(i) Mayor (or person presiding)

(ii) Members of the Cabinet

(iii) Chief Executive

 

Mayor

 

The Mayor announced that she had recently attended ‘Sandville’ Porthcawl, where there was an annual thanksgiving service. Sandville is run entirely by charitable donations it gives many people which have been going there for 30 plus years, respite to families as well as a range of therapies and treatment.  It is open to the public where individuals can take part in Reike, Massage and a range of treatments for a donation to Sandville.  It was an inspiring place with 100 plus volunteers, many of which have been going there to help for over 30 years. The venue had a lovely atmosphere and very family oriented.

 

The Mayor confirmed that she was pleased to attend the opening of the Hearing Centre in Boots the chemists in Caroline Street, where anyone could make an appointment and have a free hearing test. Everyone can obtain advice on any hearing difficulties and see all the latest technology and equipment.

 

The Mayor had also visited the Millennium Centre in Cardiff for the St David’s Awards and saw the finalists receive Certificates and a pin. They were from all walks of life and different categories, some of which were community, bravery etc. the finalists will now have an Award Ceremony in March.

 

She had attended the High Sheriff’s Ball in the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, where £4,500 was raised on the evening with an Auction and Raffle. The target the High Sheriff has set is £10,000, which the Mayor stated that she hoped he will reach before his year is over in April. Lamau is a charity for the homeless.  

 

The Mayor announced that she was told of some real life stories where people have turned their lives around. Again the volunteers and staff who work with the homeless are a dedicated team and if determination is anything to go by, this was abundant on the night. She wished them good luck in the future, to ensure no one has to sleep in our streets in some of the worst weather we have had for the last 30 years.

 

The Mayor confirmed that she was pleased to attend the Dementia Launch in the Pavilion Porthcawl, where we had a number of speakers and a power point presentation.  She reminded all Councillors to go to the Web site to sign up for the Dementia friendly training with a view to go on to being a Champion so that the training and awareness of this awful illness can be cascaded throughout the County, and make people aware what to look for in friends and relatives, as this could affect anyone from any walk of life at any time and does not discriminate.

 

The Mayor attended the Musical ‘Carousel’ performed by Bridgend Youth Theatre in the Pavilion Porthcawl. They were very professional and the singing and dancing was an absolute delight. She extended her thanks to the cast, people behind the scenes, parents and grandparents, and all those who supported this wonderful Musical.

 

Finally, the Mayor advised that she had also attended a charity tea in the Heronston Hotel, where the BYT performed singing and dancing with songs from the Shows.  The talent we have locally she felt, was awe inspiring and they were all a credit to Bridgend.

 

Deputy Leader

 

The Deputy Leader announced, that last week Bridgend County Borough Council was featured prominently by BBC Breakfast News as part of coverage designed to highlight new UK recycling figures.

 

These new figures have revealed that Wales is doing better than England, Scotland and Ireland, and the BBC had chosen to use Bridgend County Borough Council as an example of how it is possible not only to hit new recycling targets, but to exceed them altogether.

 

In fact, the presenter stated that “Bridgend Council is achieving rates that other parts of the UK can only dream of.”

 

Two local residents were interviewed at random, both of whom were in favour of the scheme, and the footage included a demonstration of how our scheme works, animated videos, local statistics and more.

 

This was an excellent opportunity to reach a very large audience indeed, and he was delighted to see such a positive piece of reporting.

 

Interim Corporate Director – Education and Family Support

 

The Interim Corporate Director – Education and Family Support, confirmed that a decision had been taken to close all schools in the County Borough this week on Thursday and Friday, due to the snow that had been forecast for South Wales.

 

This decision had been taken on the grounds of health and Safety for pupils, parents and teaching staff alike. This would be the case he added, unless any further updates indicated otherwise.

 

Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration

 

The Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration was sure that Members will have noted the most recent round of school categorisation information issued by Welsh Government, with this categorisation being based on several criteria including support needs, and schools are grouped, green, yellow, amber or red. This revealed that 38 out of 48 primary schools and seven out of nine secondary schools have been categorised as receiving either ‘green’ or ‘yellow’ support in Bridgend County Borough.

 

All three special schools and the pupil referral unit have been categorised as ‘green’ or ‘yellow’.

 

Eight primary schools have been placed in the ‘amber’ category, and two are in the ‘red’ category. Two of our nine secondary schools are also in the ‘amber’ category, with none placed in ‘red’.

 

He was pleased to see the County Borough continuing to display a trend of overall improvement, and we are considering the report in further detail as we look at how we and our partners in the Central South Consortium Joint Education Service can work with all local schools to offer help and support.

 

The Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration briefly mentioned that the Jennings Building in Porthcawl had been shortlisted for a major national award by the Royal Town Planning Institute. Nominated under the Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture category, the Building would be competing against the likes of the Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre, and the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Darlington Hippodrome. Just to be nominated in this 40 year old scheme was a major achievement, and he was sure that Members would be keeping their fingers crossed for when the winners were announced in May.

 

He then announced that new Members might not be aware, that a few months ago we had similar news concerning another of our County towns, Pencoed. An Affordable Housing Project was built be Jehu Ltd at Heol y Geifr, the former Bayswater Tubes brownfield site. This was a £5m scheme for Hafod Housing. LABC is an organisation representing all local authority Building Control teams in England and Wales. In the LABC Cymru Awards, the Pencoed development won the “best large volume housing project” award, and Jehu’s Senior Site Manager Glyn Rees, won the best Site Supervisor award. The Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration, felt this was excellent news for the County Borough.

 

Cabinet Member – Communities

 

The Cabinet Member - Communities wished to mention that this week has marked Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, which aims to highlight the need to do more to ensure that people across the UK can afford to live warmer, healthier, happier lives.

The awareness day is organised by the charity National Energy Action, and they have acknowledged our own efforts by presenting the Council with an award for the Caerau mine water project, which as you know is seeking to help cut fuel bills in the Llynfi Valley for up to a thousand homes.

 

He extended his thanks to all that had been concerned in this.

 

As work gets underway at Porthcawl’s town beach, last Thursday he had participated with an ITV interview about the project which highlighted a recent drop-in public information session organised by the contractors, Alun Griffiths.

 

The session was well attended and offered people their first glimpse of an artist’s impression of the finished work, which he believed was very well received indeed.

 

He was looking forward to see the project progress, and believed that this is going to be another landmark development for Porthcawl.

 

Finally, the Cabinet Member – Communities invited Members to join him in thanking the Highways Department for their excellent work with gritting that had allowed roads comprising the main highway network to remain open, in what had been inclement weather conditions the last few days. Also, with worse weather predicted in the next couple of days, he sent on behalf of Council, a message of his support and appreciation in light of the increased demands that would be put upon them further during this period.

 
Cabinet Member – Social Services and Early Help

 

The Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help, confirmed that Porthcawl, Kenfig Hill, Pyle and Cornelly had become the latest areas to be recognised as dementia-friendly communities in Bridgend County Borough.

 

More than 1,500 people from local businesses, shops, churches, schools and voluntary organisations have signed up to the Dementia Friendly scheme.

 

This has been developed as a partnership between Bridgend County Borough Council, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, BAVO and the Alzheimer’s Society, and has been embraced by local town and community councils. 

 

It follows the success of a previous scheme set up in Maesteg town centre in 2016, and he was delighted to see that it is being extended across further communities.

 

Members may want to inform their constituents to look out for the special ‘dementia friendly’ badges and stickers at participating premises.

 

He concluded by stating that as a Dementia Friendly Authority, Members could register themselves as Dementia Friendly Councillors in their own right. He could arrange for this to be carried out on block together with appropriate Officers. He was very committed to complete this he considered.

 

Cabinet Member Wellbeing and Future Generations

 

The Cabinet Member Wellbeing and Future Generations advised that given that Members will shortly be discussing the budget for next year, she thought Members would be interested to learn that our ongoing partnership with Halo Leisure is continuing to deliver fresh investments despite the challenges that were being faced.

 

This time, around £200,000 worth of upgrades have been provided at local leisure centres in Pencoed, Pyle, Ynysawdre and Maesteg.

 

The improvements range from site upgrades to new kit and specialist cardio-vascular training equipment.

 

With further upgrades planned in coming months, it’s great to see that the partnership is providing local people with access to facilities that will help them to lead healthier, active lifestyles, she concluded.