Robs Weekly Round-Up

11 November 2022

Dear colleagues,

The Council has this week launched its Warm Welcome – Croeso Cynnes campaign for Autumn and Winter 2022/23.

Warm Welcome is a key part of our work to support citizens during the cost-of-living crisis. Thanks to the innovative thinking of many of our colleagues as well as some of our community partners the scheme opens up locations across the Vale to create a network of community spaces.

Each of the spaces will offer a warm and inviting place for people to come together at no cost, enjoy a range of activities, and access cost of living support. 

When launching the scheme this week the Leader said: “The cost-of-living crisis is forcing many people to make impossible decisions. Having to choose between paying energy bills or buying food should simply not be acceptable for anyone in any community.”

I know these comments will resonate with many people. At times like these the role of our organisation is to do all we can to support those that need us. We always knew that as we moved into Autumn and Winter the need for our services would grow. To address this, we wanted to not only increase the support on offer but find a way to bring our communities together.

The Warm Welcome scheme is the result of months of hard work. Throughout the summer teams across the Council worked to prepare services to provide advice and support to those that need it.

Starting this week more than 20 locations will be offering a Warm Welcome to residents. Activities on offer include cooking classes, children’s activities, craft sessions, all alongside the chance to have a warm drink in a warm space. Details on what’s on offer can be viewed using an interactive map on the online Cost-of-Living Hub. The Hub also provides information on accessing cost of living support grants and how to access advice and other support from the Council and a range of partners. 

There were countless colleagues involved in the work that has made the launch of Warm Welcome possible. I’d like to thank them all while also giving a particular mention to Andreas Piers-Plumley in our Strategy and Partnership team and Amy Auton in our Communications team. Andreas has only recently joined the Council and has set himself a very high standard by coordinating such an impactful piece of work. Meanwhile Amy’s work, alongside colleagues in our ICT Services team, to ensure easy online access to all of our Cost of Living support will make sure as many people as possible are able to access our services. Diolch yn fawr.

We expect the number of spaces featured in the Warm Welcome campaign to grow in the coming weeks and months as we work with local community groups and some of our voluntary and third sector partners to help them develop their own schemes. There may also be ways in which more of our services can support the initiative and if you can think of a way in which your team could get involved please get in touch to let me know.

I never lose sight of the important role the Council plays within the community and earlier today was proud to be a part of the annual Remembrance Day service outside the Civic Offices. As always it was a fitting tribute to service personnel and conducted admirably by the Mayor. This was in no small part down to the hard work of our Democratic Services team as well as all those staff and elected members who took part in the service and observed the silence at 11am.

This year’s commemorations were given greater impact by the unveiling last week of two new memorial benches at Gladstone Gardens. Jointly funded by the Vale and Barry Town Council, the benches feature a special commemorative design of soldiers and poppies, as well as a personalised plaque.

As well as colleagues in Democratic Services I’d like to thank those in our Neighbourhood Services team who led on this project for again ensuring the Vale lives up to its duties of civic leadership.

Finally, I’d like to say thanks to our Payroll team. Last week I shared the news that a new national pay offer had been agreed. In the time since the team has been working very hard to make sure colleagues will see the pay increase, and seven months of backpay, in their November salary payments. They have moved very quickly to make this happen, at the same time as being heavily involved in the work to rollout Oracle Fusion alongside colleagues in Finance. Their desire to get the work done in time for this month’s payments speaks volumes about their professionalism and desire to do the best for their colleagues. Diolch yn fawr pawb.

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

Rob.