Practical proposed steps for Monmouthshire.
The stages explain what should happen first. They are not promised completion dates. Funding, powers and ongoing costs need to be established before a proposal is adopted.
Proposal
Town priorities have reached a council decision
The programme brings recommendations from local partnerships into an approved delivery schedule.
Proposed response: Keep residents able to follow each agreed project.
Evidence 1 · Evidence 2
Who could lead: Monmouthshire County Council with the named delivery partners.
- Short term
Publish the town-by-town commitments.
- Medium term
Explain programme changes with the partnerships.
- Long term
Record verified handovers and usable facilities.
How to judge progress
Starting point: Changing Places and public toilets: Included in the approved 2026–2027 programme; Caldicot skatepark and public-space improvements: Included in the approved 2026–2027 programme; Monmouth bus-station public space: Included in the approved 2026–2027 programme
Measure: Agreed projects with clear status and owners.
Trade-off: An approved programme can still change as costs develop.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Changing Places and public toilets →
Caldicot skatepark and public-space improvements →
Monmouth bus-station public space →
Proposal
Accessible toilets need an operating plan
Proposed Changing Places facilities will only help if access and upkeep work.
Proposed response: Agree staffing, keys, hours and maintenance before opening.
Evidence
Who could lead: Monmouthshire County Council with the named delivery partners.
- Short term
Test the design with users and carers.
- Medium term
Publish access and maintenance responsibilities.
- Long term
Review availability after opening.
How to judge progress
Starting point: Changing Places and public toilets: Included in the approved 2026–2027 programme
Measure: Opening hours delivered and access failures resolved.
Trade-off: Specialist equipment needs continuing maintenance funding.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Changing Places and public toilets →
Proposal
Make the bus-station approach easier to use
The programme includes public-space work around Monmouth bus station.
Proposed response: Prioritise clear, accessible connections to the town.
Evidence
Who could lead: Monmouthshire County Council with the named delivery partners.
- Short term
Audit walking routes and waiting areas.
- Medium term
Resolve priority obstacles in the design.
- Long term
Review the completed route with passengers.
How to judge progress
Starting point: Monmouth bus-station public space: Included in the approved 2026–2027 programme
Measure: Accessible links and passenger-reported barriers resolved.
Trade-off: Physical improvements do not guarantee better bus frequency.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Monmouth bus-station public space →
Proposal
A skatepark needs upkeep beyond its opening
The Caldicot programme records a planned facility, without an operating outcome.
Proposed response: Plan safe use and maintenance alongside construction.
Evidence
Who could lead: Monmouthshire County Council with the named delivery partners.
- Short term
Agree design and management with users.
- Medium term
Confirm inspections and maintenance funding.
- Long term
Review condition and use after opening.
How to judge progress
Starting point: Caldicot skatepark and public-space improvements: Included in the approved 2026–2027 programme
Measure: Inspection issues resolved and space available.
Trade-off: Noise, supervision and upkeep need continuing attention.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Caldicot skatepark and public-space improvements →
Proposal
Make room for homes people can afford
Average private rent is £994 a month (August 2026) in Monmouthshire council area. This is £148 higher than the Wales average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 7.9% in Caldicot Castle to 32% in Grofield — a gap of 24.2 percentage points.
Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.
Who could lead: The housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers.
- Start now
Publish the local waiting list, temporary accommodation and affordable-home delivery figures together. Start by checking the different needs in Grofield and Caldicot Castle; census differences are not proof of unmet demand.
- Over the next few years
Test proposed housing sites against affordable-home need, access to work, school places and water capacity.
- Over the longer term
Check whether completed homes reduce unmet need, rather than counting planning permissions as delivery.
How to judge progress
Starting point: Average private rent is £994 a month (August 2026) in Monmouthshire council area. Homes rented privately ranged from 7.9% in Caldicot Castle to 32% in Grofield — a gap of 24.2 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 39 of 39 current wards have comparable figures.
Measure: Affordable homes completed, households waiting, time in temporary accommodation, and rent compared with local earnings.
Trade-off: More homes can put pressure on infrastructure and land. Affordability requirements also affect development viability.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Evidence: Average monthly rent →
Evidence: Average home price →
Proposal
Plan homes and care around an older population
25.9% of people in Monmouthshire council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 16% in Bulwark and Thornwell to 35.5% in Cantref — a gap of 19.5 percentage points.
Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.
Who could lead: Adult social care, local health services, housing providers and transport authorities.
- Start now
Compare the location of older residents with access to care, shops and transport. Start by checking the different needs in Cantref and Bulwark and Thornwell; census differences are not proof of unmet demand.
- Over the next few years
Prioritise home adaptations and care capacity in places with the clearest unmet need.
- Over the longer term
Build accessible homes and joined-up care into local development plans.
How to judge progress
Starting point: 25.9% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. People aged 65 or over ranged from 16% in Bulwark and Thornwell to 35.5% in Cantref — a gap of 19.5 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 39 of 39 current wards have comparable figures.
Measure: Waits for home adaptations and care, avoidable hospital stays, and accessible homes delivered.
Trade-off: Services need skilled staff and ongoing funding. Age profiles alone cannot measure unmet care need.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Evidence: People aged 65 or over →
Proposal
Bring support closer to people in poor health
5.6% of people reported bad or very bad health in Monmouthshire council area (21 March 2021). Across Wales, the figure was 6.9%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 2.9% in Caldicot Castle to 10.2% in Lansdown — a gap of 7.3 percentage points.
This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.
Who could lead: Local health services, public health teams, employers and community organisations.
- Start now
Use neighbourhood evidence to find where poor health and barriers to services overlap. Start by checking the different needs in Lansdown and Caldicot Castle; census differences are not proof of unmet demand.
- Over the next few years
Test accessible local support and publish who is reached and who is missed.
- Over the longer term
Review whether health gaps narrow, alongside housing and employment improvements.
How to judge progress
Starting point: 5.6% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 2.9% in Caldicot Castle to 10.2% in Lansdown — a gap of 7.3 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 39 of 39 current wards have comparable figures.
Measure: Access to services and the health gap between neighbourhoods, using comparable age-adjusted measures when available.
Trade-off: A census snapshot is dated. New service decisions also need current needs assessments and residents’ experience.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Evidence: People reporting bad or very bad health →
Proposal
Connect local skills to local opportunities
39.4% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Monmouthshire council area. Across Wales, the figure was 31.5%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 8.3% in Osbaston to 28.4% in Lansdown — a gap of 20.1 percentage points.
Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.
Who could lead: Employers, colleges, universities and the relevant skills authority.
- Start now
Compare vacancies and employer needs with training available to local residents. Start by checking the different needs in Lansdown and Osbaston; census differences are not proof of unmet demand.
- Over the next few years
Link training to real jobs, including routes for people without formal qualifications.
- Over the longer term
Track sustained employment and earnings after training, not just course starts.
How to judge progress
Starting point: 39.4% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 8.3% in Osbaston to 28.4% in Lansdown — a gap of 20.1 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 39 of 39 current wards have comparable figures.
Measure: Sustained jobs, earnings and training completion for residents who face barriers to work.
Trade-off: Training takes time and cannot create demand for jobs on its own. Qualifications are not a complete measure of ability.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Evidence: People aged 16+ with a degree or equivalent →
Evidence: People aged 16+ with no qualifications →
Proposal
Target safety work where problems repeat
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in Monmouthshire council area.
Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.
Who could lead: The local police force, council community safety team and relevant services.
- Start now
Check recurring places and categories alongside local police priorities and residents’ reports.
- Over the next few years
Test focused prevention and support, with a comparison period agreed before the work starts.
- Over the longer term
Publish whether problems fall, move elsewhere or return, and adjust the response.
How to judge progress
Crime evidence and coverage →
Starting point: Use the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate.
Measure: Comparable recorded incidents, repeat victimisation and residents’ reported experience; never a single crude league table.
Trade-off: More reporting can increase recorded crime. Enforcement and support may work differently for different problems.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Proposal
Turn published plans into visible progress
3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.
A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.
Who could lead: The named project owners and council scrutiny bodies.
- Start now
Put the scope, owner, funding position and next milestone in one public place.
- Over the next few years
Report delivery against the agreed scope and explain delays or changes.
- Over the longer term
Check the benefits residents actually receive after completion.
How to judge progress
Starting point: The dated stages in Projects; unknown costs and funding remain unknown.
Measure: Milestones met, costs against the approved budget, and measured outcomes after delivery.
Trade-off: Delivery reporting takes staff time, but a launch announcement alone cannot show value for money.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Changing Places and public toilets →
Caldicot skatepark and public-space improvements →
Monmouth bus-station public space →
Proposal
Target support where disadvantages overlap
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 5.8% in St Kingsmark to 32.2% in Lansdown — a gap of 26.4 percentage points.
These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.
Who could lead: The council's housing, public health and employment teams, with local services.
- Start now
Check current advice and support access in Lansdown, using the census pattern as a starting point and asking residents what is missing.
- Over the next few years
Test joined-up housing, work and health support, and publish who takes part, who cannot reach it and what changes.
- Over the longer term
Track sustained outcomes and whether gaps between neighbourhoods narrow, using comparable dates and measures.
How to judge progress
Starting point: Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 5.8% in St Kingsmark to 32.2% in Lansdown — a gap of 26.4 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 39 of 39 wards.
Measure: Access to support, unresolved housing problems and sustained work or health outcomes. Census percentages alone cannot measure a new programme's success.
Trade-off: Targeting neighbourhoods can miss people in need elsewhere. Avoid labelling every resident by the average for their ward.
Cost: No costed delivery assessment has been established here. These are proposed sequences, not funded promises or completion deadlines.
Evidence: Households facing two or more measured disadvantages →
Changing Places and public toilets →
Caldicot skatepark and public-space improvements →
Monmouth bus-station public space →
