Blaenau Gwent Council’s Performance Report Provides Base for Future Improvement

BLAENAU Gwent’s own performance report on how it ran council services last year can be used as a “base” for future improvement a senior councillor has said.
At a meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s on Tuesday, October 24, councillors debated the draft self-assessment report on the council’s performance during the 2022/2023 financial year.
All of Wales’ 22 local authorities are required by law to produce and publish this type of report which looks in detail at how council services have performed.
Services can be rated from one, which is “unsatisfactory,” to six, which is “excellent.”
Overall Blaenau Gwent’s own evaluation seems to be somewhere around average, as the county borough has assessed itself as “adequate” in three areas and “good” in four areas.
At a scrutiny committee earlier this month councillors suggested that a summary needs to be made of the 103 page document as it was deemed “too big.”
Council leader, Labour’s Cllr Steve Thomas said: “As expected the process has identified progress, challenges and areas for further development.
“Our assessment and conclusions respond to the three main areas, is the council exercising it’s functions effectively: is the council using its resources economically efficiently and effectively and are the governance arrangements of the council effective to secure continuous improvement.”
He added that public engagement had been highlighted as an area of improvement which the council had “committed to strengthen” for future assessments.
Deputy Independent group leader, Cllr Wayne Hodgins said: “I think the scores honestly reflect where we were at this point in time when we look back at this period.
“We can use that as a base for improving and redefining the way the council goes forward.”
Cllr Thomas said that a couple of councillors had told him that the council had “scored ourselves down.”
“Some of the members said they wanted a more concise document and that’s been added now,” said Cllr Thomas.
Independent group leader Cllr Joanna Wilkins said:  “In all fairness this had a good going over in scrutiny, it is at a point in time, and we are learning from it.
“As we go forward no doubt, we’ll get better, and we’ll be able to compare and see what other councils are doing and get better at public engagement with it.”
She also thanked council staff for preparing the 13 page summary document of the report in time for the meeting.
“That is what the public will read,” said Cllr Wilkins.
Councillors approved the report which will now be published on the council’s website and sent to the Welsh Government and local government regulators.
The council’s evaluation on its services is:
Is the Council exercising its functions effectively?
The rating is three – which is “adequate.”
Is the Council using its resources economically, efficiently and effectively?
The rating is three – which is “adequate.”
Are the governance arrangements of the council effective for securing continuous improvement?
The rating is four – which is “good.”
To maximise learning and skills for all to create a prosperous, thriving, resilient Blaenau Gwent.
The rating is four – which is “good.”
Responding to the nature and climate crisis and enable connected communities.
The rating is four – which is “good.”
Empowering and supporting communities to be safe, independent, and resilient.
The rating is four – which is “good.”
An ambitious and innovative council delivering the quality services at the right
time and in the right place?
The rating is three – which is “adequate.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​