A series of on-street engagement sessions in communities across the city mark the start of the Cardiff Debate this week.
The Cardiff Debate is a three-year programme of events, workshops and discussions on the future of public services in the capital involving the City of Cardiff Council, partner agencies and local people.
The Council, along with other public and third sector bodies, is facing significant pressures both in terms of reduced budgets and growing demand for services. This means that the way services are delivered needs to change to ensure they meet the needs of local communities and are sustainable in the longer term.
The Cardiff Debate seeks to engage people in the change that will need to happen by discussing their priorities, putting forward ideas for improving the city and exploring how local communities can become more involved in that process.
Leader of the City Council, Cllr Phil Bale, said: “Local people and communities will be at the heart of the Cardiff Debate when we will be asking people which services matter to them and how we can work together, getting more people involved to make the difference and meet the challenges ahead.
“Those challenges are not exclusive to the City of Cardiff Council, it is something that all public sector organisations in the city are facing. We recognise that the involvement of local communities will be key over the next few years and we are keen to hear the views of as many people as possible on new approaches, based on collective action, co-operation, empowerment and enterprise, to delivering public services in the future.”
This week, the Council will be carrying out on street engagement sessions in local communities across the city when people will be asked which services matter most to them and their families and to put forward ideas on how the Council can do things differently to save money in the future. Members of the public will be able to complete Cardiff Debate postcards expressing their views, including how the community can get more involved.
The sessions will take place at:
Adult Learners Week, Thursday June 19, 10am – 1pm
Trinity Methodist Church, Four Elms Road, Splott.
Glyn Derw High School, Thursday June 19, 2pm – 5pm
Penally Road, Caerau, CF5 5XP
Loudoun Square, Friday June 20, 11am – 2pm
Outside Plas Iona, Loudoun Square, Bute Street
Llanrumney Community Festival, Saturday June 21, 12pm – 3pm
Llanrumney Recreation Field
Llanishen Leisure Centre, Monday June 23, 4pm – 7pm
Ty-Glas Road, Llanishen
Vision 21 Sbectrwm Centre, Tuesday June 24, 9.30am – 12.30pm
Bwlch Road, Fairwater.
The feedback collected at these sessions will inform the discussion at the Cardiff Debate ‘Co-operation for Change’ Public Services Summit on June 27 which will be attended by the key public service leaders of the city including the Leader of the City Council, Cabinet Members and Chairs and Chief Executives of the leading public services in Cardiff.
Neighbourhood events will also take place in July and August to gather further views on people’s priorities and ideas for new approaches to meeting local needs.
