Rocke
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The First Week That Was in Spring5 working days in a week - and 5 days on which to have meetings of one sort or another.
Monday - fortnightly Executive Member Briefing.
This is where myself and the Chair of Education & Leisure Scrutiny Committee ( Cllr. Peter Abbott ) get updated on what's happening at the Executive level and Jason (Owen, the Executive Member for Leisure ) and us get updated by our officers on what's been happening and is coming up.
There's been some good budgetting and monitoring, within limits despite a huge hike in energy charges ( I think they're well over £100,000 above what was estimated for last year ).
We got an update on a particularly thorny problem that hopefully will soon be sorted to everyone's satisfaction.
I've been acting as a sort of bridge between a local football club and our Leisure team and hopefully one of our grounds will soon be up to Welsh League standards, due to the flexibility of our team and the efforts of the club's members. Hopefully we'll soon have a Welsh League side back in this town.
Tuesday - 'our' committee.
Our Leisure man got it in the neck about a Library for Ebbw Vale ( Libraries are part of Adult Learning, which is party of Leisure. But ourt committee is Ed & Leis anyway, if that makes sense ).
Our 'Ed' and one of his team had it regarding an update on the situation regarding Nantyglo Comp.
Our Chairman had it from one Member, who mentioned that he hadn't been in the job long and possibly wouldn't be in the borough long, given his church links and he might be moving on.
Members asking for the record to show that they were not in favour of Option 1 for the issue of Nantyglo School ( Option 1 involved the closure of Brynmawr Comp ), even though their party was.
All-in-all not a good advert for how committee's operate.
Good job no-one from the press or public was there.
Wednesday - Regeneration & Housing.
Remember I said that I'd raised the subject of reviewing double yellow lines and parking ?
Well, the report we got back stated that there are over 1,000 TROs ( Traffic Regulatory Orders, the things that make double-yellows etc. legal ) and that at a cost of £700 per time it would be too costly to do what I suggested.
Note - I didn't suggest getting rid of all of them. I didn't even advocate getting rid of any of them.
I merely suggested that we should look at the situation - PACT Meetings and us, Ward Members - and then see if there was any need to do things, what they might be, what the cost would be - and then make a decision.
Sooner or later I'll learn how to tie things down sufficiently.
So, at our next PACT Meeting I'll be preparing people to give us info and suggestions regarding parking in 'Cwmter', so I can put them forward.
Thursday - Environmental & Public Protection.
A good overview of Tidy Trev.
He started as a Council initiative, got 'privatised' as a company wholly owned by the EV and Tredegar DEv Trust - and now he's coming home.
Not onl;y does he recycle but he provides placements for people with various disadvantages. These gain experience and are trained in various aspects, in the hope that once their stint finishes they will be armed with the skills needed to obtain and maintain a mainstream job.
Some of the community working opportunities we provide - litter picking eg. - were mentioned. We have a good relationship with HMP Prescoed and some of its residents volunteer for duties with us.
It was explained that these are surplus to our services but of course you can never have too many helpers and we in turn play our part in their rehabilitation.
One member asked what risk assessments were carried out -'have they had a CRB check, for example ?'
This raised a chuckle between me and one of my colleagues and, I suspect, raised a few eyebrows elsewhere in the chamber !
Anyway, those volunteers don't have themselves put forward unless the authorities are certain all will be well.
And then once we have the details we have the final say.
(Needless to say, sex offenders and those with a history of violence need not apply ).
A major part of the meeting was taking up with PACT - a year on.
Too much to relate here ( even for me ) but we were given a comprehensive overview of what has gone on as a result of the PACT meetings and this concept of neighbourhood policing, citizens and police in tandem.
Anti-social behaviour ? - boy/girl racers, under-age drinking, dog fouling - the list was quite long and we were given details of the numbers and types of undercover operations - test purchasing of alcohol, and more open ones - stopping of cars with boom-boxes, speeding etc.
Seems the idea has merit. Like all good ideas we now need to ensure that we do all we can to ensure it works and continues to do so.
Friday - Appeals sub-committee.
An employee appealing against a decision to dismiss them.
10:00 over at the Civic.
10:15 out of there, having been told that they won't be appearing today and we have to give them time to prepare their case.
All this despite having about 2 weeks notice.
At least it gave me time to sort out a virus-stricken PC.
Also got to look into access to the acclaimed day services that Cwrt Mytton provides. One of my ward citizens has a relative who enjoys her day a week there, yet can't spend another apparently.
Not really delved much into our social services provision yet, so should eb able to give an insight into this in the near future.
Anyway, did I say 5 days this week ?
I forgot - there's still the weekend.
That's when I get beaten up about the roads and the general state of this town ( too right, because you can be assured that your anger will be channelled by me into something that will work, when I've worked out what ) . Oh, and the stupid rumours about the Council turning down prospective businesses who wanted Woolies and that Wetherspoon's prevarication is our fault.
Surely something new will come up soon ?
Cheers.
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