Robs Weekly Round Up 

28 March 2024

Dear Colleagues, 

I’d like to start this message by wishing you all a very Happy Easter. 

Hopefully the weather will be dry for the Bank Holiday Weekend, and we can all enjoy some spring sunshine. 

Despite this being a condensed week, there has been no shortage of great work taking place across the Council and plenty to update you on in this earlier Thursday message. 

Firstly, some bittersweet news, with the announcement that the Council’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Team is disbanding. 

This group was established while we were in the grip of the covid pandemic, so it is clearly positive that those days are behind us and such a Council response is no longer required. 

However, strong professional relationships were forged out of such adversity and I know it is with a degree of sadness that colleagues involved must go their separate ways.

Led by Sharon Miller, the PPE Team came together in March 2020 and became integral to the Council’s covid response. 

It also came to symbolise everything that was good about our organisational response and community support during those difficult times. 

With the service now due to close at the end of the month, I’d like to pay tribute to everyone that formed part of it for all the selfless work you did to help people during such a dark period.  

The team consisted of volunteers from several other departments, the Greenlinks scheme, pupils from Stanwell Comprehensive School, staff at Ysgol Y Deri and many more. 

Working out of a makeshift garage at the Civic Office, the team really did go above and beyond, working hard in the heat and cold to ensure PPE reached those most in need in care homes and beyond. 

Your efforts helped people when they needed it most and will be appreciated more than you will ever know. 

The commitment you showed is at the core of what public service is all about and the reason we are in this sector. 

There are far too many of our staff from across the organisation to mention individually, but well done and a huge thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.  

Next, I wanted to encourage all departments to think about whether they could participate in the third QuickStart scheme, which launches again this spring. 

Funded by the UK and Welsh Governments, and delivered by the Communities for Learning and Employment Team (CELT+), this initiative will provide up to five paid job placements for young people based in the Vale. The aim is to equip young people with essential skills to enhance their future employment prospects. 

Please consider if there’s an opportunity for a Vale-based 18-24-year-old to work within your department. 

The job must be a new vacancy and not replace any existing or planned vacancies. 

It must also not cause existing employees, apprentices or contractors to lose work or reduce their working hours. 

The first six months of the opportunity would be funded by QuickStart, with the understanding that the candidate would be offered more permanent employment if they satisfy probationary requirements. 

Funding is for a 25 hours per week, six-month placement at National Minimum Wage for the six-month duration. 

Up to £500 for training and resources will also be provided, while the candidate would receive pre-employment skills training via the CELT+ and Community for Work Plus programme in partnership with Adult Community Learning. 

The period for expressions of interest opened on Monday and runs until April 12, with the five job vacancies advertised from Monday April 15. 

After receiving an expressions of interest form, the QuickStart co-ordinator will be in touch with more information. 

Last week, the Children and Young People Service came together for its first Service Day, focusing on a theme of Building on our Strengths. 

There were three sessions held across the day in which colleagues in the department talked about what they are doing well and their aims for the future. 

At the end of each session, those participating filled in a form which began…. ‘I have made a difference to children, young people, families and carers by…..’ before holding it up for others to see. 

Work in this sector can be tough and such an exercise helps remind those involved of the worthwhile contribution they are making. 

Well done to all that took part – you are having a really positive impact on the lives of children and young people in our communities. 

Also this week, our Waste Team launched a new commercial recycling service to help businesses meet the latest Welsh Government recycling regulations. 

From 6 April, all workplaces in Wales will have to separate their waste by type for recycling in the same way most households do now. 

New recycling containers were introduced to our offices earlier this month and now we’re helping others to follow suit. 

Businesses can subscribe to receive separated recycling collections with the Council’s new low-cost, flexible, and sustainable commercial waste service. 

The service offers three subscription options, designed to meet the needs of all business types and sizes, with prices starting from £104 per year. 

Option one is a quad bag, suitable for small businesses that do not produce much recycling. 

Option two is a selection of up to four separated recycling containers, suitable for small to medium businesses that produce a similar amount of waste to a standard household.  

Recycling rates in Wales are among the best in the world, while the hard work of our Waste Team has made the Vale one of the best performing Welsh Local Authorities. 

I’m sure this latest scheme will further build on the good work that has led to that status. 

A big thank you to Colin Smith and everyone who plays a part in our excellent waste operation. 

Lastly, I wanted to give a mention to Sue Alderman, who is retiring after 21 years with the Council. 

Sue started with the organisation in March 2003 as a personnel officer within the community services directorate before moving to her present role as Principal Human Resources (HR) Business Partner, covering mainly Schools and Learning and Skills.  

A popular member of the team, close colleagues describe working with Sue as a pleasure, calling her “a wonderful mentor, friend and constant source of support.” 

The Council’s loss will be Sue’s gain as she plans to enjoy long bike rides, weekends away and quality time with her family and friends once retired. 

All the best for the future, Sue. 

To everyone else who will be returning to work after the long weekend, enjoy a restful and relaxing four days. 

Thank you very much for your efforts this week – they are very much appreciated. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn, 

Rob