Residents Asked To Help Shape The Future Of Monmouthshire’s Public Services

Monmouthshire’s public service board – made up of organisations like the council, police, NHS, housing associations and voluntary sector – is seeking the views of the county’s communities to help shape the future of local public services. The public service board engaged with members of the public in schools, community centres and shopping centres through the autumn and asked them what’s good about their community as well as what would make it better. The challenges and opportunities identified will be used to shape future plans to benefit the community and, by incorporating academic research and statistics, will contribute towards a well-being assessment for the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Involving over a thousand people the engagement sessions identified key areas including: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Wage levels available locally are low, and coupled with high property prices make it difficult for young people and future generations to live and work locally
• Limited public transport, particularly in rural areas, reduces opportunities for people to access jobs, services and facilities
• Adverse childhood experiences have a negative impact on people’s long term health as well as economic prospects and can be perpetuated through future generations
• There are growing levels of obesity. These are likely to lead to an increase in associated long-term conditions such as type 2 diabetes
• Monmouthshire has extensive green infrastructure and its potential needs to be maximised while conserving it for future generations

The public service board seeks the views of residents, businesses and organisations on whether this assessment is an accurate reflection of well-being in the county. A copy of the assessment along with a questionnaire is available to download at http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/our-monmouthshire – residents can also share their thoughts on social media using the hashtag #OurMonmouthshire and talk to staff in the county’s community hubs on the following dates: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Monday 13th February – Chepstow Hub; 10am – 3pm\
• Tuesday 14th February – Caldicot Hub; 10am – 3pm
• Wednesday 15th February – Abergavenny Hub (one stop shop); 10am – 12.30pm and Abergavenny Hub (library); 1 – 3pm
• Thursday 16th February – Usk Hub; 10am – 3pm
• Friday 17th February – Monmouth Hub; 10am – 3pm

The consultation will run until Tuesday 28th February. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Paul Matthews, Chair of the Public Service Board said: “It’s been good to receive so much feedback from so many people across the county. It has reinforced some things that we thought were really important and introduced others that were not getting attention. I hope members of the public will read the assessment and provide us with feedback and comments on the findings.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​