A FRAMEWORK for working with local town and community councils has been agreed by a borough council’s cabinet.
The agreement is intended to support the volunteer councils, some of which only employ a small number of part time staff, and ease the way for them to work with Torfaen Borough Council on potential joint projects.
Torfaen’s ruling Labour cabinet unanimously endorsed the charter it has drawn up with the councils for Blaenavon, Croesyceiliog and Llanyrafon, Cwmbran, Henllys, Ponthir, and Pontypool.
A report for Torfaen’s cabinet meeting said a framework for working with the councils will assist its plan to overhaul how it supports services and local communities and builds on the community wellbeing strategy it has put in place.
The report stated: “The strategy set out our desire to build stronger relationships with the town and community councils. These relationships will be more crucial than ever as we look to move towards a new deal with our communities.”
The charter identified the main aspects of the relationship between the two areas of local government as a recognition of the local councils as a “partner rather a tier of government”, improved information sharing, joint working arrangements including how services can be delivered and on youth engagement, and supporting the councils to function.
It is also recognised it won’t always be possible for the borough council to share information in advance with the local councils and while it is recognised there may not always be agreement between them they have previously agreed the principles of the wellbeing strategy.
Despite the charter stating the smaller councils will no longer be seen as a tier of government they rely on the unitary authority for support to run their own elections, holding volunteer councillors to account in line with codes of conduct and most crucially for issuing the precepts which they rely on for revenue and form part of the council tax bill.
Peter Jones, Torfaen’s cabinet member responsible, said the charter was agreed at the most recent meeting of local council partnership committee and said: “It’s been a long time in developing. Deputy chief executive Dave Leech has done an enormous amount of work as have the town and community councils themselves.”
Pontnewydd member Sue Morgan said she’d like to see the borough provide examples of how it has worked with the local councils and cited an ‘eco quiz’ run by three town councils.
“This year we’re working with them to bring the finalists together for a championship,” said Cllr Morgan.”
Cllr Jones said there is “huge benefit” to sharing information and said he attended a meeting with one council which was able to use a template, from Pontypool Community Council.
Under the agreement town and community councils will be able to use the members service for borough councillors, which provides answers and deals with requests, and how they can be involved in seminars for council members that often discuss potential policy and service changes.
