Robs Weekly Round Up 

05 April 2024

Dear colleagues,

I hope you enjoyed the Easter break. Hopefully the lighter nights and very occasional spring sunshine have provided a welcome boost as we return to work. 

Not everyone had time off, of course, and I’d like to thank those who worked over the Easter period, whether this be on the frontline in our parks and resorts, on waste rounds or providing support to our most vulnerable citizens – Diolch.

As always, there has been plenty going on across the Council over the last four days.

I wanted to start this week’s update by mentioning an important scheme that a wide variety of colleagues have been involved with.

Planning for the arrival of Entitled Persons from Afghanistan to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) base in St Athan has been going on for some time.

That has seen staff from Education, Social Services, Housing, Communications and other departments collaborate with counterparts from Welsh Government, the Home Office, the Health Board and the MOD to make sure all necessary arrangements are in place. 

I’m sure many of you will already be aware of this matter as it featured heavily on television, radio and in newspapers over the bank holiday weekend.

While that reporting was largely balanced and accurate, unfortunately there is a small minority in our society that seek to misrepresent situations such as this to further their own agendas.

That is why it is important to be clear about the facts.

The people who have arrived in St Athan are Entitled Persons. That means they have the right to live and work in the UK.

This status has been granted in recognition of the assistance they provided the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan.

Every person has travelled to St Athan as part of a family unit, and all have been extensively security checked.

They will be staying there on a short-term basis before moving on to other accommodation throughout the UK.

We owe these individuals a debt of gratitude for their efforts to assist the Country overseas, service that has often placed them in extreme danger and come at great personal sacrifice.

The Council Leader visited St Athan earlier this week to see the provision that has been put in place and meet some of those that have travelled from Afghanistan.

I know she was touched by their personal stories and accounts of the hardship they have endured.

There will soon be information on how people can offer assistance to this group, many of whom moved to this Country with little more than the clothes on their backs. I will pass on these details when I have them.

It is important to remember that both Wales and the Vale of Glamorgan are a Country and County of Sanctuary.

That means we are part of a network that believes in providing support, dignity and a welcome to people that have experienced forced displacement and are committed to upholding the values of inclusivity, solidarity and compassion.

I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in work connected to this operation.

Helping those in need is at the very core of Local Government and Public Service.

Those efforts are not always immediately visible, but in this case will no doubt make a huge difference to a great many lives.

Well done and thank you to everyone associated with this work.  Duiolch yn fawr iawn i chi i gyd.

This week the Council published its Annual Delivery Plan, which sets out our challenges and key areas of focus for the year ahead.

Identified after widespread consultation, the main aims contained in the plan are to support residents in the cost-of-living crisis, respond to the climate and nature emergencies, and to ensure that the organisation is able to deliver for citizens in the longer term.

It is shaped by the Council’s four Wellbeing Objectives, which are areas of priority highlighted in the Corporate Plan 2020-25.

These are: 

• To work with and for our communities 
• To support learning, employment, and sustainable economic growth 
• To support people at home and in their community 
• To respect, enhance and enjoy our environment.

This is the fifth and final year of delivering actions to meet these objectives, with a new Corporate Plan for 2025-2030 to be developed over the next 12 months containing priorities for the next five years.

As an organisation, it is important that we have a clear, shared blueprint for the next year so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve, what obstacles may lie in the way and how we can overcome them.

This plan reflects the Council’s core principles to be Ambitious, Proud, Together, and Open, and I would encourage all colleagues to familiarise themselves with it.

Progress against the plan objectives will be reported to the Council’s Scrutiny Committees on a quarterly basis to provide Councillors with updates and an opportunity to analyse this work.

Members of the public can also participate in committee meetings as well as engagement and consultation exercises related to Council initiatives.

Recently, our Age-Friendly Vale and Value in the Vale Officers worked with Belle Vue Community Centre and Cardiff Council to deliver free talks for members of the public about the history of Flat Holm Island.

Following the grand opening of Belle Vue Community Centre in Penarth last year, the Centre Manager, Nicola Pangano, has been keen to promote it as a space for local residents to utilise.

Age Friendly Vale Officer Sian Clemett-Davies was asked whether any local older people’s groups would want to use the space for meetings, which led to Nicola and Sian securing a weekly residency for MHA Communities Penarth, a local group of over-55s.

Nicola also worked with Value in the Vale Officer Lianne Young, and colleagues in Adult Education, to offer weekly classes from Belle Vue.

Impressed with the community space, Lianne and Sian organised talks for local people, including Value in the Vale volunteers, the Age Friendly Network and the Vale 50+ Forum.

The two well-attended free talks were about the ‘Built Heritage and Natural History of Flat Holm Island’, a landmass well known to locals which can be seen just off the local coastline.

Well done to those involved in organising these events – it sounds like a great time was had by all.

Lastly, I wanted to draw your attention to a new foundation/sylvaen Welsh course that will start on Friday afternoon (April 12) and run for 30 weeks.

The sessions, conducted over zoom, are free for all staff and can be counted as part of the working day with line manager approval.

More information can be gained by contacting Work Welsh Coordinator Sarian Thomas-Jones or Equality and Welsh Language Officer Elyn Hannah.

I’ll finish as usual with a sincere thank you for your efforts this week – they are very much appreciated.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,

Rob.