Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby on Monmouthshire County Council
This was how we set out our stall, clearly, before we were elected and we have relentlessly kept to that agenda. Our approach is yielding positive results in so many different ways. At the heart of everything we do, our 'style' if you like, is the ability to work collaboratively with community groups, other organisations and our residents, and where necessary, to try a different, innovative approach.
As just one example of how this can work for the benefit of all, we have just been awarded the highest score of any local authority in the whole of the United Kingdom for our work on waste reduction and food by a community interest company, Climate Emergency UK. They assessed all local authorities and scored them according to ambitious targets. Monmouthshire got the highest score, 93 per cent, for our work on Waste Reduction and Food and the second highest overall score in Wales across seven varied themes.
The cabinet member responsible for this aspect of our work, Catrin Maby, made clear that the result recognised what we have been doing together with local communities. And never one to sit on our laurels, she added: 'We can be proud of what we've achieved, but we also know we need to keep on doing better.'
This was possible because of the environmentally conscious way that our residents and many others worked with us, not against us.
Continuing the theme of working in partnership, we have just launched a STEM Programme (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) which is a trigger for attracting new businesses to our county and can also underpin links between employers and schools. Here we will be able to harness the skills and energy of local school teachers, engaging effectively with pupils. Our aim is also to establish a flexible and innovative apprenticeship centre in the county.
We are focusing not only on helping students pass their exams but also on equipping them with marketable skills that will benefit them for their futures. The increased uptake of those following STEM subjects will interact positively with training and employment opportunities. It is another excellent example of our approach to partnership and collaboration on a wider canvas.
Hence, I do not see our authority as a beleaguered island, surrounded by breaking waves. No, we are at the beating heart of a wonderful county, working alongside so many others to build a better, 'healthier' (in all senses of the word) Monmouthshire, which in turn can stimulate a better future for all.
Councillor Mary Ann Brocklesby is leader of Monmouthshire County Council.
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