Caerphilly Residents Influence Decision Making

Caerphilly residents feel they are among the most influential when making decisions affecting their local area, according to new data published by the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The reports, the National Survey for Wales: Key predictors of seven of the Future Generations Indicators, utilised data to focus on a number of key areas, including the percentage of people who feel able to influence decisions in their local area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The results show that of all 22 local authorities in Wales, Caerphilly County Borough Council ranked a close second in terms of those who feel they are able to influence decisions that affect their local area. In the data collection, residents were given the statement ‘I can influence decisions affecting my local area’ and asked ‘to what extent do you agree or disagree that this statement applies to your local council?’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member Cllr David Hardacre said, “We regularly consult with our residents on a wide range of topics, ranging from the council’s budget proposals to satisfaction levels with council services and in areas such as active travel and dog control. We highly value views and comments from our residents in the decision making process, so it’s very pleasing to know that residents feel as though they really are able to influence decisions that affect their local areas”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In other data, respondents were asked to determine their ‘sense of community’, that is, whether people agreed that they belong to their local area; that people in the area from different backgrounds get on well together and that people in the area treat each other with respect. In this report, Caerphilly ranked third of the 22 local authority areas across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is designed to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales by putting in place seven ‘well-being goals’. The Act places a legal requirement on the Welsh Government to set national indicators which measure achievement of these goals. The National Survey for Wales is used to measure progress against many of these national indicators. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​