Torfaen Council Praised For Clear Vision, Leadership And Plans For Improvement

Torfaen Council has a clear strategic vision, driven by open and inclusive leadership and is actively developing its corporate arrangements to deliver improved outcomes. That is the conclusion of the Auditor General’s Corporate Assessment report into the authority, which is published this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council is demonstrating open and inclusive leadership and a learning culture in developing its new corporate strategy. The report also found that the council has generally effective and transparent governance arrangements in place and is actively working further to improve them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However the report also recommended the council should further develop its arrangements for managing its workforce, assets and information resources to support its corporate priorities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report makes 8 proposals for improvement in areas such as partnership working, risk management and use of resources. It includes calls for the council to: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Ensure detailed workforce plans are developed in accordance with its workforce strategy and integrated with service plans
• Ensure that the requirements of the wellbeing of future generations (Wales) act 2015 are effectively implemented and embedded
• Support the Public Service Board to develop clear outcomes measures and regular performance reporting to enable it and the council to demonstrate improved outcomes
• Apply a consistent and robust approach to risk identification and management across all services and for all key decisions

Auditor general for Wales, Huw Vaughan Thomas said: “This is a very positive report that Torfaen Council should be proud of. The authority is on course to deliver its priorities, thanks to strong leadership, a clear direction and a well embedded learning culture. If it can develop its approach to managing its workforce, asserts and information resources further, then Torfaen will be in an even stronger position to deliver positive outcomes for the people it serves.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The leader of Torfaen Council, Councillor Bob Wellington CBE, said: “We welcome the Auditor General’s report which in these austere times for public services is testament to the hard work and commitment shown by this council to deliver the best possible services for our residents.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Alison Ward, chief executive of Torfaen Council, said: “I am delighted with the auditor general’s report which demonstrates this council’s drive to improve the services we deliver for our residents and is a clear reflection of the dedicated and committed workforce we have in Torfaen.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​