Involvement Strategy 2025-27

2. Legislative Requirements

Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015

Carmarthenshire County Council is dedicated to fostering a prosperous, resilient, and sustainable future for its communities, in line with the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. This pioneering legislation sets the framework for public bodies to work in a way that promotes the long-term social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of Wales. The Act recognises that the decisions we make today must take into account the needs of future generations, ensuring that we leave a positive legacy for those who will inherit the outcomes of our actions. 

At the heart of this legislation is the sustainable development principle, which calls on public bodies to consider the long-term implications of their decisions while seeking to prevent problems from arising. It encourages an approach that balances immediate needs with the future impacts of decisions, and it emphasises collaboration, integration, and inclusivity. This principle drives Carmarthenshire County Council’s approach to community engagement, ensuring that all voices are heard, particularly those who are often underrepresented or marginalised, and that the diverse needs of our residents are understood and reflected in our planning and service delivery. 

This Involvement Strategy is rooted in the five ways of working outlined in the Act: long-term thinking, prevention, integration, collaboration, and involvement. It aims to provide a clear, structured approach to engagement that is open, inclusive, and transparent. By embedding these principles into our processes, we will create opportunities for meaningful dialogue with our residents, partners, and stakeholders. This will allow us to gather valuable insights and perspectives that inform and shape our policies, projects, and services, ensuring they are relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of our communities. 

Effective involvement is essential for ensuring that public services are designed and delivered in a way that truly benefits those who use them. Through this framework, Carmarthenshire County Council reaffirms its commitment to involving people in the decisions that affect them, empowering communities to have a say in shaping their future. We are committed to ensuring that our practices are accessible and inclusive, using a wide range of methods to reach all parts of our community, including those who may face barriers to participation. 

By actively listening and working in partnership with our communities, we can better understand the issues faced and identify solutions that work for everyone. This collaborative approach will help us to address complex challenges such as climate change, economic inequality and social exclusion, while ensuring that our actions are aligned with the Well-being Goals set out in the Act. These goals include creating a more equal, prosperous, and resilient Carmarthenshire, where people can lead healthier and more fulfilled lives, while safeguarding the environment and culture that make our county unique. 

Section 5 of the Act states: 
Involvement plays a vital role in the way public bodies should aim to work. The act states that public bodies must take into consideration the involvement of other individuals who have an interest in achieving the well-being objectives.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Act also highlights the need to ensure that the individuals who are involved must reflect the diversity of the population. This means that when making decisions, you must engage with people and communities whose well-being you are looking to improve. It is essential that people’s needs are taken into consideration whilst ensuring the engagement is effective and meaningful. In order to effectively engage with people and communities, Welsh Ministers strongly suggest that public bodies follow the National Principles of Public Engagement and the National Participation Standards for Children and Young People. 

The Act also states that the public body should consider the profile of the people they serve which also involves the identification of relevant sections and representatives' groups.  We will continue to build relationships with the third sector and with groups from across our communities to ensure that their voices are heard, in spaces and conversations where people feel safe to contribute. 

Equality Act 2010

Under the Equality Act 2010 (Statutory Duties) (Wales) Regulations 2011, specified authorities are required to include people who are considered to represent the interest of one or more of the protected groups. Under the Equality Act 2010 there are 9 protected groups. These are:

•    Age 
•    Gender reassignment 
•    Disability 
•    Pregnancy and maternity 
•    Sexual orientation 
•    Religion or belief 
•    Race 
•    Sex 
•    Marriage and Civil Partnership 
 
Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014

The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 provides a legislative framework for care and support based on the principles of:

• Supporting people to achieve their own well-being.
• Putting people at the centre of their care and support and giving them a voice in terms of the support they receive.
• Involving people in the design and delivery of services.
• Developing services that help prevent, delay or reduce the need for care and support.
• Promoting not for profit delivery models.
• Collaboration across agencies in the provision of care and support.
• Promoting the integration of key services including services for older people with complex needs.

Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011

In Wales, the Welsh language should not be treated any less favourably than the English language. When carrying out engagement we must work in accordance with the requirements of the Welsh Language Standards. This includes the delivery of engagement bilingually. During consultations, we will seek the public’s views on any effects that decisions could have on the Welsh language and opportunities to use the Welsh language.

Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021

The Act places a duty on councils to encourage local people to participate in the council’s decision-making process. It also requires principal councils to prepare and publish a strategy specifying how it proposes to comply with its duties, including:

• how it intends to promote awareness of the council’s functions with the public; 
• promoting how to become a member of the council or a related authority;
• facilitating greater access to information for members of the public; and
• providing ways for members of the public to make representations to principal councils.

In addition, the Act also places a duty on councils to engage with residents on the degree to which the Council is meeting its performance requirements. 

Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 

The Act aims to improve the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of people in Wales by strengthening the role of social partnership within strategic decision-making. Involving both employers and workers in key discussions regarding improvements to well-being recognises and values the unique contribution and expertise brought by those directly engaged in public service delivery when addressing shared challenges and seeking innovative solutions. The Act seeks to promote cooperation, strengthen policy and improve outcomes, through dialogue between social partners, achieved in social partnership.

3. Key Principles

As a Council, we will adopt the National Principles for Public Engagement in Wales and consider the principles when planning our engagement work. 

National Principles for Public Engagement in Wales²

A set of ten principles agreed across public service organisations within the public and voluntary sectors in Wales aim to guide behaviour and encourage good quality, consistent engagement activity with service users and the general public. The principles are as follows:

1.    Design your Engagement to make a difference: Engagement offers a genuine opportunity to inform or influence decisions, policy, or services.
2.    Invite people to get involved, if they choose to: People have opportunities to engage as an individual or as part of a group or community, in an inclusive and welcoming way which does not put them under obligation or pressure.
3.    Plan and deliver your engagement in a timely and appropriate way: The engagement process is clear, communicated to everyone in a way that’s easy to understand, takes place within a reasonable timescale, and uses the most suitable method(s) for those involved.
4.    Work with relevant partner organisations: Organisations communicate with each other and work together wherever possible, to ensure that people’s time, and organisations’ resources, are used efficiently.
5.    Provide jargon free, appropriate, and understandable information: People have easy access to relevant information that is tailored to meet their needs. 
6.    Make it easy for people to take part: Any barriers are identified and addressed, so that people can engage easily.
7.    Ensure people benefit from the experience: Engagement contributes to developing the skills, knowledge, and confidence of all participants.
8.    Ensure the right resources and time are in place for your engagement to be effective: Enough time is allowed for both planning and meaningful engagement for the decision, policy, or service design. Appropriate training, guidance, support, and financial resources enable all participants to engage effectively, including community participants and staff.
9.    Let people know the impact of their contribution: Timely feedback is given to participants about their contribution, and the decisions or actions taken as a result, using methods and forms of feedback that take account of participants’ preferences.
10.   Learn and share to improve your engagement: People’s experience of the engagement process is monitored, along with the accessibility, inclusion and diversity, and the outputs and results. Lessons learnt from the evaluation are shared and inform future engagement.

National Children and Young People’s Participation Standards³

The National Children and Young People’s Participation Standards are a tool to help measure the process of children and young people’s participation in the work of public services and how to increase the participation of children and young people in decision-making within organisations and services.

These are based on the provision of Article 12 of the United Nations Convenient on the Rights of the Child which state:

Children have the right to say what they think should happen when adults are making decision that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account. 

The Standards are also underpinned by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The Act puts involvement of children and young people, adults and communities at the heart of improving well-being, as well as being one of the five ways of working.

² National-Principles-for-Public-Engagement-in-Wales.pdf

³  https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-02/Bilingual-Participation-Standards-poster2016.pdf

4. What does involvement mean in Carmarthenshire County Council

For Carmarthenshire County Council, involvement goes beyond simply providing information or asking for feedback. It represents a deep, ongoing partnership with our communities, ensuring that residents are not passive recipients of services but active participants in shaping the future of their county. Based on the key principles noted above involvement means: 

• Empowering residents: We strive to empower individuals and communities by giving them the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to have a say in decisions that affect their lives. This involves creating spaces for genuine dialogue where people feel heard and valued, and where their contributions are integrated into decision-making processes. 

• Collaboration and Co-creation: We are committed to working collaboratively with our residents and stakeholders. This means engaging with the public early in the decision-making process, co-designing solutions to local challenges, and fostering an atmosphere of partnership rather than simply consulting on predetermined options. 

• Inclusivity and Accessibility: Ensuring that every voice matters is central to our approach. We will actively seek to engage those who are often marginalised or excluded from traditional decision-making processes, including young people, those in rural communities, minority groups, and individuals with disabilities. We will use diverse methods of engagement, from public forums to online tools, to make participation accessible to all. We will listen to our communities to ensure that our approach is accessible. 

• Transparency and Accountability: Involvement is built on trust, and Carmarthenshire County Council is dedicated to being transparent in how decisions are made. We will clearly communicate how public input has influenced outcomes, ensuring that residents see the tangible impact of their contributions. 

• Continuous Engagement: Public involvement is not a one-off event. We are committed to maintaining an ongoing relationship with our communities, listening to their concerns, adapting our services to meet their evolving needs, and continuously improving how we engage with the people we serve. 

In summary, involvement for Carmarthenshire County Council means creating a culture of collaboration, ensuring that our residents are active, informed participants in the decisions that shape their communities, and building lasting partnerships to deliver outcomes that benefit everyone in Carmarthenshire. 
 
Consultation and engagement are essential methods employed by local authorities to incorporate community input into decision-making, making sure that services and policies align with public needs and opinions. Although these processes are interconnected, they have distinct purposes and function at different levels of participation.

Consultation

Consultation is a method where a local authority gathers input from the public or stakeholders about an issue, policy, or proposal. It is usually structured, has a set timeframe, and aims to collect views on alternatives. The process generally involves, presenting a clear proposal, gathering feedback through surveys, public meetings, or online platforms and evaluating the responses to inform decisions.  Although feedback is gathered, the ultimate decision remains with the local authority. This approach promotes transparency and inclusivity, even though not all suggestions may be acted upon. There are statutory areas in which we must consult, and further details can be viewed see below.

Engagement

Engagement encompasses a wider, more continuous process of maintaining a dialogue with the community to understand their evolving needs, preferences, and aspirations. It involves a higher degree of interaction and participation, enabling more collaborative approaches to problem-solving and planning. Engagement is both proactive and inclusive, aiming to cultivate a sense of shared ownership and responsibility for local issues. Within the context of a local authority, engagement may:

• Involve collaborating directly with communities to co-design solutions, policies, or services.
• Promote active involvement in continuous decision-making processes.
• Utilise various methods such as workshops, focus groups, participatory budgeting, and social media discussions to collect diverse viewpoints.

Engagement focuses on forming long-term relationships with residents and stakeholders, ensuring opinions are considered when shaping services and initiatives. Unlike consultation, engagement often takes place earlier in the decision-making process, influencing the development of proposals from the outset.

Insight and evidence
 
Incorporating feedback received from stakeholders and the public through our involvement work is key in making good decisions. Feedback provides valuable insights and diverse perspectives which may not have been previously considered. 

We collate data and insight from numerous sources and aim to ensure that this information is analysed, shared and reflected upon when we plan our services, support our workforce and involve our communities. By incorporating insight and data, we will achieve better outcomes, and our decisions will align closer with the needs of residents and communities.

5. How does Carmarthenshire County Council involve its residents and stakeholders

Due to the diversity of our Council, we will need to utilise various strategies and tools to involve our residents and stakeholders. There will be areas where we have statutory responsibilities, and these are outlined below. 

Public Participation Strategy
 
The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 requires local authorities to publish, consult on, and regularly review a Public Participation Strategy aimed at encouraging residents to engage in the decision-making processes that affect them. The strategy aims to raise awareness among local people of the principal council’s functions and how local people can become a member of the principal council. This also extends to decisions made in partnership with other councils, or in collaboration with other bodies such as local health boards or other public service organisations. 

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Public Participation Strategy is closely aligned with the priorities outlined in our Corporate Strategy 2022-27 and to our Well-being Objectives, those being:

1. Enabling our children and young people to have the best possible start in life (Start Well).
2. Enabling our residents to live and age well (Live & Age Well).
3. Enabling our communities and environment to be healthy, safe and prosperous (Prosperous Communities).
4. To further modernise and develop as a resilient and efficient Council (Our Council).

At the heart of this approach is integration and collaboration across the Council and with our stakeholders, and our focus going forward will be on:
 
Developing Carmarthenshire Together: One Council; One Vision; One Voice
Our Public Participation Strategy provides clear information on how residents can influence decisions and outlines our commitment to ensure that these processes are accessible, transparent, and meaningful. 

It is based on five key requirements outlined in the Statutory Guidance on Public Participation Strategies, which demonstrate how Carmarthenshire County Council will: 

• Promote awareness of the council’s functions: 
We are committed to raising awareness among local people about the range of services and functions the Council provides. This includes making information more accessible and ensuring the public understands how the Council’s work directly impacts their everyday lives, from education and housing to transportation and environmental management. 

• Promote awareness of how to become a council member: 
Carmarthenshire County Council will actively encourage local people to engage in the democratic process by raising awareness of how to become a member of the Council. We aim to demystify the role of a councillor by providing clear information on what membership entails, the responsibilities involved, and how individuals from all backgrounds can contribute to local government. 

• Facilitate access to information about council decisions: 
Transparency is at the heart of our approach. We are dedicated to providing easy access to information regarding Council decisions, ensuring that residents are well-informed about the choices being made on their behalf. We will use a variety of channels, including online platforms, public notices, and community engagement events, to keep the public updated. 

• Promote processes for public representation before and after decisions are made: 
One of our key goals is to ensure that local people can voice their opinions and influence Council decisions both before and after they are made. This includes creating more opportunities for public consultation, forums for debate, and open meetings where residents can provide input on issues that affect them. Our processes will ensure that public feedback is not only heard but also acted upon in a meaningful way. 

• Provide opportunities for the public to engage with overview and scrutiny committees: 
We will establish robust mechanisms to ensure that the views of the public are brought to the attention of our Overview and Scrutiny Committees, which are responsible for holding the Council to account. This may include public submissions, participation in committee meetings, or providing direct feedback on the Council’s performance. 

Social Services and Well-being
 
Population needs assessments under Section 14 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 requires local authorities and the local health board to jointly assess:

(a) the extent to which there are people in the local authority's area who need care and support;
(b) the extent to which there are carers in the local authority's area who need support;
(c) the extent to which there are people in the local authority's area whose needs for care and support (or, in the case of carers, support) are not being met (by the authority, the Board or otherwise);
(d) the range and level of services required to meet the care and support needs of people in the local authority's area (including the support needs of carers);
(e) the range and level of services required to achieve the purposes in section 15(2) (preventative services) in the local authority's area;
(f) the actions required to provide the range and level of services identified in accordance with paragraphs (d) and (e) through the medium of Welsh.

A new population needs assessment must be completed in each local government electoral cycle. Following the population needs assessment a report must be prepared and an area plan setting out its plans for responding to the issues identified in the population needs assessment.

Education

School admission for parents and guardians
The School Admissions code 2013 imposes requirements on all Admission Authorities to annually consult on their admission policy 18 months in advance of the start of the academic year.  

The consultation states all parents and guardians are consulted where a significant change is proposed, parents/guardians of children likely to be affected. 

Modernising Education Programme
The Modernising Education Programme are required to follow the statutory procedures outlined in the School Organisation Code (2018) to make significant changes to schools and their provision. Consultation is a key element of the procedures required to be followed with prescribed guidelines provided by the Code. 

Similarly, the Modernising Education Programme are also required to follow the Federation Process of maintained schools: guidance for governing bodies and local authorities for establishing school Federations which includes procedures for consultation.

Our Staff
 
Our Workforce Strategy supports the Council’s vision and defines how we will build the resilience, capability, skills, and culture we need for our workforce. It not only meets our present needs but also the needs of our future workforce. This will involve strategies for employee development, succession planning, recruitment, and retention, promoting a positive culture of health, safety and wellbeing, to consider long-term sustainability and the impact on future generations.
 
One of the objectives of the strategy is to Improve Workforce Engagement. We will give our workforce a voice. Employee voice is vital in helping us make real and positive changes. We will work to create a culture where our people are seen as central to the solution, to be involved, listened to, and invited to contribute their experience, expertise, and ideas. We will build on our existing mechanisms and put in place a framework that makes sure we have ongoing two-way conversations with our people in different ways, to make sure every voice is heard. We will embrace the principles of social partnership to develop and sustain positive relationships with our recognised trade unions as well as strive to achieve consensus or compromise when setting out well-being objectives.

Housing and our tenants
 
We aim to empower residents living in Council owned homes to work with us as their landlord to achieve shared aims. 

Tenants need to know that we are a reliable, trustworthy service and that the view of every tenant and leaseholder counts. 

We are committed to improving communication and interaction, strengthening engagement, as well as increasing participation and empowering tenants. We are also open to being challenged and held accountable. 

Our tenants are at the heart of the housing service we provide and we want to ensure they have an effective voice. We must collaborate to drive positive changes in our communities, consulting with residents to help our decision making. We want to listen to our tenants needs, acting effectively and making them feel safe, secure and well looked after in our homes and estates.

Local Development Plan
 
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Local Development Plan (LDP) Regulations 2005 requires local authorities to prepare a Local Development Plan (LDP). Throughout any future revisions of the Local Development Plan, the plan will be subject to numerous engagement and consultation exercises at various stages. Alongside the rLDP a Consultation Report is prepared iteratively detailing the consultation taken place with various stakeholders, groups and organisations. 

As part of the engagement and consultation, we are committed to facilitating a:
 
• Key Stakeholder Forum, which includes representation from a number of organisations and groups who are invited to represent a cross-section of the County’s communities in relation to specific considerations or topics. We will work closely with Planning Aid Wales who are a charitable organisation with expertise in community engagement. 
• Developer Forum which includes representatives from the development industry primarily including developers, builders and planning agents. The Forum gives members the opportunity to voice their views and concerns.