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Robs Weekly Round Up 17 October 2025
Rob's Weekly Round Up
17 October 2025
Hi everyone,
As we head towards the end of the year, work linked to Vale 2030, our new Corporate Plan, and the Reshaping Programme continues at pace.
The autumn Management Development Sessions began recently, while this week all Chief Officers came together for the latest in a series of regular briefings.
During this briefing, we talked again about the importance of public service and how to operate effectively in the 21st century.
Another theme was leadership skills and how they link to Vale 2030, Brilliant Basics and Reshaping, while we explored insights from the staff survey and discussed real examples of successful approaches from across the Council.
This comes after our Brilliant Basics Charter launched a couple of weeks ago, bringing together principles that allow us to get things right first time, every time, to best serve our residents.
There are examples of this approach in action in every area of our work, it is about putting our citizens first and delivering for them.
Recently, two of our residential homes were rated ‘good’ in every category following assessments by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).
Ty Dyfan and Cartref Porthceri in Barry were each visited on two occasions by the independent regulator for children and adult social care.
During those inspections, they were evaluated in four areas: Wellbeing, Care and Support, Environment, and Leadership and Management.
In each section, care homes are rated either poor, in need of improvement, good or excellent, so Ty Dyfan and Cartref Porthceri’s results demonstrate they are performing well across the board.
These reports reflect the hard work put in by staff day-in, day-out to provide the people they look after with the best possible care and I’d like to personally pass on my thanks for those efforts.
During recent financial challenges, we have prioritised protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities and this is further evidence that we are really succeeding in that area.
The reports are filled with compliments, with a particular reference to the fact people are treated with dignity and that staff carry out their roles with kindness and respect.
They also note that residents say: “Staff are kind and caring,” and “I am well looked after here.”
Da Iawn. Well done to each and every person involved in delivering such superb provision.
Linked to this, I was recently shown a video of the power of volunteering at another one of our residential care homes – Ty Dewi Sant in Penarth.
It demonstrates what can be achieved when service users, our staff and the wider community come together with a common goal.
The work undertaken at Ty Dewi Sant by local volunteers assisted, and importantly, enabled by our staff, is truly inspiring. The video can be viewed here – it runs for under 3 minutes and is well worth a watch. Brilliant work.
On the subject of staff achievement, I also wanted to congratulate Assistant Estates Officer Andrew Tovey, who recently completed a Master’s degree in Real Estate Management, gaining a Merit grade.
Andrew has been supported in his studies by Operational Manager for Property, Lorna Cross, who explained how hard he’s worked and how much he deserved such an excellent result.
This is fantastic news – top work Andrew.
There were also awards handed out recently at a certificate presentation evening for Barry Bike Club, an initiative for young cyclists.
Now in its third successful year, the Barry Bike Club – funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) - continues to offer free weekly cycling sessions for local children aged six to 10.
The club, held at Tŷ Iolo in Barry on Tuesday evenings, is delivered by Pedal Power and is supported by our Community Investment and Active Travel teams.
During the celebration event, three children were also presented with their own bikes, donated through the ReCYCLE project - an initiative led by Pedal Power with assistance from the Council.
That scheme sees donated bikes refurbished and given to families who may not otherwise be able to afford one.
As a keen cyclist, this project is very close to my heart so sincere appreciation and kudos to all involved. Da iawn.
This initiative is also closely linked to our Project Zero initiative to become carbon neutral by 2030 along with ambitions to boost health and wellbeing.
A number of our schools have also received brand new bikes, helmets, and storage facilities, thanks to funding secured by the Transport Team.
These items will be used to help boost cycling confidence among pupils and staff, supporting National Standards Cycle Training and broader efforts to promote active travel to and from school.
The recipient schools were:
- Albert Primary
- All Saints Church in Wales Primary
- Cogan Primary
- Peterston-Super-Ely Primary
- Y Bont-Faen Primary
All five schools are already taking significant steps to support active travel. Each has developed and submitted a plan outlining commitments to increase walking, wheeling and cycling among pupils.
Some have also taken part in School Street closures, where roads outside the school gates are temporarily shut during drop-off and collection times, to help reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and encourage more active, healthier journeys.
Thanks to everyone that’s played a part in obtaining funding and implementing this scheme.
This gives children a safe, fun way to build their confidence in cycling, helps towards wellness goals, supports families to make more sustainable transport choices and helps young people develop lifelong healthy habits.
One initiative that brings together many of the topics I have mentioned already – those that are key components of Vale 2030 – is Food Vale.
Under that banner, a collection of individuals, community groups, organisations and businesses, including the Council, work together to build a thriving, healthy and sustainable food system for the County.
Food Vale supports the vulnerable, helps people maintain a healthy lifestyle and is an example of the kind of partnership working that will allow us to continue delivering for our communities.
Recently, Food Vale held a Fairtrade Breakfast to celebrate work already underway and identify priority areas for action.
The Policy Team has been heavily involved in this important area. Keep up the good work – it really matters and makes a huge difference to people.
Next Wednesday, colleagues are also supporting the community through a careers event taking place between 10am and 1pm at the POD on Broad Street in Barry.
A selection of people from Electoral Registration, Learning and Skills, Human Resources and Socia Services will be on hand the numerous and varied opportunities available within the Council.
I will try and pop down myself if I have a chance and would encourage everyone to spread the word to anyone else that might be interested in attending.
As we look to continue improving, delivering for our residents and ‘being the best Council we can be’ in line with one of our Vale 2030 objectives, Staffnet, our internal website, is getting an exciting refresh.
It will soon be housed on a new hosting platform known as Sharepoint.
This move will help us:
- Modernise the site’s look and feel
- Make it easier to find what a user is looking for
- Improve how content is managed
- Ensure documents and pages stay up to date
The migration process has already begun, with the large network of Staffnet content editors attending sessions to explore the new system.
I will provide further updates as this process develops, but in the meantime, if anyone would like to share their thoughts and contribute to this modernisation they can do so by completing an online form.
As I said at the start, we are creeping towards the end of 2025, and that means plans for Santa’s Cause are starting to take shape.
This has previously generated an incredible reaction from staff who have gone above and beyond to back an initiative that provides Christmas presents for children who might not otherwise receive any.
It goes without saying that this is an extremely deserving and worthwhile scheme that is made possible by the kindness of colleagues from all areas of the organisation.
Efforts in the past have been fantastic and truly inspiring.
I’m sure staff will once again come together to show their support this time around.
Thank you all very much for your efforts this week – they are very much appreciated.
For those not in work, enjoy a relaxing and restful couple of days off.
Diolch yn fawr iawn,
Rob.