Well-being plan for Newport – one year on
Posted on Monday 22nd July 2019
Wales faces a number of challenges now and in the future, such as austerity, climate change, poverty, health inequalities, an ageing population, jobs and growth.
To tackle these, it is recognised that organisations need to work differently. To give our children and grandchildren a good quality of life we need to think about how the decisions we make now will impact on them in the future.
One Newport, the city’s Public Services Board (PSB) developed a well-being plan for 2018-23 which set out the priorities and actions to improve the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of Newport.
Since the publication of the plan, One Newport has changed the way its member organisations are working using the Well-being of Future Generations Act’s ‘sustainable development duty’ as our blueprint.
The first annual report has now been published and outlines the progress made to improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Newport.
Highlighted achievements include:
Feeling good about living, working, visiting and investing in Newport:
The growth of the tourist and visitor economy is one of the most exciting developments. The imminent opening of the Wales International Convention Centre will greatly raise the city’s profile and work is being carried out to ensure that Newport’s people, businesses and attractions benefit from this major venue. We are supporting the addition of high-quality accommodation in our city-centre, improving destination management arrangements and seeking to promote the impressive “Newport Offer” to a wider audience.
Right skills:
An employer pledge, which reflects a commitment across the public and private sector to support young people to gain work experience and begin their careers, has been developed. Funding has been secured to support learners who face disadvantage and sustained partnership working means that the number of children who are not in education, employment or training is now well below the Welsh average.
We have also been exploring an innovative place-based approach in Ringland by looking to integrate Newport City Homes regeneration programme with a ‘community campus’ comprising a new multi-agency neighbourhood hub and health centre.
Green and safe spaces:
We have set out our vision and plan for green infrastructure, our first projects are now underway and are making neighbourhoods better places to live. Through our work on sustainable travel we are developing more efficient, safer and accessible transport with less impact on the environment.
One of the ambitions of the plan and PSB is for Newport to become Wales’ most improved urban area in the next 25 years. Find out more in the Newport green and safe network vlog.
Councillor Debbie Wilcox, Chair of One Newport and Leader of Newport City Council, said: “This has been a busy, positive and successful first year and we believe that the annual report shows that we are delivering a balanced Well-being Plan, applying the five ways of working and fully embracing the spirit of the Well-being of Future Generations Act.
“We are however mindful of recent issues and developments: the uncertainty surrounding our future relationship with the European Union, concerns about serious and organised crime, awareness of the impact of adverse childhood experiences and the declaration of a climate emergency. Challenges such as these remind us of the need to act today for a sustainable tomorrow.”
Ceri Davies, Deputy Chair of One Newport and Executive Director Natural Resources Wales, said: “One Newport brings together key organisations and our Well-being Plan has clearly set out our priorities for a sustainable future. We are pleased to report effective partnership working and real strides in delivering the joint aims of the plan for the benefit of the city, residents and businesses.
The One Newport Public Services Board (PSB) brings together the city’s public service leadership and decision makers. The membership includes four statutory partners and a wide range of invited partners.
The five-year local well-being plan was published on May 3, 2018 and sets out the PSB’s priorities and actions until 2023. The plan sets out local well-being objectives, priorities and steps that the board proposes to take to meet the objectives and is the main work-plan and focus of the PSB.
Read the full annual report.