Robs Weekly Round Up

25 October 2024

Hi everyone,

I’m afraid I start this update on a sad note, with the news that Gary Pyke, a Service Development Officer in Adult Social Care, recently passed away.

Gary was an incredibly popular and well-respected member of staff who quickly endeared himself to people after joining the Council around three years ago.

A keen cyclist and family man, he loved community, particularly that of Llantwit Major where he lived and operated a café with his wife Jo.

Gary had a varied and impressive CV when arriving at the Council and formed a very special connection with the Telecare Team, working closely with them to transform the service.

He touched so many other lives within this organisation and beyond and will be very much missed.

I will pass on funeral details when I have them, and I understand there will also be a disco in Gary’s memory as he requested.

Turning to a happier topic, I’d like to share some good news about our recycling operation.

These weekly messages are all about recognising staff accomplishments and celebrating success, and when it comes to achievements, there are few areas in which we shine brighter than recycling.

The Council is currently the second best performing Welsh Local Authority for this service, with Wales the second best performing country in the world!

Our source separated recycling service has now been rolled out right across the county, while we also have a new waste transfer station in Barry.

These innovations mean more of the material we collect can be recycled, creating less waste and benefiting the environment.

As I’m sure you’re all aware by now, this is part of our Project Zero commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.

On top of this, such is this Council’s recycling pedigree, we have been selected to take part in the first plastic film kerbside collection trial in Wales.

This will begin shortly and cover one third of the Authority’s total area, either the Western Vale, Barry or Penarth.

Well done to Colin Smith and all the waste team for their excellent recycling efforts, which have helped secure a grant to cover the full costs of the trial.

Sticking with Project Zero and work to be greener, Romily Primary in Barry has taken steps to help children walk or cycle to school.

Improvements have been made to pavements outside the school to make them more accessible for young and old and a new eco-friendly bike shelter built in the playground.

The changes are in response to a Welsh Government call for schools across Wales to produce their own Active Travel Plan (ATP).

These are designed to encourage pupils and parents to travel to school on foot or a bike instead of driving.

Headteacher Katy Williams, other staff and pupils have worked hard to put their ATP in place, something that will have significant future benefits. Top effort everyone.

Sully Primary School have also been helping the Project Zero cause, assisted by our Active Travel, Parks and Engineering Teams.

Last week, colleagues from Parks helped pupils bed in dozens of plants outside the school, with the aim of improving biodiversity.

Both the pupils and our staff had a wonderful morning and were thrilled with the result.

Planting of the flower bed followed the construction of an improved footpath and road outside the school, completed by our Active Travel and Engineering Teams.

The collaboration between the Council and Sully Primary School has been key in the development of the new footpath.

Led by the Active Travel Team, the Council drafted the initial design last summer, in collaboration with Sustrans, a UK based walking, wheeling and cycling charity.

After securing a Welsh Government grant in January, our Engineering Team began construction over the summer.