Background
Cwmbran Community Council came into being following the 1974 Local Government Reorganisation. Wales saw a three tier system of local government in Wales at that time, namely county Councils, district/borough Councils and community/town councils. The county/district/borough tiers were providers of the services most people normally associate with local councils, such as education, social services, housing, rubbish collection, street lighting, highways and so on. Community and town councils in Wales do, in some cases, undertake statutory, devolved and agency works on behalf of the principal authorities but also undertake other activities and services that add some extra value to the quality of life in their communities, often at that grass roots level.
1996/7 saw a further reorganisation of local government in Wales, seeing the demise of the County Councils and the undertaking of all major services provided by a single tier, now called county borough councils (or city councils where applicable). This reorganisation saw community and town councils largely unaffected and most continue as they did prior to the reorganisation. As time has passed, Community and town councils have tended to play an increasingly important role in the life of the communities they serve with a new ‘umbrella’ body being formed (One Voice Wales) to act as a voice for local councils, particularly in liaising with the Welsh Assembly Government, central government and other agencies.
Community and Town Councils in Wales
Over 700 community and town councils exist in Wales, over 500 of which are affiliated to ‘One Voice Wales.’
Community and town councils are the same entity, legally, but no two are the same. The larger community and town councils in Wales spend from £250,000 to over £1 million, whilst some of the smaller ones spend little or nothing at all. Some of the larger community and town councils represent 50,000 residents, whilst some of the smaller ones may only represent 50 or 100 residents. Some community and town councils are extremely active; some are less active. Some community and town councils have a large staff compliment; some may have a part-time Clerk who works from the proverbial ‘front room.’
Cwmbran Community Council
Elected Members
Cwmbran Community Council comprises some 20 elected members, drawn from all parts of the Cwmbran Community Council area. Elected members of community and town councils do not receive wages or payments, other than minimal ‘reimbursement’ expenses for out of area meetings. The Council is very proud indeed of its achievements and the array of valuable services for the community, all of which seek to make a difference, over and above the more ‘recognised’ services (such as education, social services, highways, cleansing etc) provided by the County Borough Council. In fact, Cwmbran Community Council has often been flagged up in major reports in Wales for the excellent and innovative services it provides, taking into account the needs of local people.
The role of the elected members is varied but, in the main, comprises a representational role – representing the interests and concerns of local residents and in serving – though the community council’s ability to provide a wide range of services and activities. Members sit on the Council’s various committees and, therefore, are active in making policies and decisions that will benefit all ranges and circumstances, being closest to the community at grass roots level.
Staffing
Cwmbran Community Council has a permanent staff compliment of seven, comprising David Orphan ACIS (Clerk to the Council), Clare Rowles (Administrative Officer), Liz Edwards (Clerical Officer), Carly Newman (Clerical Officer), Terry Bedford (Part-time Cleaner/Caretaker), Mike Perry (Task Force Worker) and David Stokes (Task Force Worker). Additional temporary staff are taken on throughout the year, including 70 play staff (Summer Playschemes) and 2 seasonal Task Force workers (gardening scheme).
Representational Activities
Cwmbran Community Council’s 20 elected members represent their communities at this, our grass roots level. Some say ‘bottom tier.’ We say ‘first tier!’ Any matters of interest or concern may be brought up for discussion, representations can be made, the Community Council can influence and respond to statutory and other consultations across a wide spectrum of subjects and issues that affect individuals and families in the community.
Planning is a matter of intense and topical interest and Cwmbran Community Council is consulted on every planning application in its area, as well as other planning and highways/footpaths and licensing issues, rights of way, access and safety matters.
Cwmbran Community Council members also represent the Council on over 30 local organisations (such as school governing bodies, Citizens Advice Bureau, Congress Theatre, Cwmbran Regeneration Partnership, Torfaen Consumer Support Network, Torfaen Access Forum, Torfaen Environment Trust & Association, local community associations – to name a few) and are able, therefore, to keep not only a watching brief but to actively contribute to the well-being of local organisations and the residents they serve.
Working Relationships and Partnerships
The Community Council, in conjunction with the Principal Authority (Torfaen County Borough Council) has forged an excellent working relationship and rapport, so much so that we have an informal charter that relates (primarily) to consultation matters. A fruitful quarterly partnership meeting is held to discuss issues of interest and concern and complete freedom is enjoyed as the 6 Torfaen Community Councils and Torfaen County Borough Council work to make a difference in the community whilst, at the same time, respect their distinctive roles and have a mutual regard for ach other’s work.
Cwmbran Community Council has joined forces with Torfaen County Borough Council and Croesyceiliog & Llanyrafon Community Council to establish a Cwmbran Regeneration Strategy Partnership, pooling (between them) £100,000 every year towards projects and schemes that satisfy a fairly wide regeneration criteria. These funds are often match funded with other funds (particularly with the Welsh Assembly Government) to allow significant resources to be committed to local schemes.
Of particular note during the past year has been a number of local projects such as the refurbishing of car parks in Old Cwmbran and Pontnewydd, a major revamp of the frontage to The Council House in Old Cwmbran that will bring this area back to a standard that will make it a public realm ‘focal point for the community and for future events. Some funds have been committed to feasibility studies to attract major funding for canal improvements and shopping precinct improvements. A heritage plaque scheme is in place, grants have been given to improve shop fronts, various art works have been commissioned and, just recently, a truly exciting project is well under way to make major improvements to the Cwmbran Boating Lake and to make this an important tourism hub for the whole of Cwmbran.
Cwmbran Community Council’s Direct Services
Cwmbran Community Council’s annual precept (or spend) is used so that local residents are able to benefit from a wide range of services with the Council actively monitoring all it does to ensure that people of all ages and circumstances can avail themselves of one or more services/activities.
Cwmbran Centre for Young People (established by Cwmbran Community Council in 1988 with assistance from the then Girling Trust) provides drop-in facilities and much more besides to young people from the whole Cwmbran area. Collaborative working with various councils and agencies has seen CCYP turn into a lively and highly-regarded ‘oasis’ for young people with good advice, projects and schemes available throughout the week.
Cwmbran Community Council’s Community Task Scheme provides a valued gardening and interior decorating services to all, but particularly to older and/or less able folks who can no longer do the work themselves. This scheme is highly regarded and enables many people to retain a measure of independence and remain in their homes without the worry of untidy gardens or poor interior decoration.
Summer Playschemes are one of Cwmbran Community Council’s ‘flagship’ services. Providing Summer Playschemes for around 1,000 children of primary school age in Cwmbran is no small task to bring about, nor can they be organised without some considerable investment of resources and expertise. Over 70 staff are appointed, all of whom are thoroughly vetted for suitability and each of whom has a CRB Enhanced Disclosure. The Schemes are ever popular and demand always exceeds supply! The children have a ‘whale of a time’ and even take a little time out to do a sponsored walk for Ty Hafan, the Children’s Hospice in Wales with whom the Council has a strong link and rapport.
Cwmbran Community Council’s core grants are always well-received in the community. Some valuable ‘core funding’ grants are made each year to local organisations such as Torfaen Citizens Advice Bureau, the Congress Theatre Company, Torfaen Museum, Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre, Torfaen Opportunity Group (Playschemes), Torfaen Half Marathon, Cwmbran Carnival, Community Safety initiatives, ‘Wings to Fly’ (a drugs awareness drama for all year 6 in Cwmbran) and The Friends of Bruchsal Society.
The Council also makes general grants totalling £8,000 available to local voluntary organisations every year. Around 30 local groups benefit from grants of between £100 and £500 (sometimes more) to enable them to pursue their excellent objectives. Cwmbran Community Council is also able to support wider Welsh interests by making contributions (under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972) to the various national eisteddfodau, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Wales Air Ambulance, Kidney Wales Foundation etc.
Cwmbran Community Council has established a Cwmbran Youth Council, involving a range of older young people from our local senior schools. The young people determine their own objectives and have their own office at The Council House (Cwmbran Community Council’s home). The Youth Council is able to feed in to a Torfaen Youth Forum and other youth-orientated bodies. The young people can also engage in twinning activities from time to time.
The Council’s busy Events & Community Projects Committee organises and oversees a wide range of events in the community, including an annual Primary Schools Choral Festival (most of the 15 schools usually take part), a Senior Schools Choral Festival (4 schools participate), a series of annual variety shows for more mature residents, pre-Christmas entertainment (in conjunction with Cwmbran Shopping), a tree-lighting & carol singing event and, a Christmas Decorations (households) Competition.
The Council’s Environmental Awareness & Planning Committee not only considers matters of planning and environmental interest but actively engages in the community, turning some of the negative messages into positive, promoting responsible and environmentally. For the past 12 years, the Council has, in partnership with Knauf Insulation, organised an annual Primary Schools Eco Quiz - a thoroughly enjoyable evening of friendly combat/camraderie as all 15 local primary schools send teams of junior pupils to win the coveted trophy and associated accolade! All schools receive a cash prize from the Community Council and a goody bag from Knauf.
An annual Cwmbran Community Council Awards Scheme is organised, inviting nominations for folks who have overcome difficulty, shown courage, served the community or achieved something special. A Presentation Evening is held and citations given in appreciation of some of Cwmbran’s ‘unsung heroes.’
Twinning is regarded as a very important aspect of life in Cwmbran. The twinning partnership between Cwmbran and Bruchsal began in 1979 and has remained strong though the years. In 2004 we invited a delegation to Cwmbran to commemorate the silver anniversary of the twinning partnership at every level. The Friends of Bruchsal Society exists to promote wider twinning partnerships and visits. Many local organisations have a twinning partnership with their counterparts in Bruchsal and 2005 saw some fruitful links between the Police, Fire & Rescue Service, Shopping and Commerce and a local senior schools. The future of twinning is looking most positive. 2009 sees the 30th anniversary of the twinning partnership. A major sculpture was recently commissioned by Bruchsal so that each of its twin towns (it has 5 twinning links!) could produce a stone sculpture to be placed in a newly-created ‘Europaplatz’ Square in Bruchsal.
Finally, Cwmbran Community Council owns its own premises in the Cwmbran Village area. Formerly a local police station, The Council House not only provides a good office environment for Cwmbran Community Council members and staff but we are also able to rent out our first floor offices to local organisations and allow some of our ground floor rooms and small community centre to the rear to be hired. The income from these tenancy arrangements and room hire offsets the costs of Cwmbran Community Council being there, thus helping to keep the Council’s precept at a reasonable level, again, for the benefit of the community.
