Robs Weekly Round-Up

05 May 2023

Dear colleagues,

I’d like to start this week with the news that the Council’s switch to electric vehicles in 2022 has so far saved more than 13 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The introduction of electric vehicles will play a key role in us achieving our Project Zero goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.

The electric vehicles which now make-up the majority of our pool car fleet replaced a number of diesel-powered cars last year. With over 4000 miles on each, the new EV cars have reduced the Council’s CO2 emissions by an estimated 13,554kg so far. We have also recently taken delivery of a number of electric vans which are now being put into use. 

All of the vehicles have been purchased and are maintained by our Transport Services team, while colleagues in Property have overseen the installation of charging points at the Civic Offices and Alps Depot. You might have seen the new planting scheme at the Civic Offices around the charging points which has been designed by Jon Greatrex to complement the chargers and increase the biodiversity in the area. This is a great example of teams working together to deliver on our commitments to the Vale. Diolch pawb.

On Wednesday this week, the Leader and I met with colleagues from across the public and third sector in the Vale to sign off the Public Services Board’s Wellbeing Plan for 2023-2028. This ambitious plan sets out how we can work together to improve the wellbeing of residents in the Vale by taking collective action. The plan focuses on three wellbeing objectives:

A more resilient and greener Vale - by understanding and making the changes necessary as individuals, communities and organisations in response to the climate and nature emergencies.

A more active and healthier Vale - by encouraging and enabling people of all ages to be more active and to promote the benefits of embracing a healthier lifestyle.

A more equitable and connected Vale - by tackling the inequities that exist across the Vale, engaging with our communities and providing better opportunities and support to make a lasting difference.

Work will now continue on three priority workstreams to respond to the climate and nature emergencies, work with the people who live in our communities that experience the highest levels of deprivation and become an Age Friendly Vale.

I will share more information in the coming weeks, but would like to say a huge thank you to the team led by Helen Moses for this work that will make a real difference to how we work, and to the lives of our residents. Diolch Helen – well done.

Also in the news this week has been the successful pilot of our new Play Streets project which is led by our Play Team. Play Streets, or playing out sessions, are temporary road closures which create a safe space for children to play together outside their homes. These have already proved popular elsewhere in the UK and the team have been working with Play Wales to bring the initiative to the Vale.

Play has well known health and wellbeing benefits and the project is part of the Council’s plan to build an active and healthy Vale. The pilot will continue for the next 12 months and if it is successful the scheme will be rolled out to other locations. If this happens then Play Streets should also have a positive impact on air quality by reducing carbon emissions during road closure periods and so again contribute to Project Zero. I’d like to thank the team that have worked so hard to launch the pilot. The pictures of those children and young people enjoying the session say it all about just what a difference your work is making.

If you’d like to know more about what we are doing to tackle climate change and how you can get involved then Learning at Work Week 2023 will give you then chance. In Learning at Work Week, which runs from 15 to 19 May, we’ll be joining organisations across the country in celebrating the importance of continuous learning and development. ‘Creating a Better Future Together: Discussing Project Zero's Climate Change Efforts and Your Ideas’ is one of the first sessions for which bookings have opened and colleagues can sign up now. There will be many more activities as part of the week and details of these will be shared ahead of the fifteenth.

As you may have already seen this week we have a new colleague who is asking everyone to take the time to brush up on their knowledge. Data Breach Bobi attended SLT last week and is now helping all colleagues to do their part and be data smart. The campaign is deliberately light-hearted to draw attention to a serious issue. As a Council, we collect a lot of personal data about those who use our services. We have a duty to look after that data correctly. Sometimes, of course, things can go wrong and the message that Bobi is designed to get across is that when they do they should be flagged immediately to the Information Governance Team who are there to help. Thanks to everyone who has helped bring Bobi to life and to those colleagues in our Legal Services and ICT teams who are working constantly to ensure that when we collect people’s information we store and share it securely.

I’d also like to give an individual shout out to one member of the Legal Services team. Long serving colleague Brad Mason has completed a record breaking 30 contracts in the last month, with four more ending in the same period. Many of these related to ongoing projects to upgrade the Vale’s schools and leisure centres – public facilities that have a big impact on residents' wellbeing and quality of life. Brad’s hard work means these projects are being progressed as quickly as possible and there will be no delay to residents seeing the benefits. Gwaith da Brad. This rapid turnaround wouldn’t be possible without the flow of instructions from the Property team so thanks is also due to that team. Diolch pawb.

Finally, as some of you may have heard, there is an event taking place in London this weekend.

Among other invited guests at Westminster Abbey on Saturday will be the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s very own Sharon Miller. Sharon, who received a Special Honour from the Queen in 2020 for her phenomenal work during the pandemic, has been invited to attend in recognition of her dedication to social care. I know Sharon will be using this opportunity, just like she uses any other, to shine a light on the fantastic achievements of all our care workers in the Vale.

I’d like to end my message this week with Sharon’s comments, which will be what make me feel incredibly proud this weekend.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to represent such an incredible field and to share this recognition with my colleagues. The recognition is a testament to the importance of social care in our society and the positive impact that it has on the lives of the vulnerable individuals and communities we support. I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate our achievements and I would like to extend my congratulations and thanks to everyone who works in social care for the hard work and dedication that they bring to their roles to improve the lives of others.”

Three cheers for Team Vale.

I hope those who’ll be having a longer weekend enjoy it. Diolch yn fawr pawb for all your efforts this week,

Rob