Carl Sargeant: Thank you for the question. A wide-ranging engagement exercise was held with individuals, organisations and community groups across Wales on the Government’s new approach to resilient communities. It’s now for the lead bodies to engage with third sector delivery partners and local communities on their transition arrangements in line with our guidance.
Carl Sargeant: Indeed, and I am very familiar with that area. It wouldn’t be my first visit to Penparcau, indeed. I would ask the Member also to have a conversation with Hannah Blythyn, who is also very keen on developing structures. Flint castle is in a Communities First area in north Wales—again, people engaging in that sector of community, and embedding respect and opportunities in those fields. I...
Carl Sargeant: Well, I’m extremely proud of the Communities First programme that took place across our communities. The staff and volunteers across those programmes should be congratulated on what they did. They’ve stopped our communities getting poorer, from what I believe, and making sure that there is an opportunity to move on with the legacy funding that I announced earlier this year. It is now for...
Carl Sargeant: Our regeneration and infrastructure projects focus on tackling inequality. The community facilities programme, for example, provides capital grants for community-led projects.
Carl Sargeant: Well, I think the Member has several groups of individuals that he represents well, on the basis that they must come and see him on a weekly basis. But what I can say is that we introduced legislation here, which was the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, which embeds the principles of working together on exactly the issues that the Member raises today about co-production and...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you for the question. The Vibrant and Viable Places capital regeneration programme has been successful in providing support and investment across many communities across Wales. I will be announcing further details regarding a new capital regeneration programme shortly.
Carl Sargeant: Of course, the opportunities that the VVP programme has given have transformed some areas across Wales, and I will be giving that further consideration. My team didn’t believe that I would dare to say ‘Yabba Dabba Dare’ today in the Chamber, but I have, and I congratulate them again on the work that they have done in your community, making a real difference. The programme I intend to...
Carl Sargeant: I think David Melding was going to say ‘yabba dabba doo’ there at one point, if I was right. This is going to be great in translation, I would suggest. [Laughter.] But can I share with the Member that I think it was important that the VPP scheme did have a focus on housing regeneration alongside the general regeneration of a particular area. It still is a priority for this Government....
Carl Sargeant: Of course, the Member is right to raise the issue that there are many areas across Wales that need regeneration input in terms of some finance. But what I’m cautious not to do is spread the jam too thinly so that everybody gets a little bit but actually it doesn’t make as big an impact as it should do. I want that to be determined locally, so local authorities have those decisions. Of...
Carl Sargeant: Lead delivery bodies have developed detailed transition plans.
Carl Sargeant: Well, I’m very surprised by the Member’s question in detail, because Faith in Families have been running a media campaign since October announcing—warning—that they’ll have to make staff redundancies and close the new community hub in St Teilo’s once their Communities First funding ends. So, I’m really surprised that they’re telling you that they don’t know about transition...
Carl Sargeant: Flying Start and Families First work with the whole family, taking an individualised, tailored, and flexible approach to engage and support both fathers and mothers. Many services also provide dedicated support specifically adapted to the particular needs of fathers, including non-resident fathers.
Carl Sargeant: I think it’s regrettable, Presiding Officer, that the Member suggests that my answer was dishonest in respect of that. I would suggest that the Member—. I refer the Member to my first response. Supporting both fathers and mothers to adopt positive parenting behaviour is an integral part of Flying Start and Families First, and I’m extremely proud of the work that they do across all the...
Carl Sargeant: Of course, and I’m grateful for the Member’s question in terms of how we are able to take this forward. As I said earlier, both organisations, and other organisations, support both parents, families—mothers and fathers of a family unit. I’m not sighted on the detail that the Member may wish to raise with me, particularly in terms of detail on where he seems to feel that there is some...
Carl Sargeant: Yes, of course, and I think the Member is right to raise this issue. Look, we absolutely get that parental alienation is a factor in the determination of the success of a young person or a family unit, and we recognise that happens on both sides, of mothers and of fathers as well. I am confident that the Families First and Flying Start organisations have the capacity to recognise this and...
Carl Sargeant: We continue to support the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority to improve fire safety. We have provided £1.4 million between the three Welsh authorities for that this year. The results speak for themselves. Fires have more than halved since responsibility was devolved.
Carl Sargeant: I am pleased to say that tomorrow I will be announcing awards under the previous community facilities programme. I will launch the refreshed programme before recess.
Carl Sargeant: Faith leaders meet with me and the First Minister twice a year through the faith communities forum to discuss issues affecting the economic, social and cultural life of Wales. This reflects the Welsh Government’s commitment to working with faith groups at all levels to promote understanding and foster community cohesion.
Carl Sargeant: On 7 February I announced a review of the way public services work together to help make our communities safer. The Working Together for Safer Communities review is progressing well and I anticipate making a statement in the autumn outlining our ambitious shared vision for safer communities for future generations.
Carl Sargeant: The community facilities programme is a potential source of funding for projects aiming to improve local facilities, including parks. It is currently being refreshed and will reopen shortly for applications from across Wales. Priority will be given to applications from former Communities First clusters.
