Housing, Welsh Language and Local Government - WELSH LABOUR POLICY FORUM 2021 Second stage consultation document
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WELSH LABOUR POLICY FORUM 2021 Housing, Welsh Language and Local Government Second stage consultation document
Housing, Welsh
Language and
Local Government
Second stage consultation document
CONTENTS
PRACTICAL INFORMATION 4
THE ROAD TO 2021 5
INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOMES 6
SUSTAINABLE HOUSING 7
CHANGES TO TENANCIES IN WALES 8
HOMELESSNESS 9
WELSH LANGUAGE 10
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 11
LOCAL ELECTIONS 11
ELECTED COUNCILLORS 12
REGIONAL WORKING 12
TOWN AND COMMUNITY COUNCILS 12
PUTTING A DECADE OF AUSTERITY BEHIND US 13
CULTURE, WALES AND THE WORLD 13
WALES: A NATION OF SANCTUARY 13
Practical information
STAGE 2 AND NEXT STEPS AT THE MEETING
Rather than setting out developed policy Make sure you have arranged for someone to chair
proposals, the Stage 1 consultation brought the meeting and a note taker so that people’s
together ideas and experiences from all sections views are recorded for any submissions to the
of the party to inform the direction of Welsh consultation.
Labour’s future policy. Stage 2 is less general in
It is a good idea to let people know a little bit
its approach, bringing those ideas together and
about the consultation and how devolution means
testing whether the direction of travel is the right
a greater level of autonomy for Welsh Labour to
one.
develop made-in-Wales solutions which cover a
The documents are not intended to be definitive broad range of potential laws, taxes and policies.
statements of policy, but to facilitate a more
Your meeting could begin with opening remarks
concrete discussion of the options presented
from your local/regional Welsh Labour AM who
in Stage 1. Members, affiliates and local parties
will have experience and insight into the issues
are of course encouraged to include comments
covered in the consultation. You may also wish to
and ideas on the broader challenges they see as
ask one of your constituency’s Welsh Policy Forum
crucial for consideration by the party or any issues
representatives to introduce the session and chair
not covered in the documents.
the discussion.
Stage 2 will conclude in early summer 2020. After
As a rough guide we suggest 30 to 45 minutes
this, Final Policy Documents will be drafted, and
discussion for each paper. Following the group
representatives and their organisations will be
discussions, it is always a good idea to choose
invited to submit detailed amendments ahead of
someone from each group to feedback their ideas.
a meeting to debate and vote on amendments
These ideas can be written up and sent as the
and the documents (as amended) in the autumn of
basis of your submission.
2020.
ORGANISING YOUR EVENT
HOW TO RESPOND
Here are some things to think about when holding
an event: Please send your responses to
welshlabourpolicy@labour.org.uk, putting
First, decide which issue(s) to cover. The ‘STAGE 2 POLICY CONSULTATION’ in the
consultation has been designed so that each subject line of the email.
of the six topics covered can be the focus of an
event/discussion. You can also post a response, marked for the
attention of the Policy Officer, to the Welsh
Depending on how many people you are Labour office at Welsh Labour, 1 Cathedral
expecting at your event you may wish to split into Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HA.
groups to discuss different documents before
providing feedback to the wider meeting. When preparing a response, please indicate
whether you are responding as an individual
As the consultation runs until June 2020, you may or on behalf of a Branch, CLP, Labour Group
want to consider running more than one event in or affiliated organisation. Please note that
order to cover all areas of the consultation or at you can submit reports from workshops and
least those of greatest interest. discussions held at other forums to provide
Please do share the consultation with branch members with more opportunities to take part
secretaries so that they are able to hold additional in this process.
discussions. Branches may find discussions at CONSULTATION DEADLINE
their meetings a useful opportunity to focus on
one area of particular interest within a policy topic. The deadline for Stage 2 submissions is
Monday 15 June 2020.
4 HOUSING, WELSH LANGUAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The road to 2021
The 2021 Assembly elections will be the most
challenging our party has faced since the dawn of
devolution. Brexit has turned our politics upside
down and more than a decade of punishing UK
Conservative Government austerity has taken its
toll on individuals and communities across the
country.
The next Assembly election campaign will be our
chance in Wales to set out a different road ahead
in the next decade. An opportunity to develop
a compelling vision of the stronger, greener and
fairer Wales we all want to see. That work will be
captured in our manifesto for the campaign – the
work on which has already begun through our
policy process.
This second stage policy document brings
together the exciting ideas put forward by
members across the country through consultation
responses and workshop events during stage one
stage of the policy process is an important step in
over the last year.
developing a winning policy platform – a Labour
It develops our thinking on those ideas and helps platform – to take into those Assembly elections
lay the foundations for the next Welsh Labour and to take Wales into the next decade.
manifesto for the Assembly elections due to take
I’m proud of what we have done since 2016 to
place in May 2021.
implement the manifesto on which we won that
I want to thank all the party members, local policy election. We’ve already met our manifesto pledge
forums, trade unions and affiliates who have fed to raise the capital threshold for residential care to
into this process so far and I want to see the next £50,000 three years early and we’ve rolled out our
stage of the process opened up to ever more childcare offer ahead of schedule.
members, and the contribution each can make.
We’re on track to exceed the 100,000 good quality
These documents build on Labour’s record in Apprenticeships pledge we made; we’ve opened
power in Wales as well as our work in Westminster the £80m NHS Treatment fund we promised and
and in local government. They are aimed at we will deliver £100m of additional funding into
helping us to develop a radical platform for our schools.
government in the next decade.
But progressive politics is about understanding
Of course, building that progressive platform our past in ways which help us shape our future.
won’t be easy given the Tory squeeze on Welsh It’s about setting out a compelling vision of the
Government finances. If budgets in Wales had journey ahead and taking people with us on that
simply stood still over the last decade, the Welsh road. To do that you need ideas and you need
Government would have £800 million more vision - and that’s what this policy process is
to spend on public services. Indeed, had they designed to help us, together, to achieve.
followed the trend of growth in public expenditure
since 1945 we would have had an extra £6 billion
at our disposal.
But Labour has faced these challenges before Mark Drakeford
and at its best we are a beacon of hope for the First Minister of Wales and
future in spite of the challenges we face. This next Leader of Welsh Labour
HOUSING, WELSH LANGUAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 5
INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF “ WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
AFFORDABLE HOMES HAVE HIGH AMBITIONS FOR
Everyone, no matter what their circumstances, has THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW
a right to a decent home. This right is denied to SOCIAL HOUSING.”
too many. Under the Conservative Governments
of the 1980s housing ceased to be a public – Monmouth CLP
responsibility.
Between April 1981 and March 2019, the Right to
housing as a key priority. It has stated
Buy and Right to Acquire resulted in the loss of
categorically that Welsh Labour understands the
around 140,000 local authority homes and 3,600
role a good quality, affordable home can play in
Housing Association properties. This is equivalent
supporting the wellbeing, health and prosperity of
to 45% of the total stock.
local communities.
Welsh Labour ended the right to buy and is
The statistical projections are that Wales will need
committed to building good quality homes from
8,000 new homes a year, of which 4,000 homes
which individuals and families can create secure
are social housing for rent.
and successful futures.
Social housing plays a vital role in meeting
A Welsh Labour Government delivered 10,000 new
housing need and the lower rents help people
affordable homes between 2011 and 2016 and with
who cannot find a home from the housing market,
an investment of £1.7bn is set to deliver 20,000
either by buying or renting from a private landlord.
affordable homes by 2021.
Welsh Labour had been calling on the UK
In the last Assembly term Labour in Wales brought
Government to lift the housing revenue borrowing
5,000 empty houses back into use and helped
cap for many years. In October 2018 this was
3,000 home buyers through Help to Buy – Wales.
done, which will allow Local Authorities to develop
But there is more to do.
more homes.
In the national strategy, Prosperity for All, the
Welsh Labour will work with partners in the local
Welsh Labour Government has recognised
authorities; registered social landlords and with
6 HOUSING, WELSH LANGUAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Welsh Labour Government has already
“ LOCAL AUTHORITIES SHOULD accepted the UK Committee on Climate Change
BE ABLE TO ACCESS FINANCE (UKCCC) recommendations to reduce our
emissions by 95%, by 2050 with an ambition to
SO THAT BUILDING SOCIAL achieve net zero carbon.
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS In making this declaration we were building
NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF upon a series of actions that the Welsh Labour
PRIVATE DEVELOPS.” Government had already put in place over the past
three years.
– Vale of Glamorgan CLP
Firstly, the Environment (Wales) Act in 2016 set
out legally binding emission reduction targets to
be met by 2050 and the Future Generations Act
the construction industry to increase radically the
requires us to find sustainable, joined up solutions
supply of new social housing for rent.
to these problems.
It will work with all parts of the public sector to
Secondly, in 2017 a Welsh Labour Cabinet set a
release publically owned land for this purpose,
bold and ambitious programme for government in
ensuring that we build houses in sustainable,
‘Prosperity for All’ - decarbonisation is one of its
well connected places which are attractive and
six priorities.
engaging places to live.
And finally, in March this year the Welsh Labour
Welsh Labour is examining the business case
Government published its Low Carbon Delivery
to establish a ‘new land agency’ to undertake
Plan which contains detailed sector-by-sector
support the better use of land assets for public
emissions profiles and policies and proposals to
purposes in Wales.
achieve a low-carbon Wales.
This Low Carbon Delivery Plan makes its
SUSTAINABLE HOUSING position clear – the Welsh Labour Government
New houses must be quality houses and a key will continuously raise its expectations in order
measure of quality will be that these homes will to meet the challenge of climate change and
have the lowest possible carbon footprint in terms maximise the wellbeing of Wales through the
of both their construction and their future energy transition to a low carbon economy.
use.
Welsh Labour’s investment in the Welsh Housing “ GREEN HOUSING THAT IS
Quality Standard (WHQS) ensures that many of PREFERABLY SUPPLIED AND
our most vulnerable people live in decent homes.
MANUFACTURED IN WALES .”
In October 2019 93% of social housing dwellings
had met WHQS and all social landlords in Wales – Dwyfor Meirionnydd CLP
are on track to deliver it by December 2020.
Since 2004 the Welsh Labour Government Welsh Labour knows that homes are a major
has invested £1.7 billion into social homes via contributor to Greenhouse Gases - contributing
Major Repairs Allowance (MRA) and Dowry. This 27% of emissions - so they have to be part of the
investment has generated community benefits solution. That is why housing has been a major
amounting to £2 billion over the life of the focus for Welsh Government’s action for change.
programme. This means the creation of local jobs,
training and apprenticeship opportunities. A Welsh Labour Government launched the
Innovative Housing Programme in 2017. To date the
The Climate Emergency is probably the biggest programme has committed to support 51 schemes
challenge the modern world has faced. Welsh across Wales to deliver new housing models that
Labour has demonstrated its commitment to help meet greenhouse gas reduction targets and
tackling climate change by declaring a climate address housing need and fuel poverty.
emergency.
HOUSING, WELSH LANGUAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 7
Over the course of the three years the programme The Act provides a new, streamlined and reformed
has provided over £91 million of support to build basis for residential letting in Wales, with
1,438 new innovative homes of which 1,013 are significant benefits for anyone who rents their
affordable housing. home. Mandatory written contracts will clearly
set out all the relevant rights and responsibilities
When it comes to the Climate Emergency, the
of landlords and contract-holders. Arrangements
biggest challenge we face is the 1.4m homes that
for joint contracts, will stop one joint contract-
already exist. The rate of replacement is very low
holder acting alone to end the contract, helping to
so most of the homes we have today will still be
prevent unintentional homelessness.
with us in 2050.
Importantly, the Act offers protection against
32% of homes in Wales were built before 1919.
retaliatory evictions – when a landlord evicts
We have some of the oldest and least thermally
a tenant in response to a request for repairs or
efficient homes in Europe. The average is EPC
maintenance.
Band D, lower than the rest of the UK, and a long
way from where they need to be. The introduction of a Fitness for Human
Habitation standard for all privately rented
These homes need to meet the needs of future
properties, including regulations setting out
generations and be near zero carbon helping the
requirements for smoke and carbon monoxide
environment and lifting households out of fuel
alarms and electrical safety testing.
poverty.
There is more we can do, in particular to address
This is why Welsh Labour has set out significant
widely held concerns about the use of ‘no
ambitions to drive forward decarbonisation across
fault evictions’. That is why the Welsh Labour
all tenures of existing housing stock.
Government is consulting on increasing the
The challenge is huge. Welsh Labour’s notice a landlord must give when seeking to end a
achievement on WHQS demonstrates it is possible contract.
to deliver effective, major retrofit programmes
The consultation proposes tripling, from two
with substantial community benefits.
months to six months, the notice that a landlord
Energy retrofitting our homes is not just a major must give when seeking to end a standard
opportunity to significantly reduce our carbon occupation contract under section 173 of the Act.
emissions and meet our targets but to tackle fuel
The consultation also proposes restricting the
poverty, improve comfort and quality in homes,
issue of a section 173 notice until six months after
create jobs and promote training, supply chains
and industries in Welsh communities.
“ THE SOCIAL DISLOCATION AND
CHANGES TO TENANCIES IN WALES DISRUPTION TO CHILDREN’S
Welsh Labour supports a range of housing tenures EDUCATION ARISING FROM THE
to meet varied housing needs. We invest in TERMINATION OF ASSURED
programmes to support social and intermediate SHORTHOLD TENANCIES ARE
rented housing, as well as affordable home IMMENSE. THEY EFFECTIVELY
ownership.
DENY MANY PRIVATE RENTING
Tenants need peace of mind when renting a TENANTS THE OPPORTUNITY
property. Nobody should be denied the chance to
feel secure in their own home and to plan ahead for
TO BECOME ROOTED IN THEIR
the future. COMMUNITY AND TO GIVE THEIR
Our Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 is key to
FAMILIES A HOME RATHER THAN
making renting a positive choice and achieving JUST A SHELTER.”
security of tenure. We are now in the process of
implementing this important Act.
– Vale of Clwyd CLP
8 HOUSING, WELSH LANGUAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
the occupation date of the contract. The Act Prosperity for all sets out this vision for a Wales
currently sets this at 4 months. where everyone has a safe home that meets their
needs and supports a healthy, successful and
Taken together, the effect of these two key
prosperous life.
features would be that contract holders would
enjoy 12, instead of 6, months initial security of The UK Conservative Government’s ongoing cuts to
tenure. welfare and nine years of austerity have increased
pressures of homelessness and rough sleeping.
In progressing this agenda, under Welsh Labour,
There has been an 18% rise in the number of people
tenants in Wales, will enjoy greater security of
assessed as being at risk of homelessness, but
tenure; protection from retaliatory evictions and
interventions by local authorities in Wales have
greater assurance of safety standards. However,
prevented homelessness in 68% of cases.
in the event that a landlord needs to take back
possession of the property, they will have much Welsh Labour is committed to working together,
longer to plan for the move. across the public and third sectors, to prevent all
forms of homelessness and where it cannot be
Welsh Labour will review the impact of the Act
prevented ensure it is rare, brief and un-repeated.
and take further action to improve tenant security
where the need is identified. In recognition of the scale of the issue, Welsh
Labour has invested over £20m this year alone to
Thanks to action by the Welsh Labour
specifically prevent and relieve homelessness. This
Government, the Renting Homes (Fees etc.)
funding has supported a range of statutory and
(Wales) Bill has now become law. This Act bans
non-statutory services to help those who do not
letting fees in Wales.
have a secure place to live.
The Act makes it an offence to charge a tenant
any payment that is not specified as a ‘permitted
payment’ by the legislation. This means tenants “ MANY POLICY AREAS MUST
cannot be charged for such things as an COME TOGETHER AND
accompanied viewing, receiving an inventory, TAKE A HOLISTIC VIEW OF
signing a contract, or renewing a tenancy.
HOMELESSNESS.”
It is estimated the Act will save tenants almost
£200 per tenancy. – Monmouth CLP
The Act will cap holding deposits, paid to reserve
a property before the signing of a rental contract,
to the equivalent of a week’s rent and create However, homelessness remains at unacceptably
provisions to ensure their prompt repayment. It high levels in Wales and the root causes show little
will also give the Welsh Government the power, sign of abating particularly in view of the continued
should it wish to use it in the future, to limit the economic uncertainty we face.
level of security deposits. A Welsh Labour Government has taken significant
strides forward in embedding a preventative
approach. In large part this has been delivered
HOMELESSNESS through the introduction and subsequent
The Labour Government in Wales is committed implementation of Part 2 the Housing (Wales) Act
to preventing and addressing all forms of 2014.
homelessness. Implementation of the Act by local authorities
Homelessness is about far more than just rough across Wales has made a significant difference with
sleeping. Rough sleeping is the most acute and over 23,000 households prevented from falling into
visible form of homelessness but other forms of homelessness since 2015.
homelessness make up 94% of homeless people Over that period Local Authorities, who are at the
in Wales. This includes temporary or unsuitable forefront of our prevention agenda, have done an
accommodation, sofa surfing and emergency admirable job maintaining prevention rates in the
hostels.
HOUSING, WELSH LANGUAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 9
face of increasing demand and wider budgetary action plan, setting out the measures which will be
constraints. However, whilst prevention rates taken across Government, working with partners, to
remain high there are still far too many whose address homelessness.
homelessness is not prevented and who are falling
through the net.
WELSH LANGUAGE
A Labour Government in Wales has invested
£1.6 million into shifting its focus from providing Welsh Labour is committed to growing the Welsh
temporary, emergency accommodation to rapid language and in government it has taken steps
re-housing solutions. In the context of rough to enhance the status and health of the language
sleepers, this involves housing led solutions such as across Wales.
Housing First, which is intended for those with the The Welsh language now has official status;
most complex needs. legislation is in place which provides rights for
The core of our legislation is prevention. True Welsh speakers to receive Welsh-language
prevention requires a holistic response from across services, and a Welsh Language Commissioner has
the public sector – it is not simply a housing issue, been appointed to oversee the implementation of
it is a public services issue. True prevention means these rights.
ensuring the homelessness legislation is seen, as Through the Well-being of Future Generations
it should be, as the final safety net when all other Act (Wales) 2015 specified public bodies covering
preventative actions have failed. the whole of Wales are required to work towards
To achieve this, our approach has to support both seven well-being goals, one of which is ‘A Wales
those currently homeless into long-term, suitable of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language’;
accommodation, whilst also significantly reducing and the system for planning Welsh-medium
the flow of individuals and families falling into or education provision also has a statutory basis.
becoming at risk of homelessness. Welsh Government is under a duty to promote and
facilitate the use of Welsh and work towards the
We recognise we need to do more and to intensify
well-being goals.
efforts. The Welsh Labour Government has
published its strategic policy statement, which But Welsh Labour wants to go further and has
provides the policy framework for everyone shown leadership in setting an ambitious target
working with us to deliver our ambition. for increasing the number of people able to speak
and use Welsh to reach 1 million by 2050 and in
The statement will be supported by an annual
developing a plan to take it forward.
10 HOUSING, WELSH LANGUAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTlanguage skills and are able to use the language
“ EVEN WITH 1 MILLION WELSH with confidence in all aspects of their lives by the
SPEAKERS IN 2050, THE time they leave school.
OLDER, REMAINDER, OF THE
POPULATION WILL STILL NEED LOCAL GOVERNMENT
TO BE OFFERED THE CHANCE TO Welsh Labour has always understood that a vibrant
LEARN THE WELSH LANGUAGE and empowered local democracy is essential to
IN ORDER TO CREATE A TRULY ensuring that Wales remains a country where
people value their communities and the social
BILINGUAL AND SOCIALLY
solidarity that active communities create.
INTERACTIVE (IN WELSH)
Through an active local democracy people in
COUNTRY.” communities work together to create and develop:
– Brecon and Radnorshire CLP - The care that we offer each other
- The schools that nurture our children and
This is certainly a challenging ambition, but an young people
ambition that is worthwhile and necessary if Wales
is to secure the vitality of the language for future - The bio-diverse and attractive environments
generations. that support our well-being and foster high
quality economic activity
Welsh Labour is committed to making the changes
needed across education, training, public services - The high quality, sustainable homes that we
and industry to get there. Over the coming years need
Welsh Labour will focus on three strategic areas to - The places, towns, villages and
achieve this vision: neighbourhoods in which we live, work and
• Increasing the number of Welsh speakers enjoy each other’s company
• Increasing the use of Welsh - The creative management of our waste so that
it is minimised and recirculated into productive
• Creating favourable conditions – infrastructure use by innovative local businesses
and context
- The transport infrastructure that keeps us
Welsh Labour is committed to supporting an connected in as active and sustainable manner
increase in language transmission in the family and as possible
early introduction of Welsh to every child; through
an education system that provides Welsh language Welsh Labour believes that active and successful
skills for all and through greater appreciation of communities are built not by programmes handed
Welsh language skills in the workplace. down from above – but by encouraging local
councils to harness the energies of local people as
At the same time, it is committed to supporting they work with elected councillors and council staff.
people to use Welsh socially, at work, and when
accessing services.
Welsh Labour is committed to increasing the LOCAL ELECTIONS
number of Welsh learners in statutory education In 2022 Wales will have its first local elections
and ensure that each learner develops skills in in which 16 year olds will be able to vote. Welsh
Welsh to a standard which will enable them to use Labour will work with schools, colleges and
the language in their everyday lives. In government local communities to engage local people in the
Welsh Labour will work with local authorities across democratic process.
Wales to effectively measure and meet the demand
These changes go hand in hand with the major
for Welsh-medium education.
curriculum reform being undertaken in our schools
Welsh Labour aims to ensure that by 2050 at least where one of the four purposes of the new
70 per cent of all learners develop their Welsh curriculum is to ensure young people in Wales
HOUSING, WELSH LANGUAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 11become ethical and informed citizens, ready to REGIONAL WORKING
become citizens of Wales and the world. After much discussion the Welsh Government has
Once created voting can become a life-long habit. concluded that the existing pattern of unitary local
It is Welsh Labour’s ambition to create a new authorities represents as good a balance between
generation of voters from 2022. local engagement and economies of scale as any
alternative; but only on the basis that systematic
By a two–thirds majority local councils will also
regional arrangements were established where the
be able to change their electoral systems and
need for regional working was identified.
choose to adopt a Single Transferable Vote election
system. The upcoming Local Government Bill will require
that Corporate Joint Committees will be established
in each region. These bodies are ‘corporate’ in that
ELECTED COUNCILLORS they are legal bodies which can enter into contracts,
Welsh Labour values and respects those who seek receive grants and employ staff.
and gain elected office, ensuring that our local The geography of the regions will be defined in
services are connected to local people, responding regulations, with local authorities invited to make
to their needs and fully held to account. their proposals.
Welsh Labour will continue to make the position of The Bill will allow Ministers to require that local
councillors attractive to people of all ages, genders, authorities transfer the following functions to
employment status, social and ethnic backgrounds. regional CJC’s
Once the Local Government Bill is enacted, the - School Improvement (the responsibilities of the
Welsh Government will be introducing regulations existing consortia)
which ensure that councillors have at least as
- Strategic Land Use Planning (The responsibility
much access to parental leave as local government
to provide a regional plan as defined in existing
employees.
legislation)
The Bill will introduce the opportunity for cabinet
- Transport
positions in local councils to be filled on the basis of
job-sharing, just one of a number of measures Welsh - Economic Development
Labour will take to encourage individuals from a wide The members of a CJC shall be the leaders of
and diverse background to stand for election. the constituent local authorities. There will be
The Bill will require that councillors can exercise sub-committees for each function and they may
digital participation in council meetings so that consist of any nominated local councillor or other
time spent travelling can be much reduced. nominated persons.
The Bill places a duty on party leaders to maintain Local authorities in each region may agree to
standards of conduct among the members of their transfer other functions to a CJC.
party group in a local council. In the event of service failure Ministers may transfer
functions to ‘other persons’, including CJC’s.
The Bill will provide a process whereby local
“ PARENTAL POLICIES FOR LOCAL
authorities may choose voluntarily to merge.
AUTHORITY COUNCILLORS IN
WALES ARE UNFAIR AND NEED
TO BE CHANGED.” TOWN AND COMMUNITY COUNCILS
The Welsh Government has completed a review
– Caerphilly CLP of Town and Community Councils in Wales. It is
committed to linking together the work of local
authority and community councils more effectively
to enhance the contribution of this most local level
of government.
12 HOUSING, WELSH LANGUAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTThe Local Government Bill will provide enhanced catering and other tourism-related business. Welsh
powers for town and community councils. Labour will grow the tourism industry, particularly in
rural communities to support economic growth.
PUTTING A DECADE OF AUSTERITY As Baroness Andrews set out in her 2014 ‘Culture
BEHIND US and Poverty’ report, the culture sector has a vital
role to play in tackling poverty and disadvantage.
Since 2010 there has been a Tory UK Government
with an ideological commitment to roll back the Welsh Labour is committed to using every lever at
state. Public expenditure in the UK has fallen from its disposal to enhance access to culture for those
45% of GDP in 2011 to 38% of GDP in 2019. from the poorest backgrounds.
As a result, the block grant to the Welsh The international landscape has changed
Government has decreased by over £800 million in dramatically over the last three years and Welsh
real terms. Inevitably the money available to Welsh Labour is committed to ensuring that Wales has a
local authorities has been squeezed. clear strategy for making sure its voice is heard.
Local authorities must be respected for the manner Welsh Labour will take forward the International
in which they have sought to manage their services Strategy it has developed in government. The
in the midst of such austerity. They have provided priority goals set out in the plan include:
relative protection to key services such as schools - Raising Wales’ profile internationally;
and social care but tough decisions have been
- Increasing our exports and encouraging
experienced in services such as planning, economic
inward investment, growing our economy
development, libraries, culture, sport, recreation,
and creating new jobs and opportunities for
roads and transport.
people in Wales;
When the Labour Party regains control of
- Showing the world what we are doing as a
government in Westminster we commit ourselves
globally responsible nation.
to invest again in the services and facilities that
allow us to support each other and contribute to Welsh Labour will ensure that all departments in the
communities which enjoy economic success, an Welsh Government have international engagement
enhanced environment and social solidarity. as part of their work.
There are many Welsh people and organisations
at home and abroad who are interested in helping
CULTURE, WALES AND THE WORLD
to raise the profile of Wales and Welsh Labour will
Welsh Labour is committed to promoting and harness that resource to add value to the efforts of
protecting our culture, our heritage and the the Welsh Government in the international arena.
Welsh language. It wants to encourage people
across Wales to participate in the arts, sports and
recreation. Welsh Labour wants our nation to be WALES: A NATION OF SANCTUARY
the most creatively active nation in Europe. Welsh Labour is fundamentally committed to
The creative industries are a vital engine of our equality and human rights and will make this a
economy - they contribute jobs and wealth and central part of its work in government. Welsh
help to put Wales on the map, raising its image Labour believes in fair treatment of every person,
world-wide. Welsh Labour will take forward an especially those who are most marginalised by
exciting new plan for Creative Wales to help social systems that prevent people from meeting
support the sector grow and expand. their basic needs.
Culture is at the heart of the new Wales brand, Welsh Labour will build on the commitment it has
which aims to harness our creativity to reveal new made to make Wales a Nation of Sanctuary so
stories that complement our country’s rich culture. that refugees and asylum seekers are supported
Parts of the culture sector are very significant to rebuild their lives and make a full contribution to
tourism attractions, boosting visitor numbers, Welsh society.
generating demand for transport, accommodation,
HOUSING, WELSH LANGUAGE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 137. Environment, Culture and the
Welsh Language XXXXXXXX
13449_20 Reproduced from electronic media, promoted by Louise Magee, General Secretary, Welsh Labour, on behalf of Welsh Labour, both at 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9HA.You can also read
