Robs Weekly Round Up

29 November 2024

Hi everyone,

This week I firstly wanted to bring you up to date on the Council’s budget-setting process.

Cabinet considered a report on the Medium-Term Financial Plan yesterday, which indicates that we remain in an extremely challenging financial position.

Put starkly, we are facing a £26 million funding gap for the next financial year caused by a growing demand for Social Care and provision for children with Additional Learning Needs (ALNs), among other factors.

The Council has cost pressures of £34.325 million, with estimates suggesting funding will only cover £7.825 million of that, leaving a shortfall of £25.948 million.

We have already taken action to address this deficit and bring our cost pressures down to £23.2 million.

But that still means £14.8 million of savings must be found to balance the books.

We are also around £14 million over budget for this year due to unforeseen costs.

There is no denying that this is a difficult situation and one that we must take extremely seriously.

It is a symptom of more than a decade’s worth of Local Authority funding cuts coupled with spiralling costs.

As I’m sure you are already aware, energy prices remain high as do interest and inflation rates.

However, I want to reassure you that we have a very good track record of overcoming financial obstacles and I am confident we will do so again.

I have spoken previously about our Reshaping Programme, linked closely to the Corporate Plan, which will help us address the issue, alongside the careful use of reserve funds.

But it will take time for us to see the benefit of Reshaping work.

That being the case, it is imperative that we are extremely careful with resources and keep as tight a grip on the purse strings as possible.

It is against this context that the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) has for some time been reviewing all recruitment requests and I would also ask everyone to thoroughly consider whether any proposed spending is absolutely necessary.

Our previous success in meeting financial challenges has been down to everyone pulling in the same direction and doing their bit to help balance the books.

I would ask you all to embrace that responsibility again, and commit to the Reshaping agenda, as this will be crucial over the coming months and years.

Most of the Council’s funding comes through a settlement from Welsh Government.

The UK Government budget announcement earlier this month suggested there may be more money than expected for Welsh Government to pass on to Local Authorities, but we will not know the exact figure until an announcement on December 10.

Though we are hopeful, even the most optimistic estimate would still leave the Council with significant savings to make so Budget Working Groups are operating across all service areas to try and identify opportunities to cut costs.

These will be presented to the Council’s Cabinet as part of the budget-setting process which concludes with the final document being agreed at a meeting of all councillors in March.

I will of course keep you updated as the situation develops.

Moving on to a less sombre subject, I was delighted to see Council work to tackle digital exclusion feature in the national media.

The free tablet loan scheme in operation at Palmerston Centre for Lifelong Learning in Barry was highlighted, while these devices can also be borrowed from libraries.  

They can be kept for three weeks, just like a book, helping residents gain digital skills and get online with confidence.

Sarah Rees, Katherine Goodman, Masie McBride, Marie Griffiths, Kat Anstice, Margaret Seddon, Amanda Goldby, Rachel Hewitson, Lex Logan, Andrea Partridge, Indah shields, Cathy Jones, Victoria Clarke, Janine Hurn, Rhodri Matthews and Katherine Owen from our libraries team have played a key role in the scheme along with colleagues from Learning and Skills.

They work with a group of dedicated volunteers known as Digital Champions who foster a sense of community and share their experience.

The tablets come pre-loaded with apps and local information, as well as a free SIM card.

This initiative is just one way in which the Council and partners are helping residents use the internet.

Our Get the Vale Online campaign offers a range of formal and informal learning opportunities, including drop-in sessions, one-to-one support and courses.

This can help people gain the skills they need to be confident with digital technology, bringing with it a range of benefits. These include helping friends and family stay in touch virtually, the opportunity to save money off household bills and the chance to explore job opportunities online.

Well done to everyone involved in this scheme which is making a real and important difference to people’s lives.

On a related subject, Susan McWilliam, our Project Zero Programme Manager, has bought in some books to start an eco-library.

Located in the team’s room on the first floor of the Civic, opposite the lifts, it is available for anyone to use.

There are a variety of books on topics such as food, fashion, plastics, making your home more sustainable and more to choose from.

People are very welcome to add to the library too.

With Christmas around the corner, and the long-awaited return of Gavin and Stacey, there was an excellent piece in the Independent recently focusing on Barry Island.

It highlighted the various attractions available there, many of which the Council is directly or indirectly involved with.

The Goodsheds development was mentioned, along with active travel routes along the Heritage Coast known as Vale Trails, the events programme, Jackson’s Bay and the shopping opportunities available.

This really brought home the great work Nia Hollins, Sarah Jones and the rest of the tourism team do to promote the Island and other areas of the Vale as a destination for visitors.

The quantity and quality of options available to tourists is superb so well done to all involved.

Looking even further ahead, the next round of Work Welsh / Cymraeg Gwaith classes will begin in the New Year.

Lessons, which are conducted over zoom and free for all staff, are available at beginner, foundation and intermediate levels.

They can also be counted as part of the working day with line manager approval.

Beginners lessons will be on Fridays, starting on January 10 and take place between 12.30 and 3pm.

Foundation sessions are on Wednesdays from 10am until 12.30pm from January 8, and intermediate classes will take place on Tuesdays between 12.30 and 3pm, beginning on January 7.

More information is available by contacting Work Welsh Coordinator Sarian Thomas-Jones or Equality and Welsh Language Officer Elyn Hannah.

Next, some sad news as former Ysgol Sant Curig Headteacher and Council officer Sian Owen recently passed away following a long battle with illness.

Mrs Owen took up that position in 2006, retiring 13 years later, shortly after a very successful inspection report.

Her time also saw the school enjoy numerous successes at Urdd National Eisteddfod and the production of two musicals – Oliver and Matilda.

Hundreds of Sant Curig pupils benefitted from these opportunities and the school became a beacon for the creative arts for some years, as well as achieving excellent academic results.

A fierce advocate of the Welsh language, Mrs Owen ensured that Welsh medium schools had a strong voice within the Local Authority.

Even after her retirement, she continued to fight for the rights of children and parents who wanted their children to receive their education in Welsh.

Mrs Owen was also instrumental in starting the new Autism Spectrum Disorder unit in Ysgol Gwaun y Nant and was passionate about offering children the very best education.

Her commitment to the wellbeing of learners was further developed during a brief spell working within the Council towards the end of her career when she was known as a very engaging person who always adopted a professional and personable approach.

I’m sure you will all join me in passing on condolences to the family at this difficult time.

I’d like to finish on a couple of happier notes, firstly with the news that five of our Social Care Officers have recently qualified as Social Workers.

Charley Cahill, Jocasta Curtis, Dominque Declaire, Beth Phillips and Megan Schlogl completed an Open University degree in Social Work.

This is a fantastic achievement, particularly as these members of staff were combining studying with their day jobs, meaning they had to give up their evenings, weekends and leave to gain their qualifications.

The additional skills and knowledge these colleagues have acquired will help in their roles and be of huge benefit to the children and families they support. 

Very well done. 

Lastly, good luck to everyone taking part in the Santa's Cause Fun Run at Barry Island on Sunday.

The event, which will raise money to provide Christmas presents for children supported by our Social Services Team who might otherwise have nothing, begins at 10am

Participants can run or walk 2.5k or 5k and spectators are more than welcome to attend and offer their support.

Best wishes to all of those attending on the day, you are supporting a really worthwhile campaign.

Thank you all for your efforts this week – they are, as ever, very much appreciated.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,

Rob.