Merthyr Tydfil council is an “improving council with the potential to do more”. That was a finding in its first panel performance assessment under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

The act requires councils to commission an independent external panel at least once between ordinary elections to assess how well the council is performing.

The assessment found the council appears to be at a significant point in its development with a growing recognition that, to become more sustainable and to break entrenched inequalities within its communities, it must now focus with greater pace and purpose on transformation.

It said the Marmot agenda stands out as a major opportunity to align the council, its partners, and its communities around a shared long-term ambition for the area, the assessment said.

In June 2025 Wales became the world’s first Marmot nation, adopting Sir Michael Marmot’s eight principles to tackle health inequalities and Merthyr Tydfil is one of five councils that has received funding to become a trailblazer for it.

To read the full article by Anthony Lewis on Wales Online, click on the link below:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/merthyr-council-told-focus-greater-34689528