Delivery Plan 2026/2027

This is the last Delivery Plan as part of the council’s 2022-2027 County Plan.

It is the first to demonstrate how the council is working towards the five Torfaen Deal missions as well as the nine Well-Being Objectives.

Torfaen Deal Missions

Early Years – Building Bright Futures: invest early, invest smart
Lifelong Learning and Resilience: skills are the new social contract
Wellbeing Through Community Leadership: health is created in communities, not hospitals
Thriving Economy and Vibrant Places: growth with purpose, not growth for its own sake
Empowered Communities – Shared Power and Success: from consumers of services to co-creators of change.

Well-being Objectives

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

Programme / Strategy	Activity / Milestones / Measures	Torfaen Deal Mission	Team	Target / Milestone
21st Century Schools programme	Refurbish Ysgol Bryn Onnen	Early Years / Lifelong Learning	Capital Projects, Access & Engagement	Work is expected to start July 2026 and be completed by October 2027
Asset Management Programme	Maintain school buildings and other assets	Early Years / Lifelong Learning	Economy and Place	Ongoing throughout 2026/27
Welsh Education Strategic Plan (WESP) /Education Improvement Plan	Expand and strengthen ALN provision within Welsh‑medium education	Early Years / Lifelong Learning	ALN, Inclusion & Wellbeing	Complete a sufficiency and capacity assessment by March 2027
#NotInMissOut Attendance Strategy	Work with families, schools and communities to embed belonging, improve attendance and reduce chronic absence	Early Years / Lifelong Learning	Education Welfare Service Communities and Well-being	Increase by 1% by July 2026 and a further 0.75% by March 2027
#NotInMissOut Attendance Strategy	Reduce the percentage of young people who leave year 11 classified as 'not in employment, education or training	Early Years / Lifelong Learning	Education Welfare Service Communities and Well-being	2.5% of young people who leave Year 11, not in employment, education or training by December 2026
Community Well-Being Strategy	Number of residents enrolled with Torfaen Works Employment and Skills programme	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing		600 people enrolled
	Those enrolled supported into employment	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing		30%
	Percentage of people supported who have stayed in employment for 6 months	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing		25%

Well-being Objective 2

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

Programme / Strategy	Activity / Milestones / Measures	Torfaen Deal Mission	Team	Target / Milestone
Children Looked After Strategy / Children and Young People’s Development Plan	To ensure a continued increase in the proportion of children placed in foster care who are placed with local authority foster carers	Early Years / Community Wellbeing	Children & Family Services	90% children/young people placed with local authority foster carers by March 2027
	Embed a collaborative communication approach, rooted in strengths-based and outcome-focused principles, throughout Children’s Services	Early Years / Community Wellbeing	Children & Family Services	Two nominated practice leads per team, all staff training, all care plans to have a focus on strengths.
	Safely reduce the number of children we look after to achieve our ambition to have a rate equal to or lower than the national average by 2028/29	Early Years / Community Wellbeing	Children & Family Services	Reduction of 250 children
	Reduce the number of children and young people placed in residential care who can go into foster care.	Early Years / Community Wellbeing	Children & Family Services	Reduction on end of year 2025/26 figures
	Review and develop a broad range of accommodation for children looked after whose needs cannot be met in foster care	Early Years / Community Wellbeing	Children & Family Services	To continue to review and develop, in line with timescales, as set out in WG’s eliminate profit for care agenda by 2030.
Youth Work Strategy for Wales	Increase the number of young people supported through working in partnership with a range of statutory and voluntary organisations	Early Years / Community Wellbeing	Youth Service	350 young people supported
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	Early Years / Community Wellbeing	Play Service	100+ play related projects delivered to 1,600 pupils and 4,500 in communities
Torfaen’s Play Sufficiency Action Plan	Provide play support packages to children and young people who require additional support	Early Years / Community Wellbeing	Play Service	200 weekend play and respite and holiday provisions
Universal Free School Meals	Promote take up of eligible Primary Free School Meal	Early Years / Community Wellbeing	Catering & Cleaning Service	75% take up
Youth Forums and Engagement	Provide opportunities for children and young people to become involved in council decisions, policies and strategies e.g. Take Over Days and work with Youth Forums members to elect a youth MP for Torfaen	Community Wellbeing / Empowered communities	Comms, Elections & Civil Contingencies	Ongoing
Anti-social Behaviour Strategy	Percentage of all young people in need of prevention and intervention for ASB supported to exit the process with a positive outcome.	Community Wellbeing / Empowered communities	Communities & Wellbeing	90% of young people achieving a positive outcome
	Percentage of children who do not re-enter the ASB system within 6 months of receiving support	Community Wellbeing / Empowered communities	Communities & Wellbeing	85% of children do not re-enter the ASB System within 6 months
	Percentage of families who have successfully re-settled under the UK Resettlement schemes and require no additional support after 12 months will have increased	Community Wellbeing / Empowered communities	Communities & Wellbeing	95% of families successfully re-settled and require no additional support

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

Programme / Strategy	Activity / Milestones / Measures	Torfaen Deal Mission	Team	Target / Milestone
Universal Free School Meals	Serve nutritious meals to primary pupils	Early years / Community Wellbeing	Catering & Cleaning Service	702,000 meals (75% take-up) served to primary pupils
Joint Local Development Plan	Prepare a new Joint Local Development Plan (LDP) in accordance with Delivery Agreement Timetable and as part of the Federated Model	Thriving Places	Economy & Place	June 2030
Local Development Plan	Secure affordable homes through the planning system	Thriving Places	Economy & Place	March 2027
SPF Food Resilience Grant	Deliver a Food Strategy and Action Plan	Thriving Places / Community Wellbeing	Economy & Place	March 2027
Council Tax and Benefit Support	Maximise benefits take-up	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Resources	Advice provided via referrals
	Administer Housing Benefits efficiently in line with DWP regulations	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Resources	£20m
	Award Discretionary Housing Payments	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Resources	£329,000
	Administer the Council Tax Reduction Scheme	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Resources	£11.7 million to 9,350 recipients
Benefits and Financial Assessments	Award Free School Meals	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Resources	4,000
	Award school uniform grants	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Resources	3,200
	Award guardianship/adoption payments	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Resources	200
	To carry out social care means testing assessments	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Resources	1,200
Housing Act 2004 The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 Leasing	Identify and protect residents against potential risks and hazards in their homes	Community Wellbeing	Housing Safety & Environmental Protection	March 2027
Domiciliary Care Strategy	Implement the new Care Management System	Community Wellbeing	Children Services - Long Term Planning & Reunification / Service Development Team	January 2026
Information, Advice & Assistance (IAA)	Number of open adult services cases	Community Wellbeing	Adult Services	Less than 4,200 open cases
	Completed assessments with no further statutory intervention required	Community Wellbeing	Adult Services	88% community referral, 71% hospital referral
	Completed initial assessments where needs can be met by means other than care and support	Community Wellbeing	Adult Services	85%
	Public Protection Notices received by IAA Team	Community Wellbeing	Adult Services	Less than 1,300
Early Intervention & Prevention	Community groups active on Connect Torfaen platform	Community Wellbeing / Lifelong Learning	Communities & Wellbeing	50%
	Customers offered community support by Early Intervention and Prevention Hub	Community Wellbeing / Lifelong Learning	Communities & Wellbeing	70%
	Average time Connectors spend supporting a customer	Community Wellbeing / Lifelong Learning	Communities & Wellbeing	6 weeks
Housing Support Grant	Additional supported housing units and realign supported accommodation provision to reduce those at risk of homelessness	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	10
	Prevent homelessness	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	40% of cases
	Reduce percentage of households placed in temporary accommodation for 6 months or more at the end of each quarter	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	Reduce by 20%
	Average move-on time from temporary accommodation into a more permanent home (individuals)	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	260 days
	Average move-on time from temporary accommodation into a more permanent home (families)	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	100 days
	Percentage of new homes built that are affordable	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	30%
	Develop an empty property action plan to prioritise, target and reduce the number of empty properties within Torfaen.	Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	Quarter 3

Well-being Objective 4

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

Programme / Strategy	Activity / Milestones / Measures	Torfaen Deal Mission	Team	Target / Milestone
Community Resilience	Work with communities via workshops to develop community resilience groups, increasing community preparedness for and resilience to emergency situations.	Empowered Communities / Lifelong Learning / Community Wellbeing	Comms, Elections & Civil Contingencies	Two community resilience groups established
Active Travel Plan Capital City Region City Deal Regional Transport Plan	Deliver a suite of Active Travel schemes in 26/27 as per the approved Active Travel Delivery Plan and Regional Transport Delivery Plan	Community Wellbeing / Lifelong Learning / Empowered Communities / Thriving Places	Highways, Climate and Energy	March 2027
	Deliver Safe Routes in Communities projects as part of the Regional Transport Delivery Plan	Community Wellbeing / Lifelong Learning / Empowered Communities / Thriving Places	Highways, Climate and Energy
Community Wellbeing Strategy	Support customers to access ICT and Digital Support in our libraries/hubs	Community Wellbeing / Lifelong Learning / Empowered Communities / Thriving Places	Communities & Wellbeing	1,800
	Increase the number of visits to public libraries year on year towards the Welsh Government target	Community Wellbeing / Lifelong Learning / Empowered Communities / Thriving Places	Communities & Wellbeing	3,260 visits per 1,000 population
	Adult Community Learning enrolments on Essential Skills courses	Community Wellbeing / Lifelong Learning / Empowered Communities / Thriving Places	Communities & Wellbeing	900 enrolments
	Sports clubs worked with to develop their facilities and provide sustainable opportunities for the community.	Community Wellbeing / Lifelong Learning / Empowered Communities / Thriving Places	Communities & Wellbeing	40 sports clubs
	Develop a volunteering programme	Community Wellbeing / Lifelong Learning / Empowered Communities / Thriving Places	Communities & Wellbeing	Quarter 3

Well-being Objective 5

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

Programme / Strategy	Activity / Milestones / Measures	Torfaen Deal Mission	Team	Target / Milestone
Climate and Nature Emergency Action Plan	Deliver the actions set out for the Council in the Local Area Energy Plan’s	Thriving Places / Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Economy & Place	Multi-year
Project Apollo	Implementation of net zero fleet action plan and a data-led programme to drive down fleet emissions and increase savings	Thriving Places / Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Highways, Climate & Energy	March 2027
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience Plan	review and update the Council's Biodiversity and Ecosystems Resilience Plan	Thriving Places / Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Environment Strategy	December 2026
Green Infrastructure Strategy	We will deliver a multi-year Partnering Agreement with Bron Afon for grounds maintenance, ensuring the sustainable management of streets and green spaces	Thriving Places / Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Environment operations	March 2028
Recycling and Waste Action Plan	Plans to build a new recycling sorting facility with work to begin within planning timeframe	Thriving Places / Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Recycling & Waste
	Broaden Reuse, Repair and Recycling initiatives, working with the community as part of The Deal	Thriving Places / Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Recycling & Waste	Develop a business case and recommendations by March 2027
	Increase recycling and reduce residual waste and its associated costs through the Keeping up with the Joneses Campaign	Thriving Places / Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Recycling & Waste	March 2027

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

Programme / Strategy	Activity / Milestones / Measures	Torfaen Deal Mission	Team	Target / Milestone
Blueprint for Growth	Produce Blueprint for Growth document	Empowered Communities / Thriving Places	Economy & Place	June 2026
	Produce Business Charter Deal	Empowered Communities / Thriving Places	Economy & Place	October 2026
	Produce programme for delivery of work streams	Empowered Communities / Thriving Places	Economy & Place	October 2026
Economy & Skills Delivery Plan	Create an Investment Prospectus to attract new investment and promote the availability/servicing of new and/or brownfield industrial land	Lifelong Learning / Thriving Places / Empowered Communities	Economy & Place	August 2026
	Progress outline proposals for a flagship science technology and innovation employment site around the Grange University Hospital	Lifelong Learning / Thriving Places / Empowered Communities	Economy & Place	December 2028
	Implement the multi-year business case for the Springboard Business Innovation Centre with an initial focus on a new engineering hub to provide specialised workspace and training facilities	Lifelong Learning / Thriving Places / Empowered Communities	Economy & Place	March 2027
	Implement the next stage of the Torfaen Business Direct business gateway	Lifelong Learning / Thriving Places / Empowered Communities	Economy & Place	Throughout 2026/7
Local Development Plan	Engage with businesses, communities and residents in connection with planning applications and decisions in line with the LDP	Thriving Places / Empowered Communities	Economy & Place	Throughout 2026/27
Economy & Skills Delivery Plan	Businesses signed up to a commercial training course	Thriving Places / Empowered Communities	Communities & Well	60

Well-being Objective 7

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

Programme / Strategy	Activity / Milestones / Measures	Torfaen Deal Mission	Team	Target / Milestone
Framework on embedding a whole-school approach to emotional and mental well-being County Plan Marmot Principles	Support new schools to access the Whole School Approach to Emotional Health and Mental Wellbeing Self-Evaluation tool	Early Years / Lifelong Learning	Healthy Schools	8 new schools
Youth Work Strategy for Wales	Increase offer of well-being options for young people	Community Leadership / Lifelong Learning	Youth Service	2,300 young people
Food and Feed Law Enforcement Service Plan Public Protection Service Enforcement and Compliance Policy	Carry out food hygiene inspections and interventions at food establishments and take appropriate enforcement action where necessary	Community Well-Being	Food & Health Protection	March 2027
Public Protection Service Enforcement and Compliance Policy	Undertake interventions to ensure that traders who supply vapes comply with relevant laws	Community Well-Being	Licencing & Trading Standards	March 2027
Community Wellbeing Strategy	Increase loans of health and wellbeing book stock including Reading Well collections	Community Well-Being	Communities & Wellbeing	5% increase
Community Wellbeing Strategy	Independently run community groups established after a Health, Sports and Welling intervention	Community Well-Being	Communities & Wellbeing	5 community groups

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

Programme / Strategy	Activity / Milestones / Measures	Torfaen Deal Mission	Team	Target / Milestone
The British Masterplan	Commence work to take the Blaengafog Brook out of culverts and into a new channel as the first stage of the British masterplan	Thriving Places	Economy & Place	August 2027
The British Masterplan	Progress securing partner to develop proposals for the site and drive forward delivery	Thriving Places	Economy & Place	March 2027
Economy and Skills Strategy	Support Cwmbran Town Board to secure UK Government agreement of Cwmbran Futures (Long Term Town) Plan and facilitate delivery of Y1 of Investment Plan	Thriving Places	Economy & Place	Ongoing 2026/27
	Develop initial three-year delivery plans for each of the Torfaen Placemaking Plans (Blaenavon, Pontypool and Cwmbran) and commence implementation	Thriving Places	Economy & Place	Investigate and identify funding to progress delivery of Placemaking Plan throughout 26/27
	Implement the Pontypool Levelling Up Fund projects	Thriving Places	Economy & Place	Completion 26/27 financial year
	Seek Cabinet sign off and publish Destination Management Plan	Thriving Places	Economy & Place	Quarter 2

Well-being Objective 9

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

Programme / Strategy	Activity / Milestones / Measures	Torfaen Deal Mission	Team	Target / Milestone
Registrars Service	Births registration	Empowered Communities	Resources	98% of births registered within 42 days
Registrars Service	Deaths registration	Empowered Communities	Resources	95% of deaths registered within 5 days
Digital, Data and Technology	New website using a local government Content Management System	Empowered Communities	Comms, Elections and Civil Contingencies	2026/7
Digital First Customer Strategy	Customer satisfaction scores for calls to Call Torfaen	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	Scores of between 4 and 5 (Satisfied and Very Satisfied)
	Manage average call waiting times for adult social care and Blue Badge requests	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	Less than 300 seconds
	Manage average call waiting times for benefits enquires	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	Less than 300 seconds
	Manage average call waiting times council tax queries	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	Less than 300 seconds
	Maintain average call waiting times for all other services	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	360 seconds
	Measure customer satisfaction scores	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	Establishing baseline
	Measure quality monitoring scores	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	Establishing baseline
	Number of community-led activities delivered at Cwmbran Community Hub and Library	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	Establishing baseline
	Use of artificial intelligence to improve response times	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	Quarter 3
	Use of artificial intelligence to translate policy documents	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	90% of policy documents
	Number of staff using the digital meeting tool across adult and children social care meetings	Empowered Communities / Community Wellbeing	Communities & Wellbeing	80% of staff

Last Modified: 14/04/2026

For more information contact:

Call Torfaen
Tel: 01495 762200

Email: your.call@torfaen.gov.uk