05 February 2021
Dear Colleagues,
I write to you at the end of another busy week, to provide you with an update on progress this week in the Vale of Glamorgan. I am pleased to be able to say that things are moving in the right direction. Case numbers continue to decline, and the mass vaccination programme is continuing at a pace. This is the picture across Wales, which demonstrates that what we’ve all done over the past few weeks is starting to have an impact. But as the Welsh Government has re-iterated, we’re not quite in a position where restrictions can be relaxed yet.
The graphic below shows an up-to-date picture of how the COVID-19 vaccine roll out is progressing in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
The mass vaccination centre at Holm View leisure centre on Skomer Road in Barry is due to begin operating from Monday. I will provide you with an update on how that roll-out has progressed next week.
In this week’s message I’d like to highlight and focus on a a few examples of praise and thank you messages for various staff that I have received over the last week. These demonstrate the value of the work that we continue to deliver despite very difficult and challenging circumstances, and where our staff continue to make a very real difference.
Firstly, one of our adult learning tutors Sian Lloyd has been praised by a student of Palmerston Community Learning Centre. Sian helped this individual to re-enter the workplace by supporting them to overcome their fear of technology. The learner said:
"The courses teach and enhance skills, but also have an impact on the attitude and well- being of the students. I am very grateful to Sian, who is a real asset to your team."
It is examples like this, where you can truly appreciate the difference our staff make to the lives of individuals, that make you feel proud. Diolch yn fawr Sian for your role in #TeamVale.
I was also pleased to receive an email this week from a local taxi driver, who praised Jill Gorin and her team for their work supporting local businesses with their discretionary grant applications. In their email they said:
“The team at the Vale council is doing a fantastic job, especially during this difficult time. I have spoken to Jill many times and I have found her very courteous, respectful, and very well spoken. Jill and her team are providing a world class service.”
It was great to read such high praise for our officers who are supporting an ever-changing process, which I know has been very challenging. Da iawn Jill and Adrienne and others from within the team and across the Council who have been at the forefront of supporting businesses during the pandemic.
TTP colleagues have also this week received a letter of thanks from the Directors of contact tracing at Welsh Government and Chief Operating Officer for NHS Wales. The co-signed letter stated that they wanted to personally express their thanks for the tremendous efforts our contact tracers have made in their roles. I’d like to echo these thanks. Contact tracers play a vital role in protecting our communities and keeping Wales safe and we really appreciate all your efforts.
Finally, our Principal Civil Protection Officer, Debbie Spargo has once again been praised by her colleagues for the role she has played in the Council’s response to COVID-19. Debbie has coordinated our response not only to Covid, which has been ongoing for over 10 months now, but has also dealt with other emergencies such as the flooding incident that occurred at the end of December. Debbie has been praised by her colleagues in Emergency planning, one of whom has said
"She has been an excellent mentor and manager to me. When issues or problems arise as they so often do in our world, she has this amazing skill of coming up with solutions or a range of options. She is also not afraid to say when things have gone wrong but also tries to look for alternatives."
It’s this kind of support that we have needed to steer us through the various problems that have arisen over the past 10 months. Each week new decisions need to be taken on how to deal with the crisis and Debbie is always on hand to make suggestions. I’m very grateful to her and her brilliant team for their work. These are just a small number of examples of the brilliant work that has taken place over the past few months.
They are cases that have been raised directly with me and I am incredibly proud to share them with you all through this message. I know there are many, many more similar examples of colleagues and teams across the organisation and if you have a colleague or team you would like to give a shout out to, please don’t forget about our shout out page on Staffnet+. I enjoy reading these and know that small acts of recognition from others, make a real difference when we’re all working so hard to keep our communities safe.
I hope you all have a good weekend. Stay safe.
Diolch yn fawr,
Rob