Local authorities vital to successful sustainable regeneration and economic recovery says WLGA

Local authorities in Wales are vital to delivering regeneration projects as well as supporting sustainable economic recovery for local communities at a time when it is most needed says the WLGA today.

Over the next two days during a Welsh Assembly Government led regeneration summit being held at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, local authorities will be emphasising the need for regeneration to be acknowledged as a vital local authority function and for their key role in delivering regeneration to be more strongly recognised at a national level within the Welsh Assembly Government.

Commenting on the event, Cllr Chris Holley (Swansea), WLGA Regeneration Spokesperson said:

“Local Government is developing a ‘New Understanding’ document with the Welsh Assembly Government which calls for a joint approach to regeneration issues in Wales and which recognises the legitimate role and strengths of both national and local government in delivering this function. We welcome this and would like to see this dialogue with the Assembly Government developed to include consideration of an outcome agreement for regeneration. We would also like to see the plethora of regeneration initiatives and funding streams to be simplified and better coordinated in order to develop and deliver holistic and integrated regeneration plans which will make a real difference to our communities.”

Cllr Alan Pritchard (Caerphilly), WLGA Deputy Spokesperson for Health Improvement added:

“In these demanding and difficult times protecting and improving health and well-being for our citizens and communities is more important than ever. Local authority regeneration activity is often key to this as witnessed over the last 15-20 years in my own community of Oakdale. However, the relationship between regeneration and improved quality and length of life needs to be better understood and developed. Today, the WLGA launches a report entitled ‘’Better Health through Regeneration’ which summarises these key connections and which I hope will stimulate wider discussion, action and research between and across agencies, professions and communities to ensure that the health improving potential of all regeneration activity is more fully realised.”

During the summit the WLGA will be displaying:

• A DVD highlighting how local authorities are successfully developing, implementing and delivering regeneration plans.
• A flyer summarising the key messages that came out of a WLGA regeneration conference held for all local authorities in September. One of the key topics discussed during the conference was research commissioned by the WLGA in July on the impact of the recession across Wales and the ways local authorities can support sustainable economic recovery -The Impact of Recession Across Wales and Ways Local Authorities Can Support Sustainable Economic Recovery.

An Information report ‘Better Health through Regeneration: An Outcome by Design’ is also being launched at the summit which explores the context, drivers and actions needed for more joined-up regeneration and health improvement.

For copies of the regeneration DVD contact Lowri Gwilym, WLGA regeneration policy officer, tel: 029 2046 8676, mobile: 07768 738354 or email: lowri.gwilym@wlga.gov.uk

Copies of the reports: ‘Better Health through Regeneration: An Outcome by Design’ and ‘The Impact of Recession Across Wales and Ways Local Authorities Can Support Sustainable Economic Recovery’ are available at www.wlga.gov.uk