The Wellbeing of Future Generations Act is considered to be one of the “flagship” Welsh laws passed since devolution. It requires all public bodies to consider the impact of their decisions on the wellbeing of the present population and – as the name suggests – future generations.
At a local and regional level, most of this work is done by Public Service Boards (PSB) made up of local councils, health boards and other relevant public bodies. Each PSB prepares a five-year Well-being Plan setting out how they intend to meet the goals of the Act.
Since Bridgend moved health boards, current plans are to create a single PSB for the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area (at the moment there’s one for Bridgend and one covering RCT and Merthyr Tydfil).
There are also obligations on “large” community councils, which is due to be discussed by BCBC’s Town & Community Council Forum today (pdf).
Larger community councils are defined as those which have an income or expenditure of at least £200,000 annually for the last three years. These larger community councils have a duty under the Act “to take all reasonable steps towards meeting the local objectives included in the Well-being Plan that has effect in their areas.”
These councils will need to publish a report every year stating how they’ve worked towards meeting objectives in the Well-being Plan.
Based on last year’s budget, the community councils in Bridgend that are likely to be subject to this duty are Bridgend Town Council, Maesteg Town Council, Laleston Community Council and Porthcawl Town Council.
Other community councils can take part voluntarily.
