Delivery Plan 2024/2025

  • Well-being Objective 1 - We will raise educational attainment, helping young people and adults to gain the qualifications and skills needed to lead positive lives
  • Well-being Objective 2 - We will encourage and champion children, young people and families so they can thrive
  • Well-being Objective 3 - We will tackle inequality by focusing on early identification and prevention activities that support people to live independent and fulfilling lives
  • Well-being Objective 4 - We will make Torfaen more sustainable by connecting people and communities, socially, digitally and physically
  • Well-being Objective 5 - We will address our climate and nature emergencies, recycle more and make improvements to the local environment
  • Well-being Objective 6 - We will make Torfaen a great place to do business by working with local employers, encouraging new business start-ups and entrepreneurial activities
  • Well-being Objective 7 - We will promote healthier lifestyles in Torfaen to improve mental and physical well-being
  • Well-being Objective 8 - We will support our local culture and heritage and make Torfaen a thriving, safe and attractive place to live and visit 
  • Well-being Objective 9 - We will provide efficient customer focused services that reflect the way people live their lives and wish to access services

Well-being Objective 1

We will raise educational attainment, helping young people and adults to gain the qualifications and skills needed to lead positive lives

Well-being Objective 1
Programme / Strategy This year we will ....  This year we have …  

21st Century Schools Programme 

  • Start building the new school for Maendy Primary School and enhance teaching and learning by investing £17m in the construction of the new net zero carbon school to replace the existing Maendy Primary School – ON TARGET
  • Completed the construction of the new Maendy Primary School which was handed over to staff and pupils in June.

 

  • Start the £6.85m net zero carbon 50 place extension at Crownbridge to enhance provision for children and young people with severe learning difficulties COMPLETE
  • Opened the completed 50-place extension to Crownbridge in January 2025
  • Design and build 3G pitch at Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw COMPLETE
  • Completed a new 3G pitch at Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw for pupils and the local community

Asset Management Programme (Schools) 

  • Deliver a range of planned and preventative maintenance projects to improve our schools based on funding availability - COMPLETE

 

Well-Being Strategy 

  • Produce a Whole School approach to well-being strategy.  This will be informed by SHERN data, Public Health, Schools, young people and other stakeholders - DELAYED

 

Post Inspection Action Plan PIAP 

  • Improve the range of provision, support and resources available to Welsh Medium learners with ALN – ON TARGET
  • Increased support for ALN learners through school-based provision and outreach work.
  • Outreach referrals have trebled over time since pre-pandemic.

Learner Outcomes 

  • National exam outcome measures: Individual school outcomes and aggregated TCBC outcomes are in line with Welsh Government modelled expectations e.g. Capped Nine, Literacy, Science and Numeracy measures - COMPLETE
  • Shared 2024 national exam outcomes with scrutiny in January 2025, and they are available on the “My Local School” website.
“Notinmissout” Attendance Strategy 
  • Continue to work with schools to embed 'Strive for 95' and continue to raise awareness using the campaign #notinmissout to improve attendance & punctuality within our primary and secondary schools - COMPLETE
  • Increase average school attendance across primary and secondary schools, compared to the previous year
  • Work with all schools to promote good attendance, reduce unauthorised absences as part of the #NotinMissout communication campaign – ON TARGET
  • 26 schools have featured in the council’s #NotInMissOut campaign, which aims to celebrate the benefits of going to school regularly

Youth Work Strategy for Wales 

  • Provide Council work experience placements for 36 young people (initially under 16s) who are at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and/or Children Looked After - COMPLETE
  • 36 young people at risk of becoming NEET were given work experience at the start of the year.
  • Reduce the percentage of young people who leave year 11 classified as 'not in employment, education or training by Careers Wales from 2% to 1.9% by Dec. 2024 - COMPLETE
  • Reduced the percentage of young people who leave school without qualifications or employment from 1.9 per cent to 1.8 per cent. The fourth lowest across all local authorities in Wales
  • Deliver 125 qualifications (as defined by Qualification and Credit Framework) to targeted secondary-school age young people at risk of not progressing into employment education or training – ON TARGET
  • Up to the end of March 2025, 389 young people gained qualifications through the Inspire and Inspire Plus projects.

Economy & Skills Delivery Plan 

  • Deliver the second phase of training programmes as part of the Councils Corporate Development Programme (Digital and Apprenticeships) to improve employment opportunities for local residents - DELAYED

 

Community Well-being Strategy 

  • Number of ACL Enrolments on Essential Skills courses, cumulative Term 3 Academic Year  23/24 - COMPLETE

 

  • Number of enquiries made for Employment and Skills Support – ON TARGET
  • 1,311 enquiries were made for employment and skills support
  • Number of residents enrolled with employability services Communities for Wales and Shared Prosperity Fund (C4W, SPF) - ON TARGET
  • Dealt with 1,587 enquiries for employability services
  • Number of qualifications achieved from employability programmes - Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) - ON TARGET

 

  • Total number of Job Outcomes reported – ON TARGET
  • 316 positive job outcomes
  • Multiply:  the number of adults achieving maths qualification up to and including Level 2 – ON TARGET
  • 302 maths qualifications achieved

Economy & Skills Delivery Plan 

  • Support 1000 young people to improve their literacy through the National Summer Reading Challenge - DELAYED
  • 941 children took part in the National Summer Reading Challenge in 2024

 

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Well-being Objective 2

We will encourage and champion children, young people and families so they can thrive

Well-being Objective 2
Programme / Strategy This year we will .... This year we have … 

Post Inspection Action Plan (PIAP) / Youth Work Strategy for Wales 

  • Increase the number of young people supported through working in partnership with a range of statutory and voluntary organisations, such as Hwb Torfaen and Community Councils – ON TARGET 
  • 435 young people supported by statutory and voluntary organisations 

Children Looked After Strategy / Children and Young People’s Development Plan 

  • To ensure at least 83-86% of the children we look after are placed with local authority foster carers (Our target is to have 90% by 2025/26) - DELAYED 
  • Placed 75 per cent of looked after children with local authority foster carers  
  • To ensure that all staff are trained in the strength-based approach in order that practice continues to develop and that safe decisions are made to impact on the CLA population and overall workload – ON TARGET 
  • Trained 100 per cent of staff in a strength-based approach 
  • Ensure qualified social worker caseloads are manageable and reduced to an average of 20 – ON TARGET 

 

  • Reduce the number of children we look after by up to 15% within 2023/24 - DELAYED 
  • Reduced the number of looked after children in Torfaen by 5 per cent 
  • Review the impact of the Children Looked After Reduction Strategy and develop as necessary – ON TARGET 

 

  • Review and develop a broad range of provision / accommodation for children looked after who require specialist provision in order to ensure consistency of placement and reduce profit in care - DELAYED 
  • Specialist provision opened for two residents in November 2024. Another property has been identified as well as a plot of land for development 

Torfaen’s Play Sufficiency Action Plan 

  • Continue to work with the community and schools to tailor our play provision offer to the community/schools needs – ON TARGET 
  • Delivered 131 projects to 4,319 school pupils and 5,133 children in the community 
  • Provide play support packages to children and young people who require additional support – ON TARGET 
  • Delivered 506 play and respite sessions for children and young people who require additional support  

Universal Free School Meals 

  • Promote take up of eligible Primary Free School Meals, to reach 75% - ON TARGET 

 

Anti-social Behaviour Strategy  

  • Support 90% of all young people in need of prevention and intervention for Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) to exit the process with a positive outcome  - ON TARGET 
  • Supported 93 per cent of young people to have a positive outcome following prevention and intervention for anti-social behaviour 
  • Engage more young people in the Positive Futures programme using sport to reduce levels of anti-social behaviour – ON TARGET 
  • Engaged with 528 young people through the Positive Futures programme  

 

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Well-being Objective 3

We will tackle inequality by focusing on early identification and prevention activities that support people to live independent and fulfilling lives

Well-being Objective 3
Programme / Strategy This year we will .... This year we have … 

Community & Well-being Strategy 

  • Work across the council in order develop community resilience and reduce the need for and burden on statutory services – ON TARGET 
  • A review of early intervention and prevention support including community-based resilience has been completed 

Council Tax and Benefit Support 

  • To maximise benefits take up for customers by providing advice as required and referrals as appropriate (demand led) - ON TARGET 
  • Provided council tax and benefit advice to 890 referrals  
  • To administer Housing Benefits accurately in line with DWP regulations (demand led) - ON TARGET 
  • Awarded £24 million in housing benefits  
  • To award Discretionary Housing Payments in line with the relevant council policy - ON TARGET 
  • Provided £429,000 in Discretionary Housing Payments 
  • To administer the Council Tax Reduction Scheme efficiently (demand led) - ON TARGET 
  • Given £10.6 million to 9,227 recipients through Council Tax Reduction Scheme 
  • To award Free School Meals  - ON TARGET 
  • Processed 4256 claims for Free School Meals  

Benefits and Financial Assessments 

  • To award school uniform grants - ON TARGET 
  • Processed 3185 claims for school uniform grants  
  • To award guardianship/adoption payments - ON TARGET 
  • Provided 200 guardian / adoption payments  
  • To carry out social care means testing assessments - ON TARGET 
  • Carried out 1,195 social care means tested assessments  

Domiciliary Care Strategy  

  • Using the learning from the North Area pilot seek a provider to pilot in the South Area to inform a future patched based commissioning model which will improve outcomes for residents and capacity in the domiciliary care market - CANCELLED 
  • Employed Enablement Support worker and eablement Practitioners. 
  • Increase the use of assistive technology to compliment or replace direct care services in order to support people to maintain and achieve greater levels of independence - DELAYED 

 

  • Develop recruitment and retention interventions for all Social Care workers in Torfaen to enable a stable workforce to be able to be maintained - ON TARGET 

 

  • Implement & monitor the first years' performance of the new Information, Advice and Assistance Service  (IAA) Service (Front Door) - COMPLETED 

 

  • Implement & monitor the first years' performance of the new Reablement Service - COMPLETED 

 

  • Prepare procurement of a new Care Management System (for 2025/26 implementation) - COMPLETED 

 

Communities Strategy 

  • Review and align community commissioning (Major Third Sector Grant Review) to ensure that it aligns to the Advice, Assistance & Prevention requirements in each of our communities – DELAYED 

 

  • Work with each Community Council to prepare an action plan for how we will work together  to improve resilience and wellbeing in their community - DELAYED 

 

Community Well-being Strategy 

  • Number of Community Connector case closures that were not subsequently opened to social care for assessment in the next 6 months - ON TARGET 

 

  • Record the number of Community Connector case closures who have maintained or improved independence - ON TARGET 
  • Supported 944 people to maintain or improve their independence 
  • Participants who achieve an improvement in mental health & wellbeing on exit from the Building Resilient Communities programme - ON TARGET 
  • Helped 192 people to improve their mental health and wellbeing  
  • Number of community halls delivering additional information, advice or assistance that meets the identified community wellbeing priorities - ON TARGET 
  • Worked with 10 community halls to provide additional information, advice or assistance  

Community Well-being Strategy 

  • Maintain the proportion of people who find the libraries Job Claimants support service helpful at 98% or above - COMPLETE 

 

Housing Support Grant 

  • Deliver the 2024/25 Rapid Rehousing Plan and Housing Support Grant programmes as part of our aim to prevent homelessness and provide individuals who are homeless with the right accommodation and support - COMPLETE 
  • Opened Pearl House, in Pontypool, for short-term homeless accommodation 
  • Amended offer to private landlords  
  • Reshape and refocus the youth accommodation pathway in order to deliver better outcomes for young people in need and at risk of homelessness - COMPLETED 
  • Developed a housing guide for young people 
  • Add 20 additional supported housing units and realign supported accommodation provision to reduce those at risk of homelessness - COMPLETED 

 

  • Prevent homelessness in at least 50% of cases where there is a risk of homelessness - DELAYED 
  • Prevented homelessness in 31.4 per cent of cases where homelessness was a risk 
  • Percentage of households placed in temporary accommodation for 6 months or more at the end of each quarter - ON TARGET 
  • Reduced the number of households in temporary accommodations for 6 months or more to 19.8% 

Universal Free School Meals 

  • Serve a total of 702,000 nutritious meals to primary pupils - ON TARGET 
  • Served 724,439 meals served to primary pupils 

Local Development Plan 

  • We will secure affordable homes through the planning system COMPLETED 

 

  • We will secure 150 affordable homes to market during the last 3 years of the County Plan - ON TARGET 
  • 86 affordable homes created 

A Healthier Wales: Our Plan for Health and Social Care; Housing (Wales) Act 2014; and Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016) 

  • We will improve housing standards and identify risks to health and safety by responding to and learning from complaints from residents about private rented properties - ON TARGET 
  • Dealt with 38 housing-related complaints in Q4, 34 of which were dealt with through informal action. Inspections were carried out at 4 properties using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), which identified hazards relating to crowding and space, excess cold, and damp and mould. 

Food resilience and Food 4 Growth Shared Prosperity Programme 

  • Create and deliver a Food Strategy based upon the Growing Food Connections consultancy report aimed at delivering the Torfaen Good Food Priorities contained within the Torfaen Food Charter. This will be achieved by the creation of a comprehensive action plan for the year 2025-2026 - DELAYED 

 

  • Deliver a business focused Food Development Grant Scheme - COMPLETED 
  • 21 Food Development Grants delivered equating to £247,720.67 
  • Deliver a Community Food Scheme, supporting third sector community food project to improve accessibility to affordable and healthy food - COMPLETED 
  • 35 community grants delivered with a total value of £273,000 

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Well-being Objective 4

We will make Torfaen more sustainable by connecting people and communities, socially, digitally and physically

Well-being Objective 4
Programme / Strategy This year we will .... This year we have … 

Active Travel Plan 

  

Capital City Region City Deal Regional Transport Plan 

  • Work with Network Rail and Office for Roads and Rail (ORR )to ensure the safe opening of Pontypool and New Inn Station - COMPLETE 
  • Completed the transforation of Pontypool and New Inn Station in February 2025. 
  • Deliver a suite of Active Travel schemes in 24/25 as per the approved Active Travel Delivery Plan (details to be provided as soon as confirmation of successful funding bids has been received) - COMPLETE 

 

  • Deliver Safe Routes in Communities projects (details to be provided as soon as confirmation of successful funding bids has been received) - CANCELLED 

 

  • Work collaboratively across the Cardiff City Region (CCR) to develop the Regional Transport Plan identify local impacts and promote Torfaen needs – ON TARGET 
  • Worked with Cardiff City Region on a draft Regional Transport Plan 

Welsh Government's Active Travel Act 

  • Assess the impact of the 20mph project and make any amendments in conjunction with 'Setting Local Speed Limit Guidance' which is due to be issued by WG in Spring 2024 - COMPLETE 
  • Assessed the speed limit on eight roads 

Community Well-being Strategy 

  • Increase to 95% the percentage of libraries customers who agree that the service has made a positive difference to their lives through the annual library at home service (Annual Measure) - COMPLETE 
  • Surveyed Library at Home users, 98% of whom said the service had made a positive difference to their health and wellbeing 
  • Increase the number of visits to public libraries during the year to 3,600 per 1,000 population - DELAYED 
  • Increased the number of library visits in Q1-Q3 but saw a reduction in visitor numbers due to the refurbishment of Cwmbran Library 

Communities Strategy 

  • Collectively promote "Connect Torfaen Network" as the primary platform (digital and non-digital) for residents of Torfaen to access community led activity and support - COMPLETE 

 

 

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Well-being Objective 5

We will address our climate and nature emergencies, recycle more and make improvements to the local environment

Well-being Objective 5
Programme / Strategy This year we will .... This year we have … 

Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan 

  • Recycle 100 cycles for young people and families in need in Torfaen - COMPLETED 
  • Recycled 100 cycles which have been distributed to children’s centres and family services, donated to Ukrainian refugee childreen, and to a charity for families in Africa.  

Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan 

  

Project Apollo 

  • Deliver a data led energy reduction programme at TCBC owned and operated sites – ON TARGET 

 

  • Complete installation of 4 heat pump projects across our estate – DELAYED  
  • Completed the installation of three heat pumps with a fourth planned for Greenmeadow Community Farm 
  • Increase renewable energy generation and energy efficiency measures on TCBC sites – ON TARGET 
  • Carried out a programme to install LED lighting, thermostatic radiators and water efficiency savings across various sites 
  • Implementation of net zero fleet action plan and a data-led programme to drive down fleet emissions and increase savings ON TARGET 
  • Installed 2 ultra rapid chargers and a further 3 standard chargers for fleet vehicles, alongside 4 chargers for commuters. 
  • Increase EV charger provision at Council sites for fleet, commuters and the wider public - COMPLETED 

 

  • Adopt the Local Area Energy Plan - COMPLETED 

 

  • Deliver the Torfaen Leisure Trust energy efficiency project to reduce their carbon emissions - COMPLETED 

 

Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan 

  • Developing an Action Plan to help drive down Scope 3 CO2e emissions from areas we can influence (commuting, homeworking), through: 
    • Improving access to data retained by TCBC, to enable a full analysis of our emissions (Commuting, homeworking). 
    • Improving CO2e analytics to enable directorates to take a more active role - COMPLETED 

 

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience Plan 2019 

  • We will complete the process to designate Blaensychan valley as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and implement the associated management plan to contribute to tackling climate change and enhancing biodiversity - COMPLETED 
  • Completed the process to designate Blaensychan valley a Local Nature Reserve in February 2025 
  • We will work with communities and maximise funding opportunities to enhance the local natural environment, and the condition of local parks and public outdoor spaces - COMPLETED 
  • Completed various initiatives as part of the Tackling Nature Emergency programme, including the completion of Park Management Action Plans, tree risk management works, a tree condition survey, invasive species treatment programme, weed control survey, tackling anti-social behaviour and landscape crime and improvements to Cwmran Boating Lake boardwalk,  

Green Infrastructure Strategy 

  • We will deliver the 2024/25 partnership agreement with Bron Afon, ensuring the sustainable management of ground and green space maintenance to support the needs of communities in Torfaen - COMPLETED 

 

South East Wales Resilient Uplands 

Green Infrastructure Strategy 

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience Plan 2019 

  • We will deliver the Resilient Uplands Project in partnership with Gwent Police, Commoners and other stakeholders to improve land management, water quality, grazing, biodiversity and carbon storage in South East Wales Uplands - COMPLETED 

 

  • We will produce new Management Plans for urban parks, setting-out objectives for their management and improvement to promote greener and cleaner urban environments - COMPLETED 

 

Recycling and Waste Action Plan 

  • Identify how we intend to increase recycling to ensure we meet WG targets and create associated action plan for delivery (Linked to Work Stream 2 - Recycling Offer) - ON TARGET 
  • Introduced red bags as part of the kerbside collection service  
  • Take forward our plans to build a new recycling sorting facility with work to begin within planning timeframe (Linked to Work Stream 3 - Infrastructure) - DELAYED 

 

  • Support Council and private businesses to be compliant with emerging recycling law changes so they can recycle more (Linked to Work Stream 4 - Business Recycling) - COMPLETED 

 

  • Develop, consult and seek approval for an enforcement policy /process (Linked to Workstream 5 Behaviour Change) - DELAYED  
  • Agreed a education and enforcement policy to support the recycling rate 
  • Deliver a "Raise the Rate" behaviour change education and engagement campaign to increase recycling rates (phase 2) - ON TARGET 
  • Produced household recycling leaflets 
  • Run a Christmas food waste recycling campaign 

Clean Air Plan for Wales 

  • We will monitor air quality within the borough, identifying and reporting any need to take action to protect public health and the environment – ON TARGET 

 

Digital First Customer Strategy - Ambition C 

  • Establish a baseline for the Council's digital carbon footprint (covering: Council’s cloud-based emissions, embodied carbon in hardware and energy used by servers - DELAYED 

 

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Well-being Objective 6

We will make Torfaen a great place to do business by working with local employers, encouraging new business start-ups and entrepreneurial activities

Well-being Objective 6
Programme / Strategy This year we will .... This year we have … 

Economy & Skills Delivery Plan 

  • Support 25 young people to engage in youth entrepreneurial activities - COMPLETED 
  • Supported 25 young people to set up courses, running a market stall; and undertake work experience, including working in a cafe and on a bike project. 

Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan 

  • 10 business decarbonisation plans developed (via the SPF energy project) - ON TARGET 
  • Delivered 7 business decarbonisation plans 
  • 3 low or zero carbon energy infrastructure projects installed (via the SPF energy project) - ON TARGET 
  • Delivered 40 low energy installations - 28 on community centres or sports clubs and 12 on Business premises). 
  • 1 Community Electric Vehicle Scheme supported - DELAYED 

 

Local Development Plan 

  • We will engage with businesses in connection with planning applications and make decisions in line with the LDP COMPLETED 

 

Asset Management Programme 

  • Manage the commercial property portfolio to support SME growth and maximise occupancy – ON TARGET 

 

Economy & Skills Delivery Plan 

  • Create and implement an Investment Prospectus to promote the refurbishment and establishment of new industrial land - DELAYED 

 

  • Establish a flagship innovation campus around the Grange University Hospital - DELAYED 

 

  • Deliver the business case for the Springboard Business Innovation Centre to become a hub in a network of innovation spaces for new and emerging businesses - ON TARGET 
  • Completed refurbishment of Springboard Innovation Centre and worked with Oxford Innovation to enhance the business innovation offer. 
  • Implement the Business Direct business gateway (Business Support SPF project) as the single point of contact for business customer journeys, including developing and delivering the Torfaen Business Engagement Framework – ON TARGET 

 

  • Deliver the Business Innovation Eco-system Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) project - COMPLETED 

 

  • Support the delivery of the Torfaen Strategic Forum SPF Project - COMPLETED 

Supported a Torfaen Strategic Forum Skills Expo  

  • Prepare a new comprehensive and integrated Five Year Asset Management Strategy and Implementation/Investment Plan - DELAYED 

 

Economy & Skills Delivery Plan 

  • Increase occupancy in the Indoor Market - DELAYED 
  • Created a pop-up retail space and kitchen for new traders to try out at low cost 

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Well-being Objective 7

We will promote healthier lifestyles in Torfaen to improve mental and physical well-being

Well-being Objective 7
Programme / Strategy This year we will .... This year we have … 

Framework on embedding a whole-school approach  to emotional and mental well-being County Plan Marmot Principles 

  • Support Implementation Leads and 8 new schools to access the Whole School Approach (WSA) to Emotional Health and Mental Wellbeing Self-Evaluation tool - COMPLETED 
  • Recruited 8 new schools to access Whole School Approach to emotional health and mental wellbeing self-evaluation tool 

Food and Feed Law Enforcement Service Plan 2024/25 

  

Public Protection Service Enforcement and Compliance Policy 

  • We will carry out food hygiene inspections of food establishments, and take appropriate enforcement action where non-compliances are identified to ensure food safety - COMPLETED 
  • Completed an annual food hygiene intervention programme,  
  • Took action against non-compliant businesses 
  • Successfully prosecuted one business serious food hygiene offences 
  • We will carry out food standards inspections of food establishments to ensure food is safe and what it says it is - COMPLETED 

 

Public Protection Service Enforcement and Compliance Policy 

  • We will protect people at risk of harm from the illegal sale of vapes by undertaking interventions to ensure traders who supply them comply with relevant laws - COMPLETED 
  • Carried out test purchases of vapes  
  • Obtained a court order against a business found repeatedly selling vapes to under-age children 

Youth Work Strategy for Wales 

  • Increase the offer of holistic well-being options for young people through youth work activity, led and designed by young people accessing the service - COMPLETED 
  • 2,678 young people were offered holistic well-being options through youth work activity. 

Local Development Plan Implementation 

  

S106 projects for play 

  

Play sufficiency audit 

  • Deliver the Llantarnam 3G pitch project – ON TARGET 

  

 

Communities Strategy 

  • Develop volunteering programme guidance to support opportunities for volunteer delivery of activity alongside the Council  - DELAYED 

 

A Healthier Wales: Our Plan for Health and Social Care; Food for Wales, Food from Wales; and Healthy Weight, Healthy Wales Obesity Strategy 

  • Complete Sport & Leisure Strategy - COMPLETED 

 

Sport & Leisure Strategy 

  • Percentage of schools worked with to support them to encourage 60 minutes of exercise per day for pupils – ON TARGET 
  • Worked with all schools to promote 60 minutes of exercise a day 

Local Development Plan Implementation 

  

S106 projects for play 

  

Play sufficiency audit 

  • Blaenavon Tennis Courts refurbishment and upgrade - COMPLETED 

 

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Well-being Objective 8

We will support our local culture and heritage and make Torfaen a thriving, safe and attractive place to live and visit

Well-being Objective 8
Programme / Strategy This year we will .... This year we have … 

Greenmeadow Community Farm 

  • Complete the farm renovation and introduce the new visitor offer and business operating model - DELAYED 
  • Installed an oak frame conservatory extension that will house the new café. 
  • Progressed on the installation of a new heat pump, new entrance, retail area, cosy cafe and events space.   

The British Masterplan 

  • Commence works (phased) as part of our multi-year aim to take the Blaengafog Brook on the British out of culverts and into a new channel as the first stage of the British masterplan - DELAYED 
  • Secured planning permission to create a new channel and pond 
  • Progress feasibility work with IDRIS to explore the heritage trails, green energy, agriculture and tourism opportunities relating to the wider masterplan for the British - DELAYED 

 

Economy and Skills Strategy - Pontypool Placemaking Plan 

  • Implement the Pontypool Levelling Up Fund projects to rejuvenate our town centres and encourage a night-time economy with more visitors enjoying good quality places to eat and drink – ON TARGET 
  • Carried sewerage works to increase capacity 

Economy and Skills Strategy - Cwmbran Placemaking Plan 

  • Set up the Cwmbran Town Board to deliver the first phases of the Cwmbran Placemaking Plan and to agree the Long-Term Plan for Towns – ON TARGET 
  • Report completed for Long-Term Plan for Towns funding 

Economy & Skills Strategy 

  • Promote Torfaen as a ‘Destination’, working with our outstanding visitor attractions so that we can offer attractive packages for day and overnight visitors that include venues throughout the Borough - DELAYED 

 

Canal Strategy 

  • Deliver the first phase of the agreed action plan for the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal to improve facilities for local canal users and start to build the case for canal restoration - DELAYED 
  • Delivered 26 Canalside yoga events  
  • Held 2 volunteer ‘balsam bashing’ events  

Coal Tip Safety (Wales) White Paper 

  • Develop Coal Tip Management Strategy & Delivery Plan to protect and enhance the local environment and keep our communities safe from future risks, once Welsh Government Guidance is published – ON TARGET  

 

Traffic Management Act 

  • Delivery of Camera Car project to help minimise indiscriminate parking, improve access for public services and improve the public highway to ensure it is free from obstructions creating a safe environment for all - DELAYED 
  • Procured a Camera Car and tendered for surveillance equipment 

Public Protection Service Enforcement and Compliance Policy 

  

Litter & Fly Tipping Action Plan 

  • We will undertake surveillance initiatives, in collaboration with Streetscene, to identify those involved in fly-tipping and take enforcement action where appropriate – ON TARGET 
  • Deployed surveillance cameras in fly-tipping hot spots 
  • Issued 6 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) of between £100 and £300. 
  • Prosecuted 3 cases resulting in a Criminal Behaviour Order, a fine of £848 and a fine of £780.    

Litter and Fly-Tipping Strategy 2021-2026 

  

Green Infrastructure Strategy 

  • We will work with organisations and communities to deliver initiatives and encourage greater focus on preventing litter and fly-tipping to protect the local environment – ON TARGET 
  • Launched a Fight The FlyTipper and Don’t Be a Trolley Wally publicity campaigns 
  • Set up a Pick it up dog mess campaign with local community groups 
  • Launched Litter Free Active Travel Zone Project with schools 

Public Protection Service Enforcement and Compliance Policy 

  

Green Infrastructure Strategy 

  • We will review the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for dog controls in Torfaen to evaluate its effectiveness in addressing anti-social behaviour caused by irresponsible dog owners and to determine if any changes are necessary – ON TARGET 

 

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Well-being Objective 9

We will provide efficient customer focused services that reflect the way people live their lives and wish to access services

Well-being Objective 9
Programme / Strategy This year we will .... This year we have … 

Community Strategy 

  • Establish a volunteer programme to enable the delivery of a ‘Read To Me’ Service which will bring the therapeutic benefits of shared reading to customers that are socially isolated and vulnerable - DELAYED 

 

Digital First Customer Strategy 

  • Redesign operating models at all 3 Customer Care centres; exploring opportunities for working out in the community to better meet and manage customer demand - DELAYED 

 

  • Implement findings of the feasibility study for a collaborative data platform to provide a Single View of the Child solution - DELAYED 

 

  • In partnership with the assistive Tech Team and Cwmpass, deliver a programme of assistive technology workshops in libraries to help people stay connected and safe and build resilience - COMPLETED 
  • eDmos run alongside IT support sessions at Cwmbran Library and continuous involvement in dementia awareness programme at Panteg Hospital - assistive technologies demonstrated and promoted alongside reading Well Dementia stock.   
  • Development of a clear and efficient process with speed in mind for deployment of sensors (a fast-food service of long range wide area network (LoRaWAN)) - DELAYED 

 

Digital First Customer Strategy 

  • Reduce the "Call Torfaen" abandoned call rate for 'Adult Social Care and Blue Badges' to 2% of calls - DELAYED 
  • Introduced a new telephony system 
  • Received and answered more calls in Q4 2025 than in Q4 2024 
  • Introduced a new voicemail service 
  • Reduce the "Call Torfaen" abandoned call rate for 'Benefits' to 8% of calls - DELAYED 

 

  • Reduce the "Call Torfaen" abandoned call rate for Council Tax to 8% of calls - DELAYED 

 

  • Sustain the "Call Torfaen" abandoned call rate for all other services at 10% - DELAYED 

 

  • Reduce the "Call Torfaen" average wait time for Adult Social Care and Blue Badge calls to under 60 seconds - DELAYED 

 

  • Reduce the "Call Torfaen" average wait time for Benefits calls to 300 seconds - DELAYED 

 

  • Reduce the "Call Torfaen" average wait time for Council Tax calls to 360 seconds – ON TARGET 

 

  • Maintain the "Call Torfaen" average wait time for 'all other Services' calls at 360 seconds – ON TARGET 

 

Public participation strategy 

  • Capture service user perspectives and undertake a residents survey to inform council decisions - COMPLETED 
  • Carried out the Let’s Talk Torfaen residents survey which was completed by 1,900 people  
  • Audit of service user perspectives carried out 

Registrars 

  • Register 98% of births within 42 days – ON TARGET 

 

  • Register 98% of still births within 42 days – ON TARGET 

 

  • Register 90% of deaths (without coronial involvement) following receipt of documentation to register the death within 5 days' - ON TARGET 

 

Last Modified: 24/07/2025
For more information contact:

Call Torfaen
Tel: 01495 762200

Email: your.call@torfaen.gov.uk

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