Rob's Weekly Round-Up

25 February 2022

Dear colleagues, 

I hope this email finds you well at the end of the working week, or for those working in our schools or who used the half term break as an opportunity for some rest and relaxation, finds you refreshed after your break. 

Winter Of Well-beingWith many more opportunities to get out and enjoy time with family and friends than this time last year I know many of you will have enjoyed a break. As always, I’d like to thank our colleagues whose work peaks at these times and whose efforts mean residents and visitors to the Vale have a wealth of choice for how to enjoy our parks, leisure and arts facilities. 

The Council’s Winter of Wellbeing programme of events for children and young people has been really well subscribed this half term. I am sure it will have given many a taste for wildlife, sport or the arts that will stay with them for the future. Diolch yn fawr to all that made it such a success. 

Central Park Play Area UpgradeOn the topic of getting out and about and the importance of keeping active, especially for the younger generations, it was great to see that the Council’s £150,000 refurbishment of the play facilities in Central Park, Barry has just been completed and opened to the public. This refurbishment is another excellent example of investment in our public spaces and a project which again evidences the fact that we work really well when colleagues come together from a range of service areas to make things happen.  On this project, thanks go to our colleagues in Planning who were able to generate and plan the use of important S106 funding and our Landscape and Parks colleagues who worked closely with our contractor on the designs and implementation.  Well done all.  Da iawn.  

Looking ahead to the new school term, Monday will be the first day for pupils at the new South Point Primary School in Rhoose. South Point is the first zero-carbon school in Wales and I’d like to highlight again the fantastic achievements of all of our colleagues who have played a role in making it happen. The project has been spearheaded by our 21st Century Schools team but as with all of our best work it has been a real Team Vale effort that has seen colleagues from across the organisation, and of course a talented teaching and support staff, work together to put the Vale at the forefront of change in Wales. 

Another great example of collaborative working is the Vale Community Resource Centre. VCRS is an integrated health and social care team based at Barry Hospital. Over the past two years it has often been the VCRS team who have stepped in to support vulnerable people when independent care agencies can’t. During the pandemic the team moved from providing a six-week service to support individuals to return to independent living to supporting those with very complex needs, some of whom have passed away while in our care. 

The strains of the team will, I know, have been great at times. Like many others they continued to work on the front line of service delivery, without the option of doing their roles from the relative safety of their homes. Considering the incredible challenges the team have faced it is nothing short of remarkable that they have just received a glowing report Care Inspectorate Wales. I would like to share and echo the words of Suzanne Clifton who when updating me on this great news said:

I continue to be so very proud of this integrated team, the leadership they demonstrate is so strong. They pull together and deliver, supporting our workforce to deliver to some of our most vulnerable clients. To receive this inspection report that independently verifies the work they do, is really appreciated.

Well said Suzanne and thank you for contacting me to share the inspection report as well as highlighting the work of the team. I am sure this is not be the last recognition their work will receive. Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

Call Out Only CampaignI’d also like to highlight the national #calloutonly campaign that the Council is currently supporting. The word only is often used by men to justify sexual harassment and to belittle women’s genuine fears. Our workplaces are safe and inclusive spaces but we can still all help tackle this. In particular, when men call out this behaviour, they help to change the narrative that harms both women and men.

I started this message by referencing the importance of S106 funding when delivering schemes within our communities and I end the message by giving a shout out to a colleague that I have worked closely with for approaching 20 years.  Victoria (Vicky) Robinson joined the Council as a Planning year-out student in 2002, when I was the Head of Planning and Transportation.  Vicky stayed with us after completing her qualifications and was responsible for putting in place a new approach to the management of S106 contributions.  As a result our ability to generate funding from developers and our ability to spend that income in our communities is unrivalled in Wales.   Vicky leaves us for an exciting role within Welsh Government heading up the Planning inspectorate in Wales.  I’m sure colleagues across the organisation will join me in thanking you for all your commitment and enthusiasm over the last 20 years and wishing you all the very best in your new role. 

As always thanks to you all for your efforts this week. Diolch yn fawr pawb. 

Rob.