Council defends £190k mouse bridge

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/08/26/council-defends-190k-mouse-bridge-91466-27139564/

Aug 26 2010 by Daniel Fisher, South Wales Echo

Council bosses last night defended their decision to spend £190,000 on creating special bridges to help dormice cross the road safely.

The bridges are over the Church Village bypass near Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf. They consist of wire mesh tubes suspended between trees and poles and are part of plans to protect ecology along the 4.6-mile road.

The TaxPayers' Alliance and some local residents had attacked the plans, calling them a waste of money at a time when council resources are stretched.

Nichola Thomas, 34, who lives near the bypass route in Llantrisant, said: "There are more pressing issues that the council could be spending money on.

"I find it absurd that they have spent such an obscene amount of cash on this."

But yesterday the council said it had designed the bridges with the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), which had "fully endorsed" the plan.

A spokesman for the CCW said dormice are a threatened species and the council should be "commended" for its work in protecting them.

The CCW spokesman said: "Dormice are threatened, hence the highest level of protection afforded to them via the EU Habitats Directive and the special treatment required in this instance. There is a legal requirement - it's not optional - to provide appropriate mitigation. The EU legislation places on the council an obligation to protect the dormice and RCT are to be commended for their actions in fulfilling their obligations.

Residents living near fire furious at council's snub

http://new.wales.gov.uk/apwsubsite/APW-PDC/RegTrib/PreviousTrib/cllramjones/?lang=en

Aug 26 2010 by Emma Pengelly, Pontypridd Observer

ANGRY residents have blasted council bosses for refusing to meet them over fears about an underground fire

Residents living near fire furious at council's snub

Aug 26 2010 by Emma Pengelly, Pontypridd Observer

ANGRY residents have blasted council bosses for refusing to meet them over fears about an underground fire.

Fumes from the underground fire on land adjacent to Taff Vale Park, off Broadway, Treforest, resulted in two elderly people needing hospital treatment.

But local councillor John Bell said: "Residents are still not happy that they are getting only basic information via the letters being put out, and have several question they would like answered.

"But officials say it's not possible for officers to attend our meetings - though I was offered a briefing on site for a small group of residents."

Angela and Peter Burton of Windsor Road next to Parc Lewis Park told the Observer: "The problem in Treforest could turn into an extremely dangerous situation.

"We are most concerned about a lack of commitment and interest shown by the Rhondda Cynon Taf council's relevant officials.

"This incident is at the Taff Vale Field, adjacent to Parc Lewis Primary School.

"There is an underground fire taking place and the concerns amongst others are the gas mains, drains, water mains and more importantly the children's welfare at the school and all residents in the local area.

"We want RCT council officials to attend local meetings and to answer questions regarding residents fears.

"Those include the dangers of inhaling the fumes and the possibility of long-term problems. There are also concerns regarding the fire spreading under the houses in James Street and coming into contact with the gas mains.

"There is potential here for a serious incident, as two elderly residents in James Street have already been hospitalised with respiratory problems."

Finally it's all steam ahead for 'new' Ponty

Aug 12 2010 by Wayne Nowaczyk, Pontypridd Observer

PONTYPRIDD town centre finally looks as though it's about to join the 21st Century - starting with investment exceeding £15m.

The announcement of £4.2m worth of improvements at the town's railway station is followed this week with news of a £10.5m sprucing up from next spring courtesy of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council securing support from the Welsh Assembly Government.

And Cardiff Bay has accepted a re-drawn Local Development Plan identifying the Brown Lenox site as part of the town centre instead of the 'edge of town' that sank Morrisson's bid.

So hopes are high now that the £50m grocery store proposed by Sainsbury for the site - if approved as expected by RCT council come September - will also get a green light from the Assembly.

Meanwhile, construction of Taff Vale's new precinct is anticipated to start in January 2011 by which time public consultation should be completed ready for work to start.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/pontypridd-llantrisant/2010/08/12/finally-it-s-all-steam-ahead-for-new-ponty-91466-27036495/

Continued fears over fire at tip

CONCERNS have been raised over an underground fire at a former tip site in Treforest.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council officers have been monitoring the site adjacent to Taff Vale Park at the rear of the Broadway in Treforest, for the past month. The alarm was raised after a Broadway resident contacted them over fears that a domestic bonfire may have ignited waste material, such as coal, coke and slag, that lies underground on the wasteland.

Ward councillor John Bell said: "A lady contacted me to say she was experiencing breathing difficulties in her house. so I contacted environmental health."

Council officers immediately attended the site and confirmed there did appear to be an underground fire, particularly noticeable by the temperature of the ground to the touch on certain parts of the wasteland and also by the smouldering on the surface.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/pontypridd-llantrisant/2010/08/12/continued-fears-over-fire-at-tip-91466-27036501

Anger at temporary classrooms

COUNCILLORS have criticised the plans to put temporary classrooms at a Tonyrefail school in order to accommodate more pupils.

Planning permission was given to the council to build an annex at YGG Tonyrefail, which will provide the school with two extra classrooms and toilet facilities.

But at the Taff Ely Area Development Control Committee meeting held in Pontypridd last week, many councillors criticised the move which would be temporary. Councillor Merfyn Rea said: "I am really amazed that we are putting portacabins in schools.

"I am amazed that we have to do this in this day and age. I'm not happy with this in my patch."

Coun Glynne Holmes added: "These portable structures go in to school sites and they are far from satisfactory. I would not put a dog in there. They are not up to present day standards and if we are going to put them in there I would suggest that we make sure they are up to scratch for the little boys and girls and staff."

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/pontypridd-llantrisant/2010/08/12/anger-at-temporary-classrooms-91466-27035976/

Students give Welsh town the thumbs-down

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/04/02/students-give-welsh-town-the-thumbs-down-91466-26160112/

Apr 2 2010 by Lisa Jones, Western Mail

THE university may be investing millions in upgrading facilities but students think life in Pontypridd is below par.

The town has come bottom in a student survey of towns in which to live. Student accommodation website, ccommodationforstudents.com released its latest data which identifies the best places to be a student, based on nearly 42,000 student reviews from 76 university towns around the UK.

Students rated out of 10 their university location across five criteria: going out, shops, transport links, community and facilities. Pontypridd was the least desirable location with a rating of just 44%.

A University of Glamorgan spokeswoman said applications for a place there had increased by more than 30% over the past two years. It was investing heavily in the campus to the tune of £130m. A new students' union building was due to open in September and new student accommodation in 2011.

She added: "In 2009 the university opened brand new facilities for its Faculty of Health, Sport and Science students and is currently developing a £3m sports facility as well as an on-campus aircraft hangar complete with its own aircraft."

Cardiff and Swansea, Bangor and Aberystwyth all rated a 60% score from reviewers.

Four Islwyn councillors quit Labour in 'parachuting' protest

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/03/02/four-islwyn-councillors-quit-labour-in-parachuting-protest-91466-25939803/

WELSH Labour is facing a new grassroots revolt in one of its safest seats after four councillors quit the party and one said he would be standing as a rebel candidate in the general election.

Dave Rees, a long-standing member of Islwyn Labour Party, said he and his colleagues Jan Jones, Phyl Griffiths and Jonathan Wilson were disgusted that local members had been robbed of the opportunity to draw up a shortlist of potential candidates to succeed retiring MP Don Touhig.

The situation has echoes from the neighbouring constituency of Blaenau Gwent, where the local party was torn apart in 2005 after an all-women shortlist was imposed by the national executive committee (NEC).

In a letter to Gordon Brown, the four councillors strongly criticised the selection arrangements under which a three-person panel from Labour's NEC, together with two representatives of the Welsh executive, drew up a shortlist of seven potential parliamentary candidates.

None of those on the list are from Islwyn, the former seat of ex-Labour leader Neil Kinnock.

Members of the local party will now pick their general election candidate from the list, which includes former AM Tamsin Dunwoody.

Ms Dunwoody, who lost her Preseli Pembrokeshire seat to the Conservatives in 2007, was also the unsuccessful Labour candidate in the following year's Crewe & Nantwich by-election which followed the death of her mother, Gwyneth Dunwoody.

In a letter to Gordon Brown, the four councillors said: "On the announcement of the retirement of our MP Don Touhig, many party members instructed the General Secretary of the Wales Labour Party that the shortlist to replace Don would be chosen by the members from within Islwyn and that local members should be given the chance to be considered to be the Labour Party candidate.

"However, similar to Blaenau Gwent, the party hierarchy, who know absolutely nothing about Islwyn, has given us a list of candidates to choose from, all of which are from outside our constituency.

"We know nothing about them and they know nothing about us.

"We believe similar practices have been deployed across the UK where favoured candidates have been 'parachuted' into safe constituencies.

"It appears that the Labour Party have learnt no lessons from Blaenau Gwent, where the Labour Party imposed a candidate upon local members and suffered the humiliation of Independent candidates overturning a 19,000 majority.

"We believe there are now few, if any, conviction politicians left in the Labour Party and the only people who get on within the party are 'yes' men with no principles, but who simply want to further their own political careers."

The letter also criticised the UK Labour Government's alleged failure to regulate the banking industry properly, its failure to end the hereditary principle in the House of Lords and the MPs' expenses scandal.

Mr Rees, a leading member of the True Wales group, which opposes transferring more powers to the National Assembly, said he and his colleagues intended to set up a new party called Islwyn First, with him as its general election candidate.

At the last general election in 2005, Mr Touhig had a majority of 15,740 over Plaid Cymru.

Yesterday, Plaid's candidate Steffan Lewis said: "These recent developments are further evidence that Labour is in disarray.

"While local people are demanding real leadership, the Labour Party is embroiled in yet another internal and self-indulgent squabble.

"I live in Islwyn and was raised in Islwyn and the message coming across loud and clear is that people want a locally-driven MP who'll put them first.

"Others may put party interests first, but I am committed to being a full-time MP for Islwyn."

A Welsh Labour spokesman said: "Nothing has been received by the party directly by the members concerned. If it is the case that these councillors will be resigning their membership, then it is clearly disappointing news.

"However, after a strong conference weekend and hugely positive recent polls, Welsh Labour is in great shape to fight the next election.

"The quality of the candidates applying for both Pontypridd and Islwyn merely underlined the fact that we have a deep reservoir of talent to draw on."

Caerphilly council Labour group leader Harry Andrews said: "I'm obviously very disappointed to hear this news - these are colleagues I have worked closely with in the past and I'm saddened by the position they have taken.

"However, their decision will in no way diminish Labour's commitment to the serious issues like fighting to improve public services in the Caerphilly county borough."

Fellow Labour councillor Hefin David said: "I think those who have left are wrong and will come to regret their decision."

In Pontypridd, where among the shortlisted candidates are former AM Delyth Evans and Owen Smith, the losing Labour candidate in the Blaenau Gwent by-election four years ago, local party chairman Tom Griffin expressed his disappointment at not being on the shortlist, but said the right response was to campaign for victory in the general election.

Howells takes on Harman over women-only shortlist

Feb 12 2010 by Martin Shipton, Western Mail

SENIOR Labour MP Kim Howells is locked in a battle with the party's deputy leader Harriet Harman to ensure his successor is not chosen from an all-women shortlist, the Western Mail can reveal.

Dr Howells confirmed he has made strong representations that there should be an open selection in Pontypridd, where he will bequeath a majority of 13,191 to whoever follows him as Labour's candidate.

Ms Harman is a passionate advocate of all-women shortlists as a means of redressing gender imbalance in the House of Commons. But many members of Pontypridd Constituency Labour Party oppose all-women shortlists, and a local party source told the Western Mail that many would abstain from the coming general election campaign if they were forced to select a female candidate.

A party source suggested that Dr Howells and Ms Harman had had a stand-up row about the issue in a House of Commons dining room, although that was denied last night by the Pontypridd MP.

Dr Howells, a former Foreign Office Minister who chairs the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee, said: "She's way above my pay grade. I hardly know her.

"I am in favour of an open selection and I have made representations, although I'd rather not talk about the details of that."

Ms Harman's spokesman would not comment, referring us to the Labour Party press office.

There had been speculation that former BBC Wales producer Owen Smith, who was Labour's defeated candidate in the 2006 Blaenau Gwent by-election, was being lined up as Dr Howells' successor.

The Ponty-pridd row has uncomfortable resonances for Labour with the situation in Blaenau Gwent five years ago. Labour AM Peter Law quit the party when an all-women shortlist was imposed on the local party in selecting a successor to retiring MP Llew Smith.

Mr Law won the seat as an Independent with a majority of more than 9,000 over the official Labour candidate Maggie Jones, who shortly afterwards was given a seat in the House of Lords.

The following year, after Mr Law died from a brain tumour, his election agent Dai Davies retained the parliamentary seat as an Independent in a by-election, while Mr Law's widow Trish was elected to the National Assembly.

In 2007 Mrs Law kept the seat with an increased majority, and in 2008 Labour lost control of Blaenau Gwent Council.

What had been Labour's safest seat in Wales is now represented at all levels by politicians who oppose the party, and sources suggest there is no optimism about winning the seat back at the general election.

While there is no suggestion of an Independent candidate like Mr Law standing in Pontypridd, local activists are angry at the prospect of having an all-women shortlist imposed on them.

Councillor apologises for Facebook remarks

Feb 11 2010 by Carys Jones, Rhondda Leader

A TOP councillor sparked outrage after posting messages on the internet implying Penrhys and Penygraig are overrun with criminals.

Labour councillor Bob McDonald, who receives £26,000 a year representing the Tonyrefail East ward and chairing the Rhondda Planning Committee, made the remarks on his public Facebook page just before attending site visits in the areas on Monday, February 8.

He was due to visit land earmarked for houses at the rear of Tuberville Terrace, Penygraig, and on the site of the former isolation hospital in Penrhys.

But before the visit, the 68-year-old wrote: "Off to see the delights of Penygraig and Penrhys this morning, oh joy."

When an online friend replied asking if he'd worn a hard hat and steel toe-caps, Coun McDonald later responded: "Got back to my car and it still had four wheels and nothing missing. It was so bloody cold all the crims were at home cuched [sic] up to the radiators."

Yesterday, Coun McDonald insisted his remarks were made in jest.

"It was a comment in answer to someone else who made a remark about how safe my car was," he said. "It was off the cuff."

"I'm sorry if it offended anybody, it wasn't meant to. I certainly don't think the areas are full of criminals. I forget how many people can see your page and I didn't realise the page was that public."

Borough to get 2.5% rise in funding from the Assembly

Oct 22 2009 by Alex Moore, Pontypridd Observer

RHONDDA Cynon Taf will receive 2.5% more cash from the Cardiff Bay government this year, if a draft budget settlement is adopted.

The one-fortieth increase was announced by local government minister Dr Brian Gibbons AM, and puts the borough streets ahead of other parts of Wales.

Anglesey and Powys will have the joint-lowest increases, at just one percent, while Gwynedd will have to make do with 1.1%.

Newport and Wrexham were the big winners, each receiving boosts of more than three percent, compared to last year.

RCT council leader Russell Roberts was upbeat about his borough's figures, describing them as "better than anticipated".

Last year, Coun Roberts described the 1.8% increase as "dreadful", pointing out that inflation rates were around 5% at the time and energy costs were soaring. The 2008-9 settlement gave RCT a 2.4% rise.

Coun Roberts said: "When compared with others the lobbying undertaken of Assembly Government Ministers by myself has clearly produced one of the better settlements for a local authority in Wales."

But he added that his cabinet still faced tough financial decisions in 2010-11.

"This settlement sets a challenging backdrop for the delivery of public services," he said.

"This in no way means the decisions we will inevitably face during these prudent times will be any less difficult.

"For the foreseeable future, local government continues to work within a very difficult economic and fiscal environment, but here in RCT, through our medium-term financial planning, we are working to ensure we limit the impact on the frontline services that matter to local people.

"In the coming months, cabinet and I will work tirelessly to deliver a balanced and equitable budget which protects and invests in the key services we pledged to improve.

"Like every other Council in Wales, indeed the UK, tough public finances have delivered a low settlement for everyone, which means there is a budget gap we need to address, and as a Cabinet we will be faced with considering potentially unpopular decisions, to balance the Council's budget and protect important services.

"We will not shy away from these decisions provided they are the right ones and in the wider interests of the people of RCT.

***

£400k plan to keep ice off the roads

Oct 15 2009 by Wayne Nowaczyk, Pontypridd Observer

GRITTERS have more than 6,000 tonnes of salt stockpiled to help keep RCT's roads clear this winter.

A report before councillors this week explains that the borough's £400,000 plan came into force this month, and will aim to keep 270 miles of borough highway free of snow and ice until April.

Writing for the 14-member Environmental Services Scrutiny Committee, Highways Asset Manager Howard Thomas says the gritting team will receive daily forecasts from Meteogroup, the council's contractors, at 9am.

"These are monitored against actual conditions and amended by the forecasters if necessary," he adds. "When hazardous conditions are forecast, precautionary salting is carried out on a defined portion of the network, comprising all A- and B-class roads and strategic unclassified routes.

"This network is approximately 430km in length and amounts of over a third of the public highway network."

There are 10 "front-line" salting vehicles and 10 more reserve trucks, using grit stored at depots in Abercynon and Dinas. Around 900 grit bins will be kept topped up for members of the public to use.

The total budget for "Winter Services" is £397,000, of which £28,000 covers the forecasting contract. The committee will meet at The Pavilions, in Clydach Vale, tonight (Wednesday, October 14).

***

New BMX track could be on its way to Pontypridd

Oct 15 2009 by Our Correspondent, Pontypridd Observer

A HIGH-QUALITY professional standard BMX cycle track may soon be making its way to Pontypridd.

The idea was brought forward by several local enthusiasts who believe that the area and its young people could benefit from the track.

A meeting will be held on October 19 at Trallwn Community Centre to establish a committee to take forward the proposal. Establishing an official club for the area will make it easier to access available funding.

A group set up on social networking site Facebook has already attracted 155 members in support of the proposal.

It is believed that the track could be constructed alongside the Astroturf facility, behind the Maritime Industrial Estate, which proposers consider to be an ideal location, close to the railway station, adjacent to the existing East/West cycle path and situated away from residential areas.

Enthusiast Dorian Thorne is leading the calls for the project.

He said: "It's about time that a facility such as a BMX track was built in Pontypridd, it would play a very important part in the local community, keeping people active and encouraging an attraction to the town".

"Kids are forever being ridiculed for riding bikes where they shouldn't be, it's about time the powers that be did something for them".

BMX racing is one of the countries fastest growing sports and was included at the Olympic Games for the first time in Beijing last year.

The track usually consists of a starting gate for up to eight racers, a groomed dirt race course made of various jumps and rollers and a finish line.

The gruelling racing rewards strength, quickness, and bike handling. Many successful racers have gone on to use their skills in other forms of competitions.

Jason Carpenter, a track constructor from Dragon Down Hill, said: "It could potentially be a huge asset to the area, introducing a new sport.

"It could also offer a solution to the common social problem of the bikes being ridden on public roads and parkland. Let's get them onto the bikes at a facility where it is safe to ride them."

***

£2m on unspent loan was 'correct decision'

Jul 30 2009 by Our Correspondent, Pontypridd Observer

RCT COUNCIL paid more than £2m interest taking out loans it didn't even use.

Then, in a report for members, a top executive described the decision to re-pay the £31mwithout touching it as "cost-cutting" for "extremely challenging" economic times.

RCT's finance department borrowed £26,269,000 from the Public Works Loan Board in March 2007, then an extra £5m nine months later.

The loans were not taken out with any particular purchases in mind, but it is common practice for the council to borrow to cover costs it thinks may be incurred later on.

In a report before councillors, corporate services chief Steve Merritt wrote: "The last financial year has been extremely challenging in treasury management terms.

"This report highlights, for members, the treasury management activities that have been taken during this period."

He notes that the combined £31.2m PWLB loans were paid back in full in January 2009, adding this was one of several "opportunities [taken] to reduce the cost of our borrowing" during the 2008-9 fiscal year.

While the council earned some interest while it had this money in the bank, in an series of e-mail between him and a councillor, leaked to the Observer, Mr Merritt admitted this rate fell to less than two percent.

***

Treforest's traffic problems highlighted in regeneration partnership report

Jul 30 2009 Pontypridd Observer

PARKING and traffic problems in Treforest have been targeted in a study commissioned by the Treforest Regeneration Partnership.

Members of the partnership have commissioned Capita Glamorgan Consultancy to carry out a full-scale detailed study of the many issues affecting residents and businesses in the area, building on the public consultation held last year.

The issues covered include accessibility of the village by bus, rail, cycle, car and on foot, as well as the problems caused by increased traffic and parking provision.

The Treforest Regeneration Partnership includes representatives from Rhondda Cynon Taf council, Pontypridd Town Council, the University Of Glamorgan and the Treforest Residents Association, along with local churches, South Wales Police and other community groups.

The 300-page report has been submitted to the partnership and a steering group has begun looking at it in preparation for the next meeting at Treforest Community Centre on Friday, September 11 at 9.30am.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council financed the study on behalf of the partnership.

Andrew Morgan, the council's cabinet member for transport and customer care, said: "The significant amount of work undertaken on behalf of the partnership will give us a clear indication of the problems facing motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

"Treforest faces many of the same, real problems as many other communities in the county borough and we will do all in our power to try and alleviate these."

Chairman of the Treforest Regeneration Partnership, Rev Gethin Rhys added: "This report gives full background to the problems in Treforest - too many cars trying to park, several traffic bottlenecks, and a number of junctions which are less than ideal for cars and pedestrians.

"It also looks at the implications for Treforest of being a university village and of the opening the Church Village bypass.

"We are keen to get everyone involved so that we can draw together a plan for a better Treforest

***

Nice One Russell

Councillor Russell Roberts continues as chairman of South Wales Police Authority

Jul 9 2009 by Our Correspondent, Rhondda Leader

RHONDDA Cynon Taf Council leader Russell Roberts is to continue for a second year as chairman of South Wales Police Authority.

Councillor Roberts also serves as chairman of the Cwm Taf NHS Trust.

The authority agreed at its last AGM that Councillor Roberts, who represents Labour in the Tonyrefail East Ward in RCT, should continue after 12 years on the Police Authority.

He said: "Being re-elected as chair of the police authority is a great honour for me. I am grateful for the continued support shown to me by my fellow authority members.

"I look forward to leading the Police Authority for the next year and hope that we can continue our good work of working with the force and representing South Wales as a whole."

Councillor Roberts will be supported for the next year by Vice-Chancellor of the Authority, Mr John Littlechild MBE, JP, who was also re-elected at last weeks' meeting.

Mr Littlechild, an independent from Cardiff, is the longest serving member, having started in 1989.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/rhondda/2009/07/09/councillor-russell-roberts-continues-as-chairman-of-south-wales-police-authority-91466-24097725/

RCT job cuts 'are killing communities'

Jun 24 2009 by Martin Shipton, South Wales Echo

THE former leader of a Valleys council has blasted the authority, claiming that its policy of making its manual workers redundant is destroying local communities.

Bill Murphy was the Labour leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council for its first three years in the late 1990s. Now he has spoken out about job cuts affecting workers such as community centre caretakers and park rangers.

He said: "I am appalled at what is happening. As someone who started as a manual worker myself, I have enormous sympathy for the guys who are losing their jobs, and am just as concerned about the lack of jobs that will be available for local people in the future.

"These are jobs which local people have held and which belong to the communities.

"It seems clear to me that very highly paid officers at council headquarters have decided to sacrifice the jobs of manual workers rather than take a look at the administrative staff who aren't directly providing services in the same way as people like caretakers and park rangers. The council claims it is offering to redeploy those whose jobs are redundant, but my understanding is that in some cases the alternative jobs offered are unsuitable.

"When I was leader of the council, a top officer suggested a round of cuts affecting manual workers. I told him that if any jobs had to go, I would want to start at the top, where a lot more money could be saved. I never heard any more from him on the subject."

Near Mr Murphy's home is the Maes-y-Haf Community Centre, which was built in 1927 by the Quakers and passed over to the council after the war.

Its survival is now in doubt because of a council decision to phase out caretakers.

Until his retirement last year, Les Lewis was the caretaker.

He said: "There is a great deal of discontent about these job losses, which are taking place gradually, in what amounts to a clandestine way.

"Maes-y-Haf is used by an enormous number of people with a wide range of interests."

Last night Anthony Christopher, the current deputy leader of the council, said: "This is not an ideal situation, and I have every sympathy for people losing their jobs.

"But we have a huge black hole in our budget as a result of the appalling settlement we have had from the Assembly Government and we have no alternative but to make cuts. Every grade of job at the council is being looked at.

"Bill Murphy should understand the position as much as anybody - he led the council for its first three years and cuts had to be imposed at that time too."

Rhondda Cynon Taf council leader distances local authority from MPs' expenses scandal

Jun 11 2009 by Wayne Nowaczyk, Rhondda Leader

LABOUR-RUN Rhondda Cynon Taf council has distanced itself from the furore over parliamentary expenses - by claiming members of the controlling group will in future publish their full list of expenses.

The move comes in the wake of public fury over Parliamentary and European Union expenses and ahead of appointments made a week ago for our reporters to view the records.

Leader Russell Roberts has invited opposition members to follow suit.

He said he was "acting in the interests of openness and transparency" and that a comprehensive list would in future be published on the council's internet website.

Councillor Russell Roberts said: "We have always published our expenses annually and they have always been a matter of public record.

"Each year the allowances of every councillor, usually around the month of November, are published in adverts which are printed in the Rhondda Leader, Pontypridd & Llantrisant Observer and Cynon Valley Leader.

"Labour councillors want to demonstrate, in an open and accountable manner, the expenses we receive and demonstrate to our constituents that local government is very different from Westminster.

"Most importantly we want to ensure that people do not unfairly class their local councillor in the same way they may now be viewing MPs and the system of expenses they have at their disposal.

"Each year the council publishes the allowances claimed by councillors and for those who act as members of the cabinet or as chairs of committees, the special responsibility allowances they receive as a member.

"At our last meeting, every member of the Labour Group agreed to publish in addition, the mileage and any subsistence they may have claimed.

"I will be writing to the leaders of the other political groups on the council asking them to do the same.

"Once this agreement is given, council officers can then ensure the information is freely available on the council's internet site."

He added: "We have taken this decision because we have nothing to hide and we are going further than the legislation on such matters requires to demonstrate that in no-way can comparisons between local government and UK politics be made."

***

Councillor hits back at critics over 'inadequate' response claim

Jun 11 2009 by Carys Jones, Pontypridd Observer

ANGRY RCT council spokesmen refuted suggestions that their response to flooding was inadequate - and rounded on critics.

The Labour run authority's cabinet member Councillor Andrew Morgan pointed out many staff worked through Sunday until 4am on Monday and returned to work later to do what they could to help residents in "exceptional" circumstances that came without warning. A council spokesperson said the weekend's freak weather saw some 50-75 Streetcare staff re-deployed and scores of other council workers switched from non-urgent tasks and dispatched across the county borough to begin the clear up and repair work alongside emergency servicesd and many voluntary organisations.

Having been at emergency centres overnight on Sunday, Coun Morgan said: "I know how hard they are working, as part of a wider, partnership approach.

"It is demoralising that the perceived actions of one element of this far-reaching, multi-agency response is already being criticised by the Liberal Democrats when their work is far from over.

"The fact of the matter is, this was an exceptional situation that saw a massive amount of rainfall in a short period of time."

He added that the number of people across the county borough and neighbouring areas taken to hospital having swallowed filthy water or sustained broken limbs showed the sheer scale of the problems.

Mr Morgan continued: "At present, our main aim remains dealing with the aftermath of the rainfall and ensuring we are doing what we can to support our communities who have been hit so hard by this emergency.

"As with any major incident, there will be a debrief which will be the appropriate time to identify any issues."

***

Councillor allowances row

May 14 2009 by Jonathan Evans, Pontypridd Observer

A HEATED debate broke out after Rhondda Cynon Taf councillors were asked to consider cutting back on their allowances.

Four councillors put forward a motion asking for the payment of special responsibility allowances to vice chairs to be stopped immediately.

Stuart Gregory, Pauline Jarman, Mike Powell and John Bell argue the money would be better spent on frontline services and that vice chairs are not doing enough to justify the income.

The total amount spent last year was in the region of £50,000, and the councillors claim that some members pocketed over £8,000 for chairing just one meeting.

But the idea was rejected after councillors voted against the motion and defended the roles of vice chairs.

Brynna representative Roger Turner said: "When chairs do chair meetings they always take over adequately and the roles they carry out are very productive."

And Graig councillor Joyce Cass, chair of education and lifelong learning services scrutiny committee, added: "It's not just about how many meetings are chaired.

"It's the other work they do like reading, and also the support they give us.

"It's good knowing someone is there to bounce off and to discuss things with, and vice chairs are very good at that."

Coun Gregory said the figures, which include three vice chairs being paid a total of £12,500 without chairing a meeting between them, "make the mind boggle".

He added: "Many other councils across England and Wales don't pay these allowances to members.

"But we are putting up the price of school meals and closing swimming pools and still paying them."

Lib Dem Mike Powell added: "People in Rhondda Cynon Taf are suffering with hardship and we are increasing the cost of things.

"£50,000 may be a small saving to the Labour group but it could go back into the coffers and be spent on the people we represent."

As councillors continued to debate the proposal arguments broke out between opposition parties.

Llantwit Fardre's 24-year-old Tory member Joel James asked the cabinet whether vice chairs could carry out the same standard of job without receiving the allowance.

But Clayton Willis, cabinet member for human resources, said: "I'm not going to respond to that. He's so young and inexperienced he wouldn't understand anyway."

Plaid Cymru opposition leader Pauline Jarman told coun Willis to apologise immediately but no further comments were made.

And council leader Russell Roberts then said to Mike Powell: "What really galls you is that we as the largest group choose the largest number (of vice chairs) and that's not a position you're in and not one you're likely to ever be in.

"There were only three Lib Dems when I joined the old Taff Ely council 22 years ago and there are still only three now. There's been a huge increase hasn't there?

"It's clear councillor Powell has been rattled and I'm pleased I've got him rattled again."

Coun Roberts added: "I don't know where anyone has been for the last four or five years in terms of raising these matters, but why is it being raised now?

"I'm sure the public would say councillors should do the job for nothing, I've been told that before.

"But we are not talking about huge sums of money.

"In terms of the scrutiny chair this council's scrutiny process are a beacon to all other councils in Wales and part of that process is having chairs and vice chairs."

Coun Willis also criticised Mr Gregory, saying in the past he has collected in excess of £37,000 for his own committee roles.

Coun Jarman said: "I don't think the post of vice chair does anything that people here today have claimed it does."

***

'Personal attack' on councillor fails to oust him

Apr 30 2009 by Alex Moore, Rhondda Leader

COUNCIL leader Russell Roberts accused an opposition member of mounting a "personal attack" on one of his cabinet members - and warned him he will "pay" for his actions.

He also said Trallwn councillor Mike Powell was feeding his own ambition by tabling a no-confidence motion against transport portfolio holder Andrew Morgan.

Coun Powell, along with fellow Liberal Democrat John Bell, of Treforest, made the bid to oust Coun Morgan at this week's full meeting of RCT Council.

In their co-signed statement, Couns Powell and Bell said the Mountain Ash West member had "presided over the chaotic mismanagement of the home-to-school transport system at the beginning of this academic year, which saw unprecedented levels of disruption and public dissatisfaction."

They also alleged RCT Council acted irresponsibly by cancelling the transport "for far longer than was necessary" after February's snowstorms.

"Every other authority managed to keep their service running," they added.

Addressing the meeting, held at The Pavilions in Clydach Vale, Coun Powell said Coun Morgan had been shielded from blame because RCT officers, not elected members, were said to have made the final decision to cancel the bus service.

"It begs the question: Why do we need cabinet members?" he said.

"I should have re-worded this motion to remove all cabinet members, because they don't do their job."

Coun Roberts, who represents the Tonyrefail East ward, said his Labour colleague Coun Morgan had faced "tremendous difficulties" in his first 10 months in the cabinet but had handled them "extremely well".

He said: "I have absolute confidence in Coun Morgan, and have no wish to dismiss him.

"Quite frankly, Coun Powell is resorting to more and more personal attacks in his quest to rise to higher things in the political echelons. Clearly he has other things on his mind."

Addressing Coun Powell directly, he said: "I have a long memory, and you will pay for it."

He said "that's not a threat" shortly afterwards, but Coun Powell replied that it "sounds like one to me".

The no-confidence motion was defeated.

***

Allowances defence slips off agenda as meeting over-runs

Apr 30 2009 by Alex Moore, Pontypridd Observer

LEADING councillors were saved from having to defend £50,000 worth of annual allowances - when a meeting over-ran and pushed the issue off the agenda.

A motion, tabled by four opposition councillors, asked RCT's Labour administration to cut "Special Responsibility Allowances" (SRA) for four committee chairpersons and most of the borough's vice-chairs.

The plan was tabled by Mountain Ash East councillor Pauline Jarman, leader of the Plaid Cymru opposition, independent Abercynon member Stuart Gregory and Liberal Democrats Mike Powell and John Bell, who represent Trallwn and Treforest respectively.

Based on last year's SRA figures, the proposal would save the council £51,083 - money the motion suggested "could be used to reduce the impact on services to our children and older people."

The idea was due to be debated at RCT's full council meeting, which started at 5pm on Wednesday, April 22.

There were six other motions tabled at that meeting, five of which were also co-signed by Councillors Powell and Bell.

Council rules allow members the option of abandoning any meeting that lasts longer than three hours. In such cases all remaining business is deferred until next time.

As the meeting extended past 8pm, a majority of members voted for an adjournment.

The next meeting will be held in May.

***

Can Ponty survive these charges?

Apr 30 2009 by Alex Moore, Pontypridd Observer

AN INCREASE in car parking charges could be the final "financial wallop" that kills off Pontypridd's shopping centre, a councillor warned this week.

Mike Powell, who represents Trallwn, made the prediction as he argued for a three-month suspension of the planned rises.

But his bid was turned down, and RCT's cabinet member for transport said the council has "no option" but to go ahead with the rise, thanks in part to a "very poor" settlement from the Assembly.

Coun Powell, along with fellow Liberal Democrat members John Bell, of Treforest, and Stephen Farr, who represents the Pontypridd Town ward, tabled the motion asking for a quarter-year charging freeze at RCT's full council meeting, held at Clydach Vale.

Coun Powell told the chamber he had been to Pontypridd earlier that day, and found it "very quiet".

***

Council looks at light switch-off

Apr 23 2009 by Alex Moore, Rhondda Leader

A MONEY-SAVING street light switch-off could happen across Rhondda Cynon Taf, if a proposal is approved tonight (Wednesday).

A similar idea has been tried in Powys and Torfaen in the past year, and three councillors will ask their fellow members to consider bringing the environmentally-friendly idea to this borough.

Liberal Democrats John Bell, Stephen Farr and Mike Powell - who represent Treforest, Pontypridd Town and Trallwn respectively - have tabled a motion at RCT's full council meeting which reads: "This council is aware of the serious environmental situation facing our planet.

"Further, this council is of the view that, as a result of the dire financial settlement RCT has received from the Welsh Assembly Government, that there is need to save money from the public purse.

"This council, therefore, requests the Director of the Environmental Services division, and his experts, to bring before this council a programme he feels can safely reduce the council's electricity costs and carbon footprint by identifying where street lights may be turned off at certain times of the night."

Couns Bell, Farr and Powell and their 72 fellow members will be able to vote on the motion when they meet at The Pavilions, Clydach Vale, on April 22.

***

Student top-up fees split Plaid

Nowt to do with me

The assembly government want to bring in means-tested grants

Plaid Cymru's leadership has been defeated for the first time at a meeting of the party's national council over student top-up fees.

A motion was passed reaffirming the party's opposition to the fees in light of assembly government plans to abolish the current student subsidy.

Plaid fought the 2007 assembly election promising not to introduce top-up fees.

A motion to review this, put forward by the party's ministers in the coalition government with Labour, was defeated.

The party also used Saturday's meeting in Aberystwyth to call for any decision on a change of policy to be deferred until after the next assembly election so that all parties could put their views to the electorate.

Speaking to BBC Wales' Politics Show, Plaid chairman John Dixon confirmed that the party's leader Ieuan Wyn Jones had subsequently made a statement to the party's national council saying he would not be able to deliver the motion that was passed.

He said Mr Jones, who is deputy first minister in the Labour-Plaid government, made it clear he would not be able to persuade the cabinet to back Plaid policy.

Plaid Cymru chairman John Dixon said it would be naive to think there wouldn't be compromise with the party the junior partners in government

Mr Dixon said the issue was still up for discussion and denied that the position taken by the party's government ministers went against Plaid Cymru's constitution.

"There was a suggestion that we should look again at the policy concerned and I think we need to understand our ministers are in a very difficult position here," he said.

"There's a very tight financial settlement. They are between a rock and a hard place.

"But on this particular issue, what the party is saying is we understand the position you're in but the party wishes to continue to oppose tuition fees."

The One Wales agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru says that current fee levels will be maintained until 2009/10.

Under proposals put out for consultation by Education Minister Jane Hutt, the current non-means tested student subsidy would be abolished the following year.

Funding gap

Currently, Welsh students who go to university in Wales receive a non-means tested grant of £1,890.

But under the minister's proposals this would be replaced by new means-tested grants.

Some of the money saved would be given to universities to help plug the £61m funding gap with England.

Mr Dixon attributed the differences of opinion within the party to the realities of coalition government.

He said that although this was the first time Plaid ministers found themselves at odds with party policy, it would not be the last.

Writing on his blog ahead of Saturday's meeting, Plaid MP Adam Price said: "The Labour party is entitled to their policy but they have no right to impose it unilaterally on us as this was not envisaged in One Wales.

"Plaid Cymru's national council... needs no reminding that it voted through One Wales to create the One Wales government. But this policy was never part of the deal."

BBC Wales 23/02/09 *****

The Gap Widens

Plaid split as campaign calls on AMs to defy Ieuan over top-up fees

Mar 2 2009 by Martin Shipton, Western Mail

THE first signs of a rift between Plaid Cymru's grassroots and the ruling coalition have emerged with calls for the party's AMs to defy their leader and vote against the introduction of student top-up fees.

Ieuan Wyn Jones and other Plaid ministers have been persuaded by their Labour Cabinet colleagues in the Assembly Government to back moves that will end current arrangements under which Welsh-domiciled students taking degree courses at Welsh universities do not pay top-up fees.

But at a meeting of Plaid's national council last weekend, members backed a motion that would put off any decision on the matter until after the next Assembly election in 2011. Mr Jones immediately said he and his Cabinet colleagues would not be able to deliver on the terms of the motion. Now members of Plaid's youth group Cymru X are organising a campaign to get the party's AMs to vote against top-up fees at every opportunity.

A draft letter to be sent to all Plaid AMs states: "I write to you to ask you to respect the will of the party membership when you vote on the issue of student top-up fees in the National Assembly.

"I believe that the distinctive Welsh policy on tuition fees is one of the great achievements of devolution; it has reversed the declining numbers of Welsh youth choosing to study, work and live in the country of their birth. It has begun the process of turning our national brain drain into a brain gain.

"All the more astonishing that Labour in the Assembly now wants us to ditch the policy and start exporting our most precious resource again: the skills and aspirations of our people.

"I think everyone who's a member of Plaid expects differences of opinion over some matters of policy from time to time.

"However, despite those differences, what keeps us together is our respect for internal party democracy. Plaid's opposition to top-up fees was clearly set out in our election manifestos in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/03/02/plaid-split-as-campaign-calls-on-ams-to-defy-ieuan-over-top-up-fees-91466-23040357/

Sixth Form Cuts 'Disastrous'

Some NAHT members fear for the future of sixth forms in Wales

Teaching unions claim a decision to cut sixth form and further education budgets in Wales will be "disastrous". They say some schools could lose a quarter of their sixth form budgets and courses and jobs may disappear.

From 1 April the Welsh Assembly Government will cut budgets for the education of 16-18-year-olds by 7.4%.

Assembly government minister John Griffiths said the cut reflected a tight budget across departments, but it would not narrow student choice.

Teachers' representatives claim that the situation is made worse because once cuts are passed on to schools by local authorities they will not be capped at 7.4%.

Anna Brychan, director of the National Association of Head Teachers Cymru, (NAHT) told Sunday's The Politics Show Wales that some schools were reporting a cut in their post-16 budget of up to 28%.

"That's a huge, unexpected reduction," she said.

"It's not sustainable, it makes the funding system post-16 unstable and inevitably puts jobs at risk."

She also said many NAHT members thought there was a "hidden agenda" to move away from having sixth forms in schools, and that "a very great number of them" feared for the future of sixth forms in Wales.

Brian Lightman, the immediate past president of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "I think it's going to have an absolutely disastrous effect on the operation of post-16 education in Wales.

"It's a massive cut and it's been applied across the board."

Unions said the threat to teaching jobs was considerable, and schools would not be able to offer as wide a range of courses.

They argued that that flew in the face of the stated intention to increase the breadth of the post-16 curriculum, and put young people in Wales at a disadvantage, compared to elsewhere in the UK.

Mr Lightman said: "There's never been a time where getting qualifications and staying on in education has been more important, and if we compare the situation in England where they're raising the participation age to 18, you're seeing a situation here where some students may not be able to access precisely those qualifications they're going to need to be competitive in a very very difficult employment market."

But Mr Griffiths said the assembly government's learning and skills measure, which is in the process of becoming law, would actually increase student choice.

He added: "Of course there are funding issues and that 7.4% cut was produced because of the very tight funding settlement that we face in the Welsh Assembly Government."

Conservative AM Andrew RT Davies said people would wonder why the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills needed to implement this cut, given that it will have a 5% rise in its overall budget.

He claims the department miscalculated the cost of other policies such as the Foundation Phase for young children.

Mr Davies said: "They are robbing Peter to pay Paul."

Mr Griffiths, the deputy minister for skills, also denied speculation raised by some that the assembly government wanted to see an end to sixth forms within schools in favour of a post-16 education system centred on sixth form colleges and further education institutions.

He said the assembly government did want post-16 education to change, and some areas might favour a tertiary system with sixth form colleges, whilst others would see closer working between school sixth forms and FE colleges.

Nowt to do with me

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/7973641.stm

First Minister Rhodri Morgan has distanced himself from a Labour video showing Wales' Tory leader as a vampire and Plaid Cymru's in a clown hat.

The video, adapting the song Delilah, has been removed from the Labour-supporting Aneurin Glyndwr website.

Mr Morgan said there was "no advance authorisation or awareness on my part... of the plans to develop this website - none whatsoever".

Mr Morgan said, as leader of Labour in Wales, he would expect those who were involved with the video to "live and learn".