Tuesday 10 August 2010

Half of councils in Wales miss recycling targets

Almost half of local authorities in Wales have missed recycling targets set by the Welsh Assembly Government. Councils were told to recycle and compost 40% of household waste in 2009/10, but 10 fell short, preliminary figures obtained by BBC Wales show.

Ministers say they believe the target would have been hit were it not for the impact of winter weather.

Read the full story here.

Sunday 4 April 2010

Powys County Council pay London consultancy £30,000-£32,000 for spending cuts PR opportunity

Cash-strapped Powys County Council are to pay London-based consultancy 'Research for Today £30,000-£32,000' to provide workshops, where council tax payers get a say on where Powys County Council should make cuts in it's spending.

Cllr Stephen Hayes, portfolio holder for Corporate Governance and Corporate Property, said: “It’s not just about finding out what the public think we should do with the council tax but the level of service they want and the level at which we should stop spending on that particular service and start spending on other services.”

Though any final decisions on spending would still be taken by councillors in conjunction with the council’s corporate plan and Welsh Assembly Government guidelines.

Cllr Hayes explained that bringing in an outside consultation company had been favoured over the cheaper options of a web-only consultation and an in-house consultation due to the 'wider range of residents they will be able to reach' and the 'expertise that Research for Today will be able to bring to the process'.

I guess some tax payers may question why such large sums of money are being frittered away on expensive London based consultancies when there are in-house and local options available at a fraction of the cost. Bearing in mind final decisions would actually be taken by councillors anyway some might even question why we're spending this money in the first place.

Cllr Russell George said: “I know members within my ward will say ‘Why are you spending £30,000 on this? Isn’t this your job, we elected you to represent us and listen to our views’.”

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Llandrindod Wells lakeside skate park

Llandrindod Wells lakeside skate park


Nice view here of the local skate park, situated in the lakeside gardens.

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Rules breached by Bridgend MP

A BBC investigation reveals that over 20 MPs, including Madeleine Moon, MP for Bridgend, have breached the rules relating to registering and declaring overseas trips paid for by foreign governments.

Full details can be read on the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8576327.stm

Other MPs who have breached the rules:

David Amess
Norman Baker
Crispin Blunt
Graham Brady
Colin Breed
David Burrowes
Andrew Dismore
Jim Dobbin
Alan Duncan
Liam Fox
Mike Hancock
Lindsay Hoyle
Paul Keetch
Bob Laxton
David Lepper
Andrew Love
Mike Penning
Andrew Rosindell
Richard Spring
Theresa Villiers
Rudi Vis

Friday 19 March 2010

School closure action group to lobby councillors over closures

Concerned parents and governors are lobbying Powys councillors as they meet to discuss the gloomy future for several high schools. Members of Powys Against Cuts in Education (PACE), will lobby councillors before they meet in Llandrindod Wells.

A spokesperson for PACE said: "All of Powys's high schools are vital to their local communities and provide by any measure a high standard of education as well as a uniquely caring environment for the young people of Powys.

Their sixth forms are both successful and essential to the life of the 13 schools."

PACE is launching it's website www.savepowysschools.com to publicise developments.

In other news there has been a £2.2m boost to be spent improving five Gypsy and traveller sites in Wales. More here.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Llandrindod tower thing




Strange brick tower 'thing' on the main road into Llandrindod Wells, just behind the bus stop. Is it art?





Public sector told 'change working or run out of money'

Friday 12 March 2010

The Bridge of Death - Llandrindod Wells Rock Park

The Bridge of Death - Llandrindod Wells Rock Park


One of the more worrying aspects of a walk around the Rock Park in Llandrindod Wells is a trip across the deep gorge via the Bridge of Death. As you can see from the photo above it's pretty rotten in places, and hasn't been maintained for years. If the 60ft drop onto rocks doesn't get you then the spiked railings will.

Call me unimaginative if you will, but I think ratepayers money should have been spent repairing the rotten boards and making the bridge safe, before shelling out on wooden gargoyles, a website for wooden gargoyles, and outdoor gym equipment.