That was the (delayed) short week that was

Rocke · That was the (delayed) short week that was

Did this last Friday but technical issues ( not to do with this site ) meant it didn't get posted.

Anyway, last week saw me chairing an Agenda setting meeting.
This is where our officers bring forward issues that they feel should be debated by our Education & Leisure Scrutiny Committee and also things that Members have asked for.
So our next meeting will contain updates on some Estyn Inspections and a presentation on how Adult Learning initiatives are going.

Wednesday saw me, along with my fellow Abertillery Comp. Governors, having a briefing from some of our Education experts ( and their overall manager ) regarding the current situation on the proposed closure of Nantyglo Comp and how it will affect Aber Comp.
Now I've got it from both ends, since I'm also on the School Development Board that's sorting out the thorny issue regarding good quality secondary education and falling pupil numbers ( and hence contributions from WAG ).

Next week ( ie. now ) sees a lot of peripheral meetings - CLEAN, PACT, Ebbw Fach Members re. the reorganisation of secondary education in our valley etc. etc.

More of that soon.

Just one political matter ( late now, I know ).
Cllr. McCarthy's letter in The Gazette last week regarding Llan's Pithead Baths.

Q1 - Who has beena Ward Member there for a number of years ?
Q2 - Who has had a spell as Leader of the Council ?
Q3 - Who should be giving reasons as much as bringing other people into the frame ?

3 questions, but only 1 answer, I think.

Carolyn

There was an interesting reply to his letter re: Llan pit head baths in this weeks edition. Councillor McCarthy did have the power to do something about it and it has been in that state for years therefore why has nothing been done before now.

http://tilleryonline.zaphod.myfreeforum.org/about979.html

jools

I think my local councillors have been distracted by the big projects (new school, stute etc) and have let the bread and butter issues slide. Unfortunately its these issues that have the biggest impact on village/town life.

The residents have been asking for action against this eyesore for years, so this latest publicity should be no surpise to them.

As for the LLan pit memorial, it's shameful that it has been left to deteriorate. I would have though relocating it to the new school would have been proposed during its planning stage. Then the children could have been reminded of their heritage.

Crying or Very sad

Rocke

Carolyn:

I suspected he was setting himself up for such a reply.

jools:

Do you know anyone in Llan who would head up a clean-up of the memorial ?
I - and I'm sure a whole load of people in this area - would actively support not just a tidy up but a sustained plan to make sure this is maintained at all times, such as regular tidy-ups, perhaps even a facelift.

I think the initial spark has to come from within the Llanhilleth community, for a number of reasons.
All it would take is a look at what's required to make it accessible and in the first instance clean and tidy, then just set a date, giving people plenty of time to plan for a few hours down there ( perhaps a month's notice ).
A contact number/e-mail and that's it.

If nothing's heard by the end of this month then I'll start lying on a few Llan people I know.

Dai 6

Hedley's letter in this weeks gazette is a little testy. I don't think it will win him any supporters.

Morris Minor

Who will be suprised if it doesn't? Only him Cool

"Laughable" that we could expect anything more from the leader of the Labour party and one time leader of the council? His reply certainly made me laugh! Why not! He constantly reminds us that he can do so much better than the current leader, given the opportunity and more time. Did he expect people not to question the over -inflated egotistical powers that he consistently brags about.

His usual paranoiac reply, "they've got it in for me", followed by, the usual whinging, rattle shaking, self -pitying response we are all so familiar with. Concluded of course with a trumpet blowing finale of self delusion and injured pride. Laughing

Rocke

Wasn't at Council today ( yesterday ).

And Cllr. Scully was in his seat.

Anyway, if he wants lessons in how to handle things in print I'm sure my contributions will prove very helpful.

1) Never ( that's N-E-V-E-R ) slag anyone off.
By all means show them to be wrong, their views ill-conceived and/or that you have a better alternative, but never just grizzle.
All you do is make yourself out to be a serial complainer, even fixated about the subject of your derision.

2) Resist the temptation to use clever language, especially by constructing sayings and phrases of your own ( such as 'off on a frolic of his own' ).
Readers understand universal language and phrases so the use of ones that you only understand not only fails to get your message across but leaves you open to accusations of being on another planet.

3) Always look at your submissions as one of your mortal enemies would. Do you have/have you had anything to do with what you are now complaining about ? If and when they respond are you ready for them ?

I think there are two letters in this week's Gazette that are a wonderful example of what I'm trying to get over.
The history of them ?

Pithead Baths:

Letter bemoaning withdrawal of funding/CPO. AM's response is unhelpful.

The letter writer makes unsubstantiated subjective comment about AM's response. Would have been better to justify the comment by recvealing how it was unhelpful.
Writer also in a position for a number of years to lobby for action and indeed perceived by members of the public to be in a position ( albeit for a short time ) to 'click their fingers' and get it sorted.

Oops - I can see a wonderful reply in the following week's edition.
And indeed there is.

The response to that ( bear in mind that the correspondent was was a member of the public ) ?
See Morris Minor's view of it. I think they more or less sum it up.

Talk about making a rod for your own back.

The other letter ?
Seemingly concerned member of the public railing about councillors' pays and pensions.

Reply ? - a considered one, explaining things and suggesting that the writer should ensure they and the public are getting value for money.
It's not the money, but the payback in terms of hard word and representation that is perhaps more important.

That's upset the original letter writer. Clearly they've got an ulterior motive, and have fallen for the potential booby trap in the response.
Aireated, launches a personal attack, making themselves look pompous and arrogant into the bargain.

So, reply no. 2.
A total demolition job on the calculating and reasoning skills of said writer. Correspondence closed.

Case closed as well.

A tale of 2 councillors, the Old Ways and the New Wave.
As they say once a year, out with the old and in with the new.

Evolution - adapt or perish.

jools

Rocke:

I think Den Hughes organises a clean-up in Llan with volunteers, he has certianly helped me with clean-ups in the past. Also, I thnk Lyn Mahoney and the residents association have been involved.

Rocke

Thanks jools.

Lyn's name has been mentioned to me by Mike Bartlett.
He's going to have a word with him.

Hopefully The Gazette ( perhaps via Community News ) will have a piece in there announcing a work party, so there will be a big enough task force to do the memorial justice.