Category: Council News
New Bus Pass
NEW BUS PASS
Concessionary Travel Pass
Have you applied for your new pass?
Transport for Wales are working with all Welsh local councils and Welsh Government to roll out new-style Concessionary Travel Cards by the end of December 2019. These cards will replace the current green ‘bus passes’ across Wales. The old-style cards will not be recognised by electronic readers on buses after 31st December 2019.
The new-style cards offer the same free travel rights and benefits as the current bus passes. The new cards are designed so that they can work as part of an integrated travel network in the future.
Advice and support with the application process is also available from your local council, Age Cymru and other community organisations. Find out where you can find help in your local area by contacting our help desk at travelcards@tfw.wales or call 0300 303 4240.
Residents are encouraged to apply online or ask a friend, family member or someone they trust to apply online on their behalf. Online applications take around 15 working days to be processed.
Paper application forms are available by emailing your contact details to travelcards@tfw.wales. They’ll also be available from your local councils. Paper copies take around 20 working days to be processed.
To apply on line go to:-https://tfw.gov.wales/ travelcards and follow the simple instructions. You will need the number of your present card and your National Insurance number to complete the application. The new card will use your present photograph unless you wish to change it, instructions are available on how to proceed
Proposed Care Home
Proposed Care Home
Following a Public Engagement Event held at the Village Hall in September, during which the applicant found it beneficial to discuss the proposal with interested local residents, proposals for the development at Glenburnie, Port Road have now been submitted to the local authority. Proposals comprise of an Outline application for the demolition of existing on-site structures and the development of a 70 bed care home and associated works.
October Council News
Due to the poor service from the present banker it was agreed to change to Santander Bank in future
A meeting between the school, councillors and the Vale to discuss the proposed new parking proposals for Old Port Road during school start and finishing times is planned for the end of October.
Playgrounds. The renewal of the Twyn-yr-Odyn play equipment should be completed before Christmas. Work on the new access to the Grange Park is underway. The construction has to take account of the tree roots in the vicinity which results in the finished design.
It was reported that the construction of the cycle path near Rectory Close resulted in the banking being cut back. There are now indications of soil movement; this will be reported to the Vale.
Following discussion on the state of some of the vacated allotments it is proposed that in future a returnable deposit is charged for new owners and that the annual rental period will run from the autumn rather than the spring.
The work resulting in the road closure in the Dyffryn area last month was to install fibre optic cables; additional work was found to be required due to collapsed ducting.
The councillors were updated on the present financial position regarding the Community Centre extension.
It was reported that the local bus service had improved during the month and buses were arriving on time.
Following examination of the emergency lighting at the Community Centre the required work has been santioned. Possible solutions for improving the main hall lighting are being sought.
Cllr T. Case has tendered his resignation from the
council due to ill health. His long service to the community with the council was noted.
The new recycling collection service started on Friday 18th October. Some residents had bags rejected, a note with the reason was attached to these items. On the Vale web site there is a short video about the new scheme at www.valeofglamorgan. gov.uk/recycling or you can discuss recycling matters with an officer by e-mailing C1V@ valeofglamorgan.gov.uk or ringing 01446 700111.
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales launches Facebook page
The Older People’s Commissioner
for Wales launches
Facebook page!
Here at the Commissioner’s office, we celebrate the fact that we are living longer, healthier lives and we understand the importance of adding life to years, not just years to life.
Hearing from older people about the things that matter to them most is vital in helping to guide and shape our work and we want to use Facebook as a platform to have an open and honest conversation with older people and stakeholders throughout Wales.
We want to hear from older people about what is working well, and what needs to be improved. We want older people to share their opinions about what it’s like growing older in Wales today and hear their ideas on the best ways to deliver change because by working together, we can help to make Wales the best place in the world to grow older.
If you would like to keep up to date with the Commissioner’s work, feel free to like, follow and share our page
here: https://www.facebook.com/ Comisiynydd-Pobl-H%C5%B7n-Cymru-Older- Peoples-Commissioner-for-Wales- 463421591135062/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Ward Councillor Jonathan Bird Resigns
WARD COUNCILLOR – Cllr Jonathan Bird
As you may have seen in the press lately, I have decided to resign from the Conservative Group in the Council and therefore resign as cabinet member for Regeneration and Planning. I am not a person to court the press, I believe on getting down to work and get the job done, I feel that I do owe you all an explanation of what is currently happening in the Vale Council.
Some of my reasons for this action are the following;
Roads in the Vale of Glamorgan,
The new leader of the Conservatives wants to drop the work to provide a new road from Sycamore Cross to Junction 34 in favour of putting a Dinas Powys bypass in, I firmly believe that we need a new road to the M4 as the roads around the Vale and especially Wenvoe are approaching gridlock and without the new J34 road we will grind to a halt. We already see higher numbers of cars and lorries using the lanes and roads as rat runs and this will get worse as time goes on. I don’t believe that the bypass of Dinas Powys will give a significant benefit to Wenvoe or the whole of the Vale; just some minor local benefit and therefore not value for money.
Schooling in the Vale of Glamorgan,
Again the new leader of the Conservatives would reverse the decision to close Llancarfan school. My view is that as an old dilapidated school with very small numbers of children coming from the catchment (one this year) it is unfit for purpose and on a very small site not allowing improvements to the standards that are expected today for children’s education. Also with 70% or more of the children travelling from Rhoose daily, and a need for more places in Rhoose due to a huge amount of new housing, is it right to make these children travel or build a new school with all the facilities now expected within walking distance of their homes? Additionally, the money for a new school in Rhoose is available through a levy (section 106) taken from the builders in Rhoose and all in place, as is the land. The school in Llancarfan could not run if the children from Rhoose were to attend a local school due to financial reasons ie class sizes would be too small or have multiple years thus causing a huge deficit budget, therefore having an effect on the wider education budget affecting all children in the Vale. I could go on and on with reasons, I do hope you understand my stance on this.
Council Tax
The new leader of the Conservatives would not have rises in council tax. I hear you all say great, but he has no plan as to how he would pay for the services you all require. Currently the council has had to shave £60m off its budget over the last 10 years with another £6m needed to be saved for the next two years. My concern is that his idea of no council tax increase would lead to huge losses of services with very low levels of service. You are all aware that services are stretched to the limit now so further loss of funding will cause serious failure in many areas including Waste, Social Services and Education.
I firmly believe that we should ensure that we as a Council should ensure that all people, especially the young and vulnerable, receive decent levels of service and care. All this costs money and cuts will put people and services at risk.
I trust that you will understand my reason for leaving the Conservative group and I will ensure that I do all I can to make sure that the ward of Wenvoe continues to thrive. I will fight hard to ensure we get all the services and amenities we all deserve.
I have enjoyed my two years serving on the cabinet and I believe that I have done my best for the residents of Wenvoe and the whole Vale of Glamorgan in a very difficult financial time, as I have always done for the last 11 years while being your Councillor.
Thank you for your support and if you wish to contact me to discuss the issues above or any other problems you may have please do so. JBird@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk 07917142523.
Vacancy for Councillor
BIN COLLECTION REMINDER
BIN COLLECTION REMINDER
Never miss a collection day again with the Vale of Glamorgan handy bin collection reminders!
By signing up to bin collection reminders you will receive an email the day before your collection day, reminding you what waste and recycling are due to be collected.
To sign up you will need to:-
Visit the recycling and waste pages on the Vale of Glamorgan Council website
Enter your postcode
Select your address
Select 'Subscribe to bin collection reminders’
Enter your e-mail address.
Done – sit back and await your weekly reminder
Purpose-Built Library/Community Hub
Wenvoe Councillors were very pleased this week to receive confirmation from Welsh Government that our application for a grant under the Rural Community Development Fund scheme had been successful.
This grant together with support from Vale of Glamorgan Council Section 106 money (from local housing developments) will now enable us to demolish Wenvoe’s existing library building and replace it with a purpose-built library/Community hub on the existing Community Centre site.
It is hoped that an early start can now be made on the tendering process to enable us to commence and complete construction in 2019. Further updates will be provided in due course.
Colin Thomas Chairman
Wenvoe Community Council
Public Spaces Protection Order
The Vale of Glamorgan Council is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour in relation to dog fouling
The Vale of Glamorgan has often been described as one of the best places to live in Wales. We, as a Council, are proud to have been awarded Green Flag status in a growing number of parks and Blue Flag status at Whitmore Bay and are working continuously to maintain these high standards.
The Vale of Glamorgan is a dog-friendly county. There are a number of parks, open spaces and beaches for dog walkers to take advantage of. However, there are a small number of dog owners who do not take responsibility for their pets when it comes to enjoying these open spaces.
Despite several educational interventions, such as the Dog's are Clever campaign, there continue to be issues across the Vale of Glamorgan with some irresponsible dog owners, specifically where dog faeces is not being removed. We know that the majority of dog owners are responsible and we do not want to prohibit them from enjoying the open spaces that the Vale of Glamorgan has to offer.
In order to tackle these ongoing issues the Council has the power to serve a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) under the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014. The purpose of a PSPO is to restrict persistent anti-social behaviour in public spaces. This would replace the byelaws and restrictions that are currently in place. The PSPO can last for 3 years and if breached an authorised officer could issue a Fixed Penalty Notice up to £100, which if not paid could be increased to £1000.
Proposed Restrictions. In order to introduce restrictions in the form of a PSPO the Council must consult with the community. We have produced a list of areas, based on current byelaws, and would like your input as to whether these should be covered by a PSPO.
In summary, it is proposed that the current restrictions are retained and that byelaws are replaced with Public Spaces Protection Orders. The current restrictions can be summarised as follows:
• Dog faeces should be removed from all public places by the dog owner
• Dogs are prohibited from marked sports pitches during that sports' season
• Dogs are prohibited from enclosed children's play areas
• Dogs are prohibited from a number of beaches from 01 May to 30 September.
Drop-in Sessions during August. – Officers will be at the following locations at the following times to discuss the proposals and capture feedback from stakeholders.
Porthkerry Country Park, Lodge near Café, Thur. 2 August, 3pm – 6pm
Celtic Way Community Centre, Rhoose , Mon 6 August, 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Buttrills Community Centre, Barry, Tues 7 August, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Cowbridge Leisure Centre (Reception area) Tues 14 August, 3:00pm – 6:00pm
This consultation will run from 27 June until 22 August 2018. If you have any questions please contact: consultation@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk or complete the on line survey