsh towns and themselves. Along with WCVA, communities; but also present we look forward to engaging with challenges that will require shifts key towns stakeholders in Wales away from traditional ways of to support the recommendations working to overcome. These identified in this report. shifts are explored in the Trust’s literature on the Enabling State, which recognises that traditional ‘top down’ approaches to public Martyn Evans Peter Davies service design and delivery are Chief Executive Chair no longer working, and the state Carnegie UK Trust WCVA needs to develop a more facilitative and enabling role that empowers individuals and local communities, and draws on the experience of other sectors, to tackle contemporary challenges.
Supporting Local Places and Local People 3
Introduction
The places where we live, work and play have
a significant impact on our wellbeing.
Wellbeing and place are inextricably Yet towns can often struggle to
inter-connected. Our economic secure attention in public policy.
and educational opportunities, our Towns are rarely the geographical
social and political relationships, our basis for policymaking, both at
environment, and our imaginative, central and local government levels.
cognitive and creative worlds are all Instead, overarching strategic
profoundly impacted by where we live policies and thematic policy
and who we live alongside.1 issues (such as housing, physical
regeneration, and community
Across the UK and Ireland, millions cohesion) apply to towns; or town
of people live in small and medium communities are invited to apply to
sized towns. They run and use local funding programmes which operate
businesses, deliver and access local at a sub-town or supra-town level.
services, and build relationships and Examples include town centre
networks amongst family, friends regeneration funding, or in the
and neighbours. Towns are critical case of Wales specifically, clusters
to the wellbeing of many. of towns have applied for funding
under Communities First.
Towns and urban districts matter,
offering distinct elements of urban Powerful rural and city interests
life at a scale which is often rich in can crowd out the voices of towns
local identity and deep in terms of in public policy debates, and the
social interaction, and developing default position for conversations
a local sense of place within a about towns often focuses on
globalised society. 2 ‘preserving’ or ‘saving’ a town,
rather than ‘progressing’ or
1 Atkinson S. et al, Wellbeing and Place, New York:
Routledge 2016 ‘rethinking.’
2 World Towns Agreement (2016) http://www.
scotlandstowns.org/a_world_towns_agreement
[accessed August 2017]4 Supporting Local Places and Local People
In 2016, the Carnegie UK Trust are lively and dynamic places to live,
published research by Carnegie work and visit.
Associate Jane-Frances Kelly setting
out stories of towns from around The international research
the world who, despite experiencing demonstrated that profound
difficult and challenging times, have economic and social change in
made significant transformations, towns can be achieved by clear
greatly improving the wellbeing action, directed and delivered
of their citizens.3 The research at a local level. While each of
drew out key learnings from eight the eight case studies featured
case studies from across the USA, in the report are very different,
Australia and New Zealand, and there are common factors across
Europe, highlighting themes of these diverse places which, to
salience to town policy makers and varying degrees, were vital to their
practitioners in the UK. transformation. These factors are:
Towns can fall on difficult times • Having a story that residents
for a range of reasons, including – and others – know: Clarity
economic depression, outward of history and purpose allows
migration, natural disasters, or all of residents to articulate their
these put together. The results can town’s raison d’être amongst
be physical dilapidation, poverty and each other, creating a shared
unemployment. ‘Turnaround towns’ positive narrative, and
refers to cases where a town had externally, developing the town’s
previously fallen on difficult times, appeal to visitors.
but where improvement resulted
from deliberate efforts to address • Addressing economic
local challenges across a number of challenges: Directly addressing
dimensions. These include energising economic challenges, and
local economies, to encouraging a reinventing their economic
sense of local place, identity and bases if necessary, to improve
social connections – and have local livelihoods, rather than
succeeded in building towns that skirting around such challenges.
Successful turnaround towns
recognise that while a secure
3 Kelly J.F, Turnaround Towns: International Evidence,
Dunfermline: Carnegie UK Trust 2016 local economy is essential, theySupporting Local Places and Local People 5
also needed to focus on tangibly • Being flexible and finding
improving the experience of living the right path to success:
in the town for residents, including Adopting flexible approaches
providing for residents’ material to development, and
and psychological needs. experimenting with various
paths to success on an ongoing
• Local leaders driving change: basis, allowed the turnaround
Many of the case studies towns researched in the report
involved ‘unlikely’ leaders, who to thrive.
do not necessarily conform
to traditional notions of • Committing to the long-term:
leadership. However, what is Committing to development
most important is local leaders over the long-term – with many
who have the ability to develop case studies working across a
meaningful relationships at number of decades to realise
a local level. their turnaround (and in many
cases, still today).
• Cross-sector collaboration:
Developing cross-sectoral
relationships brings together a
host of ‘unusual friends’ across
public, private, voluntary and
community sectors, which
encourages the emergence
of innovative approaches for
turnaround towns.6 Supporting Local Places and Local People
Taking turnaround towns
to Wales
Over June and July 2017, the Carnegie UK Trust and
WCVA convened two roundtable events in Wales,
in Merthyr Tydfil and Llandudno Junction.
Now is an opportune time to be Welsh and local government, and
focusing on towns in Wales, with voluntary and private sectors with
opportunities and challenges an interest in Welsh towns and their
for Welsh towns provided by the socio-economic development.
Well-being of Future Generations The purpose of the events was to:
(Wales) Act 2015, the Valleys
Taskforce, the Cardiff Capital • share the key themes that
Region City Deal, Enterprise Zones, emerged from the international
and post-Communities First4 and research on turnaround towns;
Brexit policy landscapes. Like towns • test the extent to which the
in other parts of the UK, over the themes from the research
coming decades Welsh towns will resonated with Welsh
be confronted with challenges stakeholders;
from increasing urbanisation, an • identify policy enablers and
ageing population, climate change, barriers to towns in Wales
and the changing landscapes of achieving turnaround success;
technology and employment. and
• identify specific policy levers and
Both roundtable events were well routes forward to support Welsh
attended by stakeholders from towns to thrive.
4 Communities First was a flagship Welsh Government
programme aimed at boosting deprived communities
in Wales. The programme is to be phased out by
March 2018.Supporting Local Places and Local People 7 This paper sets out the policy The policy context for context for Welsh towns, and reflects Welsh towns on the key points arising from the roundtable discussions that took Towns in Wales sit within a broader place. It provides recommendations policy framework including strategic for Welsh and local governments, Welsh Government policy, planning businesses and voluntary sector legislation, regeneration policy, organisations operating in towns, and local authority statutory and individuals and communities responsibilities. The diagram on with an interest in the development the following page sets out the of their town, and the wellbeing of key policy settings in Wales of people living and working there. relevance to towns.
8 Supporting Local Places and Local People
Box 1: The policy context for Welsh towns
Taking Wales Forward The Well-being of The Welsh Spatial
2016-2021, the Welsh FuturGenerations Plan is a 20-year plan
Government’s Programme (Wales) Act 2015 is a that sets out a strategic
for Government, contains world-leading approach to framework to guide future
high-level ambitions for carrying out sustainable development and policy
Wales including: development in Wales. interventions, guided by a
key principle of sustainable
• Prosperous and Secure; The Act places a statutory development.
• Healthy and Active; duty on public bodies,
• Ambitious and including local authorities Welsh planning legislation
Learning; and and Local Health Boards, gives communities
• United and Connected. to improve social, input into local planning
economic, environmental, processes. The Planning
Prosperity for All is the and cultural wellbeing in and Compulsory
Welsh Government’s Wales in pursuit of seven Purchase Act 2004
national strategy, which national goals: requires Local Planning
sets out a vision and Authorities to prepare a
actions covering each • a prosperous Wales; Local Development Plan
of the key themes in • a resilient Wales; that includes policies
the Programme for • a healthier Wales; and proposals on the
Government. • a more equal Wales; development of the local
• a Wales of cohesive area over the next 15
communities; years. Reflecting local
• a Wales of vibrant issues, Local Development
culture and thriving Plans must also have
Welsh language; and regard to the Wales Spatial
• a globally responsible Plan.
Wales.
The Planning (Wales)
Each public body must set Act 2015 bestows further
wellbeing objectives, publish rights on residents to
a wellbeing statement provide input into the
which outlines why these development of their local
objectives will help them to area, as Local Planning
achieve the goals, and use Authorities in Wales are
the five ways of working now required to work with
set out in the Act, including communities to draft Place
involving people interested Plans as Supplementary
in achieving the goals. Planning Guidance.Supporting Local Places and Local People 9
Vibrant and Local public services The Valley’s Taskforce
Viable Places: for towns and town was established in 2016
New Regeneration communities in Wales are with a five-year work
Framework, the provided by 22 unitary programme to spearhead
Welsh Government’s authorities. There are the regeneration and
regeneration policy also 735 community and sustainable
document, outlines town councils in Wales growth of the valleys.
a place and person- covering 70 percent of the The Taskforce has
based approach to population which provide committed to ‘refocusing
regeneration and sets very local services. town centres, ’ including
national outcomes of ensuring that national
prosperous communities, The Local Government and local government
learning communities and (Wales) Act 2000 created regeneration strategies
healthier communities. “the well-being power” challenge the traditional
The framework commits which enables local model of the town
the Welsh Government to authorities to do anything centre, based on what
cross-sectoral cooperation that they consider is likely communities want and
and joined up working to promote or improve need.
across government the economic, social or
departments and policy environmental wellbeing The Cardiff Capital
areas. of their area. This power Region city deal involves
enables local authorities to 10 local authorities with
The £100 million have a wide discretionary an investment fund
framework takes a power to further develop of £1.2 billion over 20
targeted approach in their community years. The Cardiff Capital
which funding is provided leadership role and the Region Metro is a new
to local authorities to fund delivery of better and transport system under
regeneration schemes. In more responsive services. development.
January 2017, the Cabinet The Local Government
Secretary for Communities (Wales) Measure 2011 The Swansea Bay city
and Children announced conferred this power on deal is backed by £1.3
support for an additional community and town billion of investment and
23 regeneration projects councils. aims to boost the local
across twelve local economy by £1.8 billion
authorities worth Consultation on further over the next 15 years.
£3.7 million. local government reform
has recently closed
(September 2017).10 Supporting Local Places and Local People
Key themes from our
discussions
Our roundtable discussions in Merthyr Tydfil and
Llandudno Junction provided an insight into the challenges
and opportunities for towns in Wales within wider policy
settings. The key themes that emerged from our discussions
are set out below.
1) Opportunity (and challenge) and take a more joined-up
provided by the Well-being of approach. The Office of the Future
Future Generations Act Generations Commissioners for
Wales has been established to
The Well-being of Future challenge and help public bodies
Generations (Wales) Act 2015 was and those who make policy in
a focal point of both roundtable Wales to think about the long-term
discussions. The Act challenges impact of their decisions.
public bodies to think holistically
and long-term about citizen There is an opportunity
wellbeing in Wales and, if fully provided by the Well-being
embraced by public bodies, could of Future Generations Act to
provide huge opportunities for challenge business as usual and
Welsh towns and people living and test different ways of working.
working in them. The Act requires And some of them may not work,
public bodies, including Welsh but we need to be brave and
Ministers, to carry out sustainable try things, and learn from it
development, work better with if it doesn’t work.
people and communities and each Roundtable participant,
Llandudno Junction
other, look to prevent problems,Supporting Local Places and Local People 11
Participants expressed concern traditional silos, and collaborate
that the Wellbeing Plans required and engage across departments
by the Act would be viewed as and sectors. The ‘Five Ways of
‘just another plan’ and become Working’ serve to remind public
seen as another compliance bodies subject to the Act of the
exercise layered amongst other ways in which they must work to
planning processes required of local maximise their contribution to
authorities and their partners. each of the Act’s seven wellbeing
goals, including thinking long-
You have wellbeing plans, but term; integration; involvement;
we’re all as councils expected to collaboration; and prevention.
do corporate plans, improvement The seven goals and the wellbeing
plans, and we have place plans, duty of the Act establish in law a
and then you have an LDP common purpose, a definition of
and a national development sustainable development, and
framework…. a framework for wellbeing.
Roundtable participant,
Llandudno Junction
Legislation is one thing, but
actually the culture change
This is another plan we are required around it is going to
supposed to do. We’re supposed be something totally different,
to do this plan and that plan, and that’s going to be where the
and they’re not seeing them as focus needs to be; on enabling
being generated locally, they’re that and supporting that, and
seen as external compliance supporting people to do things
Roundtable participant, differently.
Llandudno Junction
Roundtable participant,
Llandudno Junction
Culture change within public bodies
was seen as crucial if the Well-being Participants noted a tension
of Future Generations legislation between the long-term thinking
is to be a success. Tackling issues and planning for future generations
that are generational in nature required by the Act, and shorter
and planning for the long-term will term budgeting, funding and
require public bodies to work across electoral cycles. Local authorities12 Supporting Local Places and Local People
are required to prepare annual important across the international
budgets and, in the face of public turnaround town case studies.
sector funding constrains, can often Participants at both roundtables
focus on more immediate priorities. in Wales noted that the Well-being
Voluntary sector organisations of Future Generations legislation
in attendance expressed similar provided the discipline to think
issues, noting that the demands of about town regeneration in
funders within short-term projects Wales over the long-term.
with place-blind outcomes often
distracted them from longer-term Regeneration takes a
place-based thinking and planning. generation.
Roundtable participant,
Llandudno Junction
Sometimes we fall into danger
of working in our vision of 2-3
year funding slots. We need to 2) Going beyond community
stand back and be aware that we engagement to empowerment
are going to be there longer than and ownership
this. There are real challenges
and real opportunities to think Roundtable participants focused
differently. on the need for communities
Roundtable participant, to have a real and meaningful
Merthyr Tydfil
role in the development and
governance of their town over
Every place is different. the long-term. While there were
The problem is that funding some examples of success, much
structures measure by what they of the discussion lamented flawed
think is important, cutting across models of engagement where
the ability to have a coherent communities are ‘consulted’ on
place-specific plan. decisions that have already been
Roundtable participant, made, and changes are ‘done to’
Merthyr Tydfil
communities, rather than with and
for, reinforcing existing barriers and
Working towards town socio- pre-conceptions about who holds
economic development over power in communities.
the long-term was identified asSupporting Local Places and Local People 13
We need more than Spotlight on the North
Wales Citizens Panel
community engagement….
We need community ownership The North Wales Citizens Panel
and empowerment. is for people across North Wales
Roundtable participant, to have their say on health and
Merthyr Tydfil wellbeing services. Managed
by Community and Voluntary
Participants were clear that while Support Conwy, Panel members
the language and rhetoric of are contacted via a method
community empowerment was of their choosing around four
often strong, as reflected in the times a year with no more
National Principles for Public than four questions each time.
Engagement in Wales, this was Feedback is given so all Panel
not coming through in community members can see how their
engagement practices. There was answers and thoughts are being
a sense that engagement is always listened to and used.
done ‘the same old way,’ involving
the same methodology and the What we were keen to
same people. do was speak with people
who are not engaged at any
There’s an implementation level, and it was very difficult.
deficit. We’ve got good rhetoric, However we now have over
we’ve got good policies, around 100 people that we are
empowerment. We know how to engaging with across North
do good empowerment, we’ve Wales any way they like; and
known for a while how to do I mean any way; from Skype,
good empowerment, but it’s Facebook Messenger; one
not happening. to one…. These people have
Roundtable participant, never been approached in
Merthyr Tydfil
the past, and I’m finding it
really refreshing having these
conversations.
Roundtable participant,
Llandudno Junction14 Supporting Local Places and Local People
Participants recognised that meaningful role in their community,
community engagement should for example, developing business
be done differently in different and management skills to run
places, reflecting the individual community-owned assets.
circumstances and unique identifiers Participants noted that up-skilling
of place. Participants also reflected communities had positive impacts
that the language of community on community wellbeing, and also
engagement is important. took pressure off local authorities
Approaching engagement from and larger voluntary sector
a perspective of fixing problems organisations to manage assets
undermines the process and on behalf of communities.
damages narratives for local people,
and re-enforces existing barriers to Empowerment improves the
engagement and empowerment. wellbeing of our communities,
Instead, taking an asset-based but it also improves the
approach and focusing on building effectiveness of our services.
on a community’s strengths and Roundtable participant,
positive attributes was identified Merthyr Tydfil
as important for successful
engagement and community 3) Developing a positive
empowerment. identity and narrative for
a town
While much of the discussion
focused on the front end of the Roundtable participants identified
engagement process, participants the importance of a strong,
did raise the point that just as unifying identity of place for people
important in the engagement living in a town as important
process are proper feedback loops for individual and community
and timely, relatable feedback to wellbeing. Participants expressed a
the community. sense that many Welsh towns have
lost their sense of identity, often as
Participants also discussed the a result of changes to traditional
importance of developing the skills industries and subsequent local
and capabilities of communities employment opportunities. People
to empower them to have a living in towns have an opportunitySupporting Local Places and Local People 15
and a challenge to re-define their is still largely deficit based. These
town’s identity, questioning the role negative narratives are often
of their town, who it serves and its perpetuated by groups external to
function. While local authorities the town and community. Ranking
and voluntary sector organisations towns according to the Welsh Index
have a role to play in supporting of Multiple Deprivation was seen
this process, it must be led and as particularly damaging.
owned by the community to be
truly authentic. Every 3 or 4 years you’re
waiting to see what the new
Participants discussed how identities index of deprivation is going to
and narratives built on the negative throw up and who’s at the top
aspects of a place can be damaging this time…. Something quite
to local people and communities, simple can be done around
and re-inforce some of the existing changing and re-framing the
barriers to community engagement language we use when talking
and empowerment. Despite a about these things.
strong rhetoric around asset-based Roundtable participant,
Llandudno Junction
approaches, the dominant culture
COMMUNITY CENTRE16 Supporting Local Places and Local People
4) Cross-sectoral and cross- and ideas, and as a local
town working is important authority we need to have our
for town socio-economic ears open a bit more, to listen
development to that.
Roundtable participant,
Merthyr Tydfil
There was unanimous agreement
that cross-sectoral working is
important for town socio-economic Participants from the voluntary
development, with public, voluntary and business sectors reflected on
and private sectors working how cross-sectoral engagement
together – with local communities in towns could be more successful.
– to make towns in Wales a success. In particular, voluntary sector
Collaboration across sectors is representatives reflected on how
a key part of the Well-being of the sector could do better at
Future Generations legislation. The engaging with the business sector.
roundtable discussions focused in Business representatives reminded
particular on cross-sectoral working participants that local business
involving local authorities, the people had a mass of expertise at
voluntary and business sectors, and hand that could be leveraged to
local communities. the benefit of a town, including vast
local networks and knowledge.
A local authority representative
noted that turning around a town We struggle a bit in the
is not solely the job of the local voluntary sector to actually
authority. Instead, people and look at working with the private
communities need to have pride sector effectively….
in their towns, and take ownership An approach like this challenges
for their town’s development – with the voluntary sector to take a
support from the local authority. step back from its comfort zone
in delivering services….
Turning around a town is not If you look at the history of the
a local authority job. It needs to voluntary sector it wasn’t about
be organic, it needs to be local. that (delivering services). It was
People need to start having pride about developing new responses
in their place, develop leadership and approaching new ways ofSupporting Local Places and Local People 17
tackling social and public need…. While cross-sectoral working
We’ve got a challenge in the is important for towns, it can
voluntary sector to step back often get lost amongst ‘business
from this… to actually start to as usual,’ and it becomes easy
looking at working holistically to revert to traditional siloed
across an area at what local behaviours. A mechanism to bring
needs might be. diverse sectors within a town
Roundtable participant, together on a regular basis to
Merthyr Tydfil
discuss common challenges and
develop shared solutions is an
You’ve got to find ways of effective method for ensuring
communicating with businesses, cross-sectoral working becomes
you’ve got to communicate with common practice.
them the opportunities, the
vision… but equally you’ve got to Participants also recognised
listen to businesses. Businesses the importance of strong
who work locally have got an interrelationships and collaboration
enormous amount of expertise between towns within Wales, and
to bring to the table. They’re across the porous border with
often people who live locally, England.
they may be running businesses
in more than one area…. How
you engage with that is really
important.
Roundtable participant,
Merthyr Tydfil18 Supporting Local Places and Local People
5) Distinction between leaders Traditional leaders use words
and leadership like ‘governance,’ while people
use words like ‘participation.
Leaders and leadership was a focus Roundtable participant,
Merthyr Tydfil
of discussions in both Merthyr
Tydfil and Llandudno Junction. The type of leadership required was
Participants discussed the growing a focus of discussions. There was a
need to identify local leaders within distinction made between developing
a town, including those who do not traditional town leaders and fostering
traditionally get involved in their dispersed leadership in a town.
community, who can drive forward While the former is important, the
action. Discussions focused on the latter is crucial for ensuring a town’s
language of leadership used by sustainability and sense of identity.
government and local authorities,
and how this language can be We have focused on developing
exclusionary to ‘unlikely leaders,’ leaders at the expense of
as often the terminology used is leadership. When people go,
not that which people are used things fall down again, and you
to or comfortable with. end up relying on a small number
of people in the community.
Roundtable participant,
Merthyr TydfilSupporting Local Places and Local People 19
While local leaders and leadership We were answerable to
are vital, participants were clear our community because we
that there is also a role for regional came from that community.
and national leadership from We were answerable to the
voluntary sector organisations, local lady next door…. That’s real
government and Welsh Government, accountability.
in terms of playing a coordinating role Roundtable participant,
Llandudno Junction
and having the oversight and ability
to connect towns and communities
across Wales to share experiences Participants discussed the need for
and learn from each other. a greater degree of trust between
funders and funding recipients.
6) Moving town communities Instead of a relationship of
away from grant dependency grant giver and grant receiver, a
partnership approach is required
Voluntary sector organisations to address complex issues in
shared examples of the damage towns that are cross-sectoral and
done to towns and communities by generational in nature.
dependency on external funding,
and a mentality of ‘chasing the Participants also discussed
grant.’ Participants called for more how towns are often excluded
flexible funding arrangements, from opportunities to access
but still strong accountability to funding, particularly from Welsh
funders, and to the community. Government, as it is driven through
the 22 unitary authorities in Wales.
The amount of activity that Communication between town
was about effectively chasing councils and unitary authorities can
the grant, and people allowing be poor, meaning that towns often
themselves to be diverted from miss a chance to access funding.
that long-term vision, that long-
term commitment, by short-term
grant requirements and other
people’s agendas.
Roundtable participant,
Llandudno Junction20 Supporting Local Places and Local People
7) Innovation and enterprise community enterprises are equally
can unlock the potential of valid parts of our economy, but
towns they’re seen as filling gaps in public
services and volunteering, not seen
Participants shared examples of as central drivers for economic
where making space for innovation regeneration.
has allowed towns in Wales to Roundtable participant
Merthyr Tydfil
flourish, creating jobs and attracting
investment. Participants also discussed the need
for physical spaces to allow social
Participants discussed the need to put enterprises in towns to flourish, and
more value into social enterprise as reflected how vacant premises in
a valid form of economic activity for town centres could support this.
towns in order to leverage the skills and Welsh town centres have the highest
assets within communities, and ensure vacancy rate in the UK (14.6 percent
local spending is re-invested in towns. of retail premises in Welsh town
centres are currently vacant, down
We need to value social enterprise. from 15.1 percent in 2015).5
We miss the potential and skills
5 Federation of Independent Retailers, Independent
within communities…. Social and Retail Report for Wales, London: Federation of
Independent Retailers 2017
Spotlight on Blaenau Ffestiniog
The town of Blaenau Ffestiniog has had great success developing social
enterprises in the wake of leaving the Communities First programme, and
has created employment and attracted inward investment from tourism,
all with a broad base of support from the community.
Communities First came in in 2002, and from 2006… we realised
early on we couldn’t become grant dependent…. We established social
enterprises. There are about 6 or 7 in a town of 6,000 and employ over
150 people…. But we haven’t arrived yet; there’s a lot of work to be done.
And we need that support, between the private sector, between local
government, between Welsh Government. We can’t do it on our own.
Roundtable participant, Llandudno JunctionSupporting Local Places and Local People 21
8) Robust data on towns and It should highlight what’s
evidence about what works strong, not what’s wrong.
Roundtable participant,
Llandudno Junction
Roundtable participants discussed
the importance of robust data on
towns for better understanding The need for better sharing of
place. The Well-being of Future experiences – good and bad –
Generations legislation requires across Welsh towns, and learning
public bodies to have local data from others, was also identified as
to develop wellbeing plans, and a priority by participants, coupled
the skills and capabilities to use with a culture change towards
and analyse data about places openness and honesty. Identifying
effectively. Participants discussed what has worked in other towns,
the importance of ensuring this across Wales and elsewhere,
data is presented in a way that provides useful insights for Welsh
people in communities can access towns. Understanding what hasn’t
and understand the information, worked and why is also useful to
so they can become involved and avoid replicating mistakes.
engaged in their town.
Participants recognised that all
There is a lot of data out Welsh towns are unique with
there, some of it we keep to different economic, social, cultural
ourselves, others we like to and environmental assets. As a
share…. It should be open source network, the diversity of Welsh
data that is available to anybody towns helps to build resilience to
at any time. system shocks, such as economic
Roundtable participant, downturns and environmental
Llandudno Junction
events. Participants agreed
that better data and evidence
Participants were clear that data is needed to understand Welsh
should be used to tell positive towns as a network, both within
stories that communities can use to Wales and across the border with
drive forward change and progress England.
for their towns, not perpetuate
negative aspects of place.22 Supporting Local Places and Local People
Conclusion and
Recommendations
A sense of ‘place’ is particularly important for people
and communities in Wales.
Recent research from The The headline message was that
Young Foundation reveals that all partners working across Welsh
people in Wales do not feel towns need to ensure that they
that policy and decision makers put local places and local people
consider the importance of place at the centre of what they do,
when developing policies and recognising the uniqueness of
programmes, and engaging with place and developing policies and
communities. programmes accordingly. Local
people and their voices should be
Our research shows that communities listened to, heard and included
in particular feel that its significance across town development in Wales,
has perhaps been more overlooked so that people recognise and relate
in terms of how it relates to the to their town’s identity, and are
services they receive, the employment empowered to have a role in and
available and the development take ownership of their towns.
opportunities, as well as broader
principles of community capability, The following recommendations
capacity, activism and preferences for are based on our conversations with
how places are supported.6 key stakeholders at two roundtable
events in Merthyr Tydfil and
This was reflected at our two Llandudno Junction.
roundtable discussions in Wales.
6 Green H. and Hodgson M. Valuing Place: The
importance of place for understanding inequality
and taking action in Wales, London: The Young
Foundation 2017Supporting Local Places and Local People 23
Individuals and communities • Engage positively in efforts
should: to turnaround their town.
Individuals and communities
• Have pride in their towns. should seek to play an active
Individuals and communities role in the development of
should look to build up their their towns, to support the
towns by strengthening and wellbeing of their friends, family,
growing a positive identity neighbours and colleagues.
and narrative around their Reflecting the National Principles
places. Local media channels, for Public Engagement in Wales,
including community journalism, people should be treated with
hyperlocal media, papurau bro, respect when presented with the
and local social media, have an opportunity to engage, and have
important role to play in shaping the power to decide if and how
positive local narratives and they are involved in their town’s
supporting local pride in place. development.
Town communities should seek
to attract and retain young
people in their towns, to ensure
local identities and narratives
endure over the long-term.
Way Ahead24 Supporting Local Places and Local People
The voluntary sector should: The business sector should:
• Look for opportunities to • Look for opportunities to
proactively engage with proactively engage with
‘unusual friends.’ ‘unusual friends.’
Local voluntary sector Local businesses hold a wealth
organisations operate at the of knowledge about local places
coal face of communities, and and people, and have specific
have significant knowledge of skills and resources at hand.
the needs and aspirations of Local businesses should look for
communities. The voluntary sector opportunities to engage with
should look to develop a model partners and communities, and
that brings together the needs share their knowledge to the
of communities and voluntary benefit of Welsh towns.
organisations with specific skills
and resources from other sectors, • Invest in the wellbeing
particularly the business sector, for of Welsh towns.
the benefit of towns. Local businesses often
contribute significantly to
• Seek to change the narrative community wellbeing and
about towns through should look for opportunities
highlighting and sharing stories. to support and invest in the
The voluntary sector should towns they operate in, for
highlight and share stories of the wellbeing of the wider
town success and innovation to community.
complement traditional qualitative
data on towns. The Future Local government should:
Generations Commissioner has
reinforced the value that qualitative • Positively engage with local
place-based data and insights, people about a vision for their
often held by local voluntary towns.
organisations, add to local Local unitary authorities, and
wellbeing planning.7 town and county councils, should
work with local communities,
7 Future Generations Commissioner for Wales. Well-being
in Wales: Planning today for a better tomorrow. Learning voluntary sector organisations,
from Well-being Assessments 2017, Cardiff: Office of the
Future Generations Commissioner 2017Supporting Local Places and Local People 25
businesses, schools, youth to develop the understanding
groups, faith groups, sports and skills required to facilitate
clubs and others to draw out meaningful public participation.
and strengthen the local stories Local authorities should work
and identities unique to towns with their partners from the
in Wales, and create a vision for voluntary and business sectors
places. While local government with specific skill sets to develop
should not own or control this programmes for community
process, it is well placed to play members to build the
a convening and facilitating role confidence, skills and capacity
and bring people together for a to engage with, create and
conversation, given its degree of own their solutions, and grow
democratic accountability to the dispersed community leadership
community, and stronger financial and collective action.
position relative to voluntary and
community sectors. • Open up vacant spaces in
towns for innovation and
• Empower local people to take enterprise.
a leading role in their town. Local authorities should work
Local authorities should work with commercial property26 Supporting Local Places and Local People
owners to look for innovative leadership to make the most of
ways to open up vacant town the opportunities for change
spaces to entrepreneurs it offers.”8 Welsh Government
and young people, to allow should lead by example and
innovation and enterprise model the behaviours and
space to flourish. culture change required by the
Well-being of Future Generations
Welsh Government should: legislation. Welsh Government
should work with the Office
• Lead the behaviour and of the Future Generations
culture change required by Commissioner to ensure that
the Well-being of Future public bodies are challenged
Generations (Wales) Act 2015. and adequately supported to
The Future Generations achieve the shift in behaviour
commissioner has stated that and culture required by the
“delivering the Act is a challenge
that will require the strongest 8 Ibid.Supporting Local Places and Local People 27
Act, and ultimately achieve their local priorities and keep
improved wellbeing outcomes up with changing economic
for individuals and communities and demographic shifts to
across Wales. Welsh Government ensure local services are fit for
should consider alternative purpose. Welsh Government
models that allow for longer- should also play a convening
term, flexible planning to help and coordinating role for best
achieve the Act’s aims, including practice evidence exchange
longer-term financial planning to allow towns across Wales
and budgeting. to learn from one another.
• Support and enable
The Carnegie UK Trust will
local-level democracy
continue to have a strategic
and decision-making.
focus on towns across the
Welsh Government should
remainder of our 2016-
ensure town and community
2020 strategic plan. Along
councils are fit for purpose to
with WCVA, we welcome
best support towns and town
engagement with key towns
communities in Wales, through
stakeholders in Wales to
the ongoing Review of the
support the recommendations
Community and Town Council
identified in this report.
Sector. Any future reform of
If you would like further
local government in Wales must
information, please contact
ensure that local authorities
Rebekah Menzies, Policy
and town councils are best
and Development Officer at
supported to lead strong local
rebekah@carnegieuk.org or
democracies.
Dave Cook, Policy Officer at
dcook@WCVA.org.uk.
• Take the lead in developing
the data and evidence base
for Welsh towns.
Welsh Government should share
town-level data in an accessible
format, allowing towns to better
evidence their needs, determineSupporting Local Places and Local People 29
The Carnegie UK Trust works to improve the lives of people throughout the UK and Ireland, by changing minds through influencing policy, and by changing lives through innovative practice and partnership work. The Carnegie UK Trust was established by Scots-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1913. Andrew Carnegie House Pittencrieff Street Dunfermline KY12 8AW Tel: +44 (0)1383 721445 Fax: +44 (0)1383 749799 Email: info@carnegieuk.org www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk This report was written by Rebekah Menzies, Policy and Development Officer, Carnegie UK Trust, with support from Dave Cook, Policy Officer, WCVA. December 2017
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