Robs Weekly Round-up

10 February 2023

Dear colleagues,

I’d like to start this week’s message by paying tribute to staff who recently received long-service awards.

The Leader and I have attended two sessions over the last couple of weeks in recognition of the hard work and dedication displayed by these individuals.

The success of public service is built on the commitment of colleagues that received these awards, and I’d like to again thank them for those efforts over such an extended period. This type of incredible public service is very much appreciated, not only by myself and other colleagues, both at an officer and political level, but also the residents who have been served so well. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Presentations were made to colleagues across the organisation who had completed either 25 or 40-years’ service. I am also aware that some people entitled to these awards chose not to attend as they dislike such attention, which is perfectly understandable. So, if I wasn’t able to thank you in person, please accept my thanks and congratulations through this message.

Those receiving 40-year awards were: Miles Punter, Elaine Edgerton, Michael Hyett and Paul Russell.

Paul Everest, Nicola Spear, Sharon Lewis, Rachel Evans, Keith Eveleigh, Lance Carver, Beverly Hopkins, Michael Loughman, Christina James, Lewis Williams, Paul Hartrey, Fiona Lambert and Kathryn Clifton were recognised for 25 years’ service.

Two members of the Shared Regulatory Services team have also just reached significant milestones.

Denise Davies and Jane Hartshorn recently celebrated 40 years of continuous service in Local Government, both starting work on the same day in January 1983. That is a fantastic achievement - very well done.

Turning attention from long service to those just starting out at the Council, as people are now spending more time in the workplace, our Welcome to the Vale sessions are back in full swing and scheduled regularly.  These in-person sessions are vitally important for all those who have recently joined Team Vale. They help staff understand more of how we function, the importance of the organisation to our communities and more importantly what makes us tick. All the sessions are in my diary so I can get to meet all our new colleagues, and I was pleased to attend the most recent session on Tuesday. Please ensure that all of you who are new to the organisation take up the opportunity to attend these sessions – they are really useful.

This week, we have been marking Race Equality Week and National Apprenticeship Week with a range of content on Staffnet.

Colleagues were asked to take part in a series of challenges to raise awareness of issues relating to race in the workplace. Thank you to those that took part in the exercise. I hope you found it useful and it helped improve your understanding of a very important subject. Increasing appreciation of the sensitivities around race is beneficial for everyone and a priority for the Council as we look to maintain a tolerant, inclusive, accepting working environment.

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is an annual week-long celebration that shines a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

Apprenticeships allow an individual to work while simultaneously training towards a nationally recognised qualification.

This year’s theme was Skills for Life, emphasising that apprenticeships can help people acquire the skills and knowledge for a rewarding career and help employers develop a talented workforce.

The Council offers a variety of apprenticeship opportunities, ranging from entry-level roles to upskilling existing employees at various stages of their career. 

There are details of how apprenticeships have benefitted Council colleagues Gareth George and Ollie Williams as well as the department they work for on Staffnet, where information on current opportunities is also available.

I’m pleased to announce that, in addition to the Alps, electric pool cars are now available at the Civic Offices.

Last year, the Council took its first delivery of Hyundai Kona Evs, which replaced a number of diesel-powered cars, greatly reducing our emissions.

The introduction of these vehicles is important as we continue with our Project Zero initiative to make the Authority carbon neutral by 2030.

Information on how to charge the cars is available on Staffnet along with details of parking arrangements.

I have spoken regularly in previous messages about the Council’s budget proposals and ongoing financial planning.

By way of a brief update, our budget consultation closes on Wednesday, after which responses will be analysed and used to guide the way forward.

The proposals will also be further considered by Cabinet and Scrutiny Committees before being finalised at a meeting of Full Council next month.

I will continue to keep you up to speed with the latest developments on a crucial piece of work and would again like to thank finance colleagues for their continued efforts in this area.

Elsewhere, the Council’s beach hut draw is now live, offering staff and residents the opportunity to hire a hut on Barry Island’s Eastern Prominade for a year.

They boast spectacular views across Whitmore Bay and a colourful bolt hole to enjoy when visiting the coast.

Interest can be registered online, with a draw to reveal the successful entrants taking place on March 6.

Lastly, I wanted to draw your attention to the latest activity at Penarth Pier Pavilion.

We have been hugely successful in improving this building and restoring it as a community asset since taking over operational duties a couple of years ago.

The Big Fresh Café and Bar has opened there, along with Snowcat Cinema, while it is also used to host a range of classes and events, not to mention weddings.

Now, new decking is being installed around the Pavilion and on balcony areas, with lighting sunk into some of the boards.

That will allow this iconic building to be properly illuminated at night and also means it can be bathed in a particular colour to mark various memorial and awareness days.

On top of that, Pavilion Manager Karen Davies has recently arranged for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to set up a residency there.

This will involve some of the Country’s most talented up-and-coming musicians putting on concerts as well as community activities such as creative sessions for toddlers.

Well done Karen and a big thank you to Trevor Baker, Carole Tyley and the Big Fresh team, Colin Smith and everyone else involved in making the pavilion and the pier such a triumph.

Thanks too for your efforts this week – they remain very much appreciated.

Have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

Diolch yn fawr,

Rob