Vale of Glamorgan Council
Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
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Working with and for our communities

 

We are a modern and forward-looking Council which embraces innovation and works in partnership to ensure services meet the needs of our residents and local communities. We are committed to meeting the needs of the current generation and to leaving a positive legacy for future generations.

 

ADP Objective 1 Communities Banner

 

We need to be resilient, innovative and responsive to the different needs of our customers. The activities we will undertake to deliver this Objective reflect the importance of effective involvement, communication and engagement to understand and respond to the diverse needs of the community.

 

This year’s ADP reflects our increased focus on working with the community and providing opportunities for the community to get involved in shaping our activities. We are continuing to improve our online offer and change some of the ways in which we engage with our residents, recognising online services and meetings do not suit everyone’s needs but for some they provide opportunities to access services and participate more easily. 

 

Work that we have undertaken to understand the impact of the cost of living crisis and as part of the Public Services Board’s Well-being Assessment has highlighted inequities and we will continue to strive to better understand the actions needed to address these inequities.

 

In taking forward this Objective we will be mindful of the different needs and aspirations of people of all ages and from all areas of the Vale. We understand that to be an effective organisation we need to be agile and able to adapt and that our staff are one of our greatest assets. We also recognise the need to review services and ensure they are viable, sustainable and fit for the future.

 

Corporate Plan Commitments

 

Our Corporate Plan commitments are to:

  • Improve how we involve, engage and communicate with others about our work and decisions

  • Work innovatively, using technology, resources and our assets to transform our services so they are sustainable for the future

  • Develop our strong culture of good customer service aligned to the Council’s values of being ambitious, open, together and proud

  • Promote equality of opportunity and work with the community to ensure we are responsive to the diverse needs of our customers

  • Promote the use of the Welsh Language and contribute to the Welsh Government target of 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050

  • Support the development and well-being of our staff and recognise their contribution to the work of the Council

  • Ensure we have robust governance and scrutiny arrangements in place and support our elected members to fulfil their roles

 

  

Annual Delivery Plan Actions

 

In 2023-24 we will:

 

  1. Adopt a new digital strategy, improve how we communicateand developmore responsive online services, including improvements for housing services and the customer contact centre and enhancements to the website.

  2. Make efficient and effective use of assets by reviewing the council’s estate including office accommodation and key sites.

  3. Review the viability and sustainability of services in response to ongoing significant financial challenges and uncertainty.

  4. Revise our procurement practices to ensure value for money to ensure our activities contribute to the local economy, support work around climate change and deliver community benefits.

  5. Implement a new People Strategy with a particular focus on improving diversity across the workforce, recruitment and retention, planning for the future and staff well-being.

  6. Work with voluntary and community organisations to deliver and shape local services, encourage people to get more involved in their local communities and support them to seek funding.

  7. Work with partners in the private sector to help deliver service innovation and new sources of investment and expertise.

  8. Deliver our Public Participation Strategy to encourage and enable greater involvement for residents and other stakeholders in decision making, with a particular focus on improving engagement with seldom heard voices.

  9. Support increasing numbers and a greater diversity of young people to be engaged in a wider range of participation opportunities to enable equity and diversity in decision making within the Council.

  10. Hold climate and nature emergency community conversations involving different stakeholder groups to shape our plans and activities and encourage positive behaviour change.

  11. Deliver year four of the Council’s Strategic Equality Plan, achieve Age Friendly status for the Vale and progress work as part of national action around disability, race and sexual orientation and gender identity.

  12. Increase the use of the Welsh Language through the delivery of the Council’s Welsh Language Promotion Strategy and the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP).

  13. Work in partnership as part of  the  Armed Forces Covenant to support members of the armed forces, veterans, family members and widow or widowers.

  14. Deliver a programme to further develop and support elected members to be effective in their roles reflecting the commitment to increase diversity.