Engagement Programme Launches To Give Conwy Residents A Greater Say On The County’s Future

Public sector organisations have come together to launch a far-reaching conversation, the first of its kind in Wales, designed to give Conwy County’s residents, workers and visitors a greater say on the future of the county’s development and public services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The County Conversation (www.conwy.gov.uk/countyconversation) includes a series of community-focused engagement exercises designed to bring people closer to the decision-making process. The first consultation is already live. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme has been launched in part as a response to Welsh Government’s commitment that all public sector organisations in Wales better reflect the needs of the people they serve and balance priorities against challenging budgets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The County Conversation is being led by Conwy County Borough Council on behalf of a number of public sector organisations, including North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Natural Resources Wales and Public Health Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first consultation, now live, seeks feedback on the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, an all-Wales framework of 7 long term goals and supports how we serve you now and in the future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the initial consultation which closes on 30 September 2016, individual Conwy County communities will be invited to put forward ideas and suggestions for Place Plans, a new tier of planning policy introduced last year that gives communities the opportunity to influence future development and land use in their local areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ronnie Hughes, Deputy Leader of Conwy County Borough Council, said: “We need to plan for the future of Conwy County and provide for our residents. The plans we formulate will describe how public organisations and land use should serve and support us all in our day-to-day lives. They must reflect the present and future needs of our residents and communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“That’s why we want people from all areas of Conwy County and from all backgrounds to have their say in the process. Through The County Conversation we’re keen to hear what’s most important to people and talk about what needs to change in their local area.”
The consultation takes a digital-first approach following a successful roll-out in the town of Abergele, where approximately 10% of the population took an interest in the initial stages of Place Plan development, the first such discussions in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

That process is now being brought into The County Conversation using innovative mapping and consulting software developed in Conwy County. Paper submissions are also welcomed and copies can be obtained and left in council properties across the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

James Harland, Strategic Planning Policy Manager at Conwy County Borough Council, said: “Place Plans form an important part of The County Conversation. Feedback from Abergele has already been used to form a draft Place Plan which the people of Abergele will be able to comment on further shortly. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Once adopted, Place Plans form part of the Local Development Plan which governs what development can take place and where in the years ahead. This can be anything from street furniture to new housing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s really important people register to join The County Conversation as Place Plans give people other than town planners and developers the opportunity to shape the future of their communities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​