Posted on: Friday 21 November 2025
Members of the Torfaen People's Panel met this week to discuss plans to reshape how public services are designed and delivered.
Thirteen local residents listened to a presentation from David Leech, the council's Deputy Chief Executive and Strategic Director for Adults and Communities, at Cwmbran Library, and got chance to ask questions.
They discussed issues including the power of local action, community safety, and the importance of developing a Torfaen Deal alongside organisations including the health board and police.
David said: "The People's Panel energy and motivation was truly inspiring. We had a fantastic discussion about how we should and can come together as a community to genuinely think differently about how local services are designed and delivered.
"This new approach gives us a great chance of delivering more for local people whilst meeting the rising demand for services."
The People's Panel event was held as part of a programme of community engagement on the plan for a Torfaen Deal.
You can get involved in the conversation by visiting Get Involved Torfaen before December 31.
Your comments and views will be used by a Citizen Assembly to form the details of a Torfaen Deal, which will be put out for further consultation in February.
An online People's Panel event will be held on Monday December 8. To join the People's Panel, contact getinvolved@torfaen.gov.uk
Council Leader, Anthony Hunt, said: “Demand for services like social care has surged and councils simply haven’t got the funding to keep doing things the same way. To plug the gap, councils have frequently cut wider discretionary services – often the very things that prevent poor health and reduce long-term demand.
"When those services decline, health inequalities deepen and demand for acute services rises as a consequence. In Torfaen, we want to be more innovative than that, because we believe things can be better for our communities. So today, we are proud to launch the Torfaen Deal – a bold step towards a future where everyone in our borough can flourish.
"This is more than a plan; it’s a new way of working, building trust and shared responsibility between the council, residents, and our partners. By investing in prevention and empowering our communities, we can tackle the root causes of inequality and unlock the full potential of Torfaen together.”
For details of community engagement events, visit Get Involved Torfaen or following Torfaen Council on social media.