Rob's Weekly Round Up

29 August 2025

Hi everyone,

I have been on several visits this week, which have only served to demonstrate the variety and importance of the work undertaken across the organisation.

On Tuesday, I visited the former Olive Lodge Hotel in Barry to have a look at the closing stages of its conversion into 10 studio apartments.

These apartments will be used as temporarily by homeless people on the housing waiting list, before they are able to move on to more permanent accommodation.

This is the latest project in our house-building and renovation programme, which aims to increase the number of properties available to people on the Council waiting list.

A number of developments have been completed in recent years, with others on the way.

Thanks to all of the Housing Team for your efforts in this area – I have seen first-hand the difference it is making and none of us can underestimate the importance of having access to a safe and secure home.

As well as being comfortable, modern places to live and addressing a significant need, these properties also contain a range of environmentally friendly features in line with our Project Zero commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Protecting the planet was also very much a theme when I attended an investor and green energy business event at Fonmon Castle yesterday, hosted by Vale of Glamorgan MP Kanishka Narayan.

It was great to connect with so many current and potential businesses as well as partners across the public and private sector.

Looking after the environment is a key objective of Vale 2030, our new Corporate Plan, and an area that this Authority already excels in.

This week the BBC visited our Waste Transfer Station in Barry to film a piece about the soft plastics recycling system that we are trialling.

Over 70 per cent of material collected in the Vale was recycled during 2023/24, meaning we are among the top performing Welsh Local Authority areas, with Wales itself a world leader in this field.

Such commitment has led to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Cymru piloting an innovative method for recycling soft plastics here.

That sees soft plastics such as bags and wrapping collected instead of being placed in black bags and not recycled.

This move follows the successful introduction of a source-separated system to the Vale since 2019, an arrangement that involves residents sorting their waste by material type, rather than putting it all in one bag.

The BBC visited to see the process in action and spoke to Waste Project Officer Bethan Thomas.

They also interviewed Hollie Smith from the Communications Team who went above and beyond to answer questions on the topic for a Welsh Language broadcast. Well done both – da iawn.

The item is due to air during Recycle Week which runs between September 22 and 28 and I will update you when I know the definite date.

Sticking with Neighbourhood Services, the Leader received a very complimentary email after a resident visited the Household waste Recycling Centre in Barry.

The individual in question said simply: “Your employees at the recycling centre are brilliant. I always find it well organised.”

Thanks to the people who make visits to our centres so smooth and to everyone else that contributes to our fantastic Waste Service.

In between my trip to the former Olive Lodge Hotel and green energy business event, I visited the Holiday Inn Express in Rhoose to see the work being done to support Entitled Persons (EPs) from Afghanistan during their temporary stay there.

Kate Hollinshead, Kath Partridge and the rest of the Resettlement Team are doing fantastic work to help people adapt to their new lives in Wales.

Soon the children of the families at the hotel will start attending local schools and I’m sure staff and pupils will welcome them into those school communities.

It is important to remember that this group have the right to live in the UK following their efforts supporting the British military in Afghanistan. The UK Government has granted them indefinite leave to remain in this country, which is now regarded as their home.

The arrangement with the Holiday Inn Express is part of a UK Government initiative, led by the MOD, in place while these people are helped to find more permanent accommodation across the UK.

Whilst it is not a Vale of Glamorgan Council scheme, it is one that the Local Authority is fully supportive of as it aligns with our values.

We believe in tolerance, acceptance, understanding and inclusivity.

Many of these families have given up everything and left their homes to move to a different country.

In the face of that upheaval, I’m sure we will do all we can to make these new Vale residents feel at home.

Finally, I wanted to leave you with an uplifting message that aligns with the Brilliant Basics approach, a key component of both Vale 2030 and our new Reshaping Programme.

Abby Jones from C1V was dealing with a customer whose mother needed to provide identification and medical information to process an application.

Instead of sending a very formal email to the customer, Abby contacted her using a tone that perfectly illustrates our new way of working.

Abby provided guidance on how to find the information that was required and as a result received this genuinely lovely response.

“Thanks so much Abby - I was dreading the process of doing this to be honest and I've put this off for quite a few years. We have simply just tried to get by the last few years, and this just isn't possible anymore. I didn't realise that it was as straightforward and easy, but I think much of this is because of the way you've dealt with it today. So, if no-one says this to you today, thank you so much for being so efficient and helpful. It means a lot especially when dealing with matters for an older person - red tape can be a right pain. Thanks so much for your help today, it is very much appreciated. Please forward this to your line manager if possible so you are recognised for your help today.”

Well done Abby, such warm and heartfelt gratitude shows the difference that can be made when people see this organisation’s human side.

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

For those not in work, enjoy a restful and relaxing couple of days off.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,

Rob