Vale of Glamorgan Council

Strategic Planning in the Vale of Glamorgan

Local Service Boards are being established in all local authority areas in Wales. These will seek to develop the work of Community Strategy Partnerships – which they will replace – to improve delivery of shared objectives. The Vale of Glamorgan Partnership has been
established with representatives from agencies and businesses in the Vale. It is  responsible for developing the Community Strategy to promote the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the Vale.

The main purposes of the strategy are:

• To promote the quality of life of local communities in the Vale of Glamorgan
• To provide a focus for improved joint working and planning between public agencies and the voluntary and business sectors
• To contribute to the achievement of sustainable development

The Community Strategy provides the long-term context for planning in the Vale of Glamorgan. The Corporate Plan sets out how the Council, for its part, will deliver the aims of the Community Strategy. In addition, it provides a focus on the Council’s approach to Corporate Management and Community Leadership.

The Council’s vision for the Vale is a place:

• That is safe, clean and attractive, where individuals and communities have opportunities to improve their health, prosperity, and well being and
• Where there is a strong sense of community in which local groups and individuals have the capacity and incentive to make an effective contribution to the future of the area

To realise this vision the Council sets out its Corporate Priorities and addresses each in turn, detailing key actions required to achieve the priorities. The priorities are:

• Community Leadership
• Lifelong learning
• Community Wellbeing
• The Environment
• Regeneration
• Corporate Resources

Five key Strategic Partnerships have been established:

• Children and Young People Partnership
• Heath, Social Care and Well-being Partnership
• Vale Learning Network
• Community Safety Partnership
• Economic and Environmental Regeneration

Planning and Partnership Developments

Membership for the Partnerships is from the Local Authority; Local Health Board; NHS Trusts; Police; Voluntary Sector; and Independent Service Providers. In addition, Welsh Assembly Guidance states that the views of service users and carers should be incorporated into Partnership Plans.

Consultation exercises have been held and more are planned for this purpose so that all service users, young and old, can influence the decision making process more effectively.
Joint planning and working with key partners, users, carers and the public now takes place via these Strategic Partnerships.

Children and Young People’s Partnership

A Children and Young People’s Partnership (CYPP) defines the strategic planning intentions and priorities for all children and young people’s services in the area. These services range from Antenatal to those providing for young people up to the age of 25 years. The plan describes how jointly agreed priorities will be tackled and will form the basis for joint commissioning of services and the sharing of available funding.