07 May 2021

Dear Colleagues,

As I write to you today votes are being counted to determine the outcome of the Senedd and Police and Crime Commissioner elections that were held yesterday, 6 May. Last week I passed on my best wishes to all involved in running the election, under very challenging circumstances.  With the PCC ballot papers not being counted until Sunday it will be a long weekend for the teams. Fortunately, our own Big Fresh catering company are on hand to provide caffeine and snacks. Thanks again to all involved for making this a safe election and working so hard. This weekend is the culmination of months of planning..  As we know 16 and 17 year old's have been allowed to vote in the Senedd elections for the first time. However, to vote, people must have registered to do so and I'd like to congratulate all teams who have been involved in ensuring that registration of young people to vote in the Vale of Glamorgan is the highest in Wales.  For example, there has been positive engagement work carried out by Youth Service colleagues to raise awareness and I am grateful to the team for their efforts in ensuring that young people have their voices heard. 

This week has also seen the further easing of some restrictions which means our Leisure Centres, managed by Legacy Leisure, have re-opened to the public for the first time since last year. I am aware through on-going discussions and feedback that this has all gone well and I’m sure residents will be happy to return to gym classes and swimming lessons! 

One of the key factors that is allowing for the easing of restrictions is the successful vaccine rollout. More than 400,000 doses have now been administered across Cardiff and the Vale. Many of you will by now have had at least one dose. I’d like to remind all staff that in most circumstances you should be entitled to work flexibly around your vaccine appointment if it  falls during working hours. If you have any questions about this then you should speak to your manager. I would encourage everyone to take up the vaccine if they wish to do so. 

In other news this week, Whitmore High School staff and pupils have now moved into their brand-new school building. Our comms team and Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration, Cllr Lis Burnett, were lucky enough to have a tour of the school on Wednesday. The facilities and design that the 21st Century Schools team, in collaboration with the school and developers Morgan Sindall, have delivered are of the highest quality and standard. We all hope you enjoy your new school. Keep an eye out for some media coverage of the school’s opening this weekend as well.

Speaking of schools, I would like to once again thank the Schools ICT and Data Team, who last week took delivery of and distributed over 2,500 chromebooks to individual schools in 3 days! This latest batch of new equipment adds to a total of between 6,000 and 7,000 devices delivered to schools since October. I must thank Chris, Ross, Pete, Sean, Emily, Alex and Becky for their ‘all hands on deck’ approach to this. I’m sure our schools and pupils are very grateful for your support. 

Someone else who has been very busy lately, in her spare time, is Lynne Clarke who works at C1V. Lynne has taken on a project to convert the central courtyard in the Civic offices into a garden space where hopefully staff can take some time away from their desks, when they return to the office. Lynne has been very busy during her lunch breaks, after work and at weekends, painting, jet-washing and planting. Well done Lynne, excellent work and I look forward to visiting the garden myself in the very near future. l Thanks also to Adam Sargent’s team for providing some bedding plants and compost to assist Lynne with this project.  Well done all. 

Thanks also to Rachael Slee who has been supporting Lynne with this project. Rachael has also recently arranged for a new company to clean the Merchant Navy memorial at the Civic Offices. A local company called Clean Sweep won the contract to undertake the clean using a Thermotech system which essentially steam cleans the stone.  A jet wash system cannot be used as the structure is made of sandstone so that method would erode the memorial.  I think you’ll agree it looks great.  Thank you Rachael and team for arranging this. 

Some of you may be aware that we have been consulting on our climate change challenge plan over recent weeks. The Project Zero consultation will be closing next Wednesday, 12 May. If you haven’t done so already, I would ask anyone with an interest in climate change to please read the plans and respond to the consultation. This is a really important topic for the Council and will shape how we work in the years ahead – we would really appreciate your input.

I hope you all enjoy your weekends.

Diolch yn fawr.

Rob