Rob's Weekly Round Up

20 February 2026

Helo Bawb,

We are now nearly two months into 2026, and there’s a real sense of momentum building across the Council – from setting the direction for the financial year ahead as we enter the final stages of the budget setting process, to celebrating the culture and language that makes the Vale such a special place to live and work.

As a Council, we invest in our communities - both in terms of the vital support and care we offer our residents and the opportunities to promote lifelong skills and deepen our connections with those around us.

Investment isn’t always just about pounds and pence; it’s about people and the kind of future we’re helping to shape together.

Over the past few months, a huge amount of work has been going on behind the scenes to prepare the latest budget proposals, which are now being considered again by Cabinet following a four-week public consultation.

The report that is due to go to Cabinet sets out our plans on how we use our resources to protect services, support the most vulnerable and continue delivering on the commitments that matter most to our residents.

Like many councils across Wales, we continue to operate in a challenging financial climate.

Rising demand, increasing costs and wider economic pressures mean that every decision has to be carefully balanced. The proposals going forward reflect detailed planning and some creative thinking, but they are rooted in a clear principle - to focus our investment where it will have the greatest impact for our communities.

That means continuing to focus resources on vital frontline services such as Children’s and Adult social care, Education, Additional Learning Needs provision, Housing and Homelessness support, and essential Neighbourhood Services.

However, a better-than-expected settlement from Welsh Government and an overall improved financial position for the Council means that we can now also invest more in our surroundings to make the Vale an even more welcoming and inviting place to live, work and visit.

Work is already in motion to make a range of improvements - from upgrades to infrastructure, our public places and facilities to our new street cleaning service that is due to begin in April as well as work to enhance street lighting.

As a local authority, we have a shared responsibility to deliver high-quality services in a way that is sustainable, whilst also being forward-thinking and making strategic investments that strengthen our local economy, protect our most vulnerable residents and enhance the places we are proud to call home.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the budget process so far and I will continue to keep you updated as this work progresses.

As I mentioned at the start of this message, community investment isn’t only measured in capital projects or infrastructure spending, it’s also reflected in how we nurture our identity and our shared sense of Cynefin (Belonging).

Next week, the community in Cowbridge will be coming together for the Gŵyl Gymreig in the town – a celebration of Welsh language and culture.

The event – at Cowbridge Town Hall – will boast a market-like atmosphere with a range of local produce stalls, performances from three local school choirs, a special musical performance from Bethany Powell from The Voice Cymru, a Ti a Fi group session, Adult learning information - including opportunities to learn Welsh – and much more.

The festival is closely linked to the new Ysgol Iolo Morganwg building, which will stand as a visible and lasting investment in Welsh-medium education in the Vale.

The new school building will represent more than bricks and mortar. It will symbolise confidence in the future of the Welsh language locally – creating a modern and inspiring space where children and the wider community can learn, grow and thrive through the medium of Welsh.

Our commitment to promoting the Welsh language locally also sits within a much bigger national ambition. The Welsh Government has set a target of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050 – a bold and inspiring goal that recognises the language as a living, growing part of Wales’ future.

In the Vale, we contribute to that ambition in practical ways every day by:

• Expanding and supporting Welsh-medium education
• Promoting bilingual services
• Encouraging staff to develop their Welsh skills
• Supporting cultural events and partnerships like the Gŵyl Gymreig and Gŵyl Fach y Fro
• Embedding Welsh language standards across our work

I recently wrote a message of thanks to a number of our Welsh-speaking colleagues in our organisation who have kindly volunteered to support our Welsh-language service provision.

By helping others to assist Welsh-speaking customers and residents, we are strengthening the quality of the services we provide and demonstrating how we put our values into action by being open in sharing our skills and knowledge, by working together to support each other, showing how proud we are to use and promote the Welsh language, and being ambitious for the standard of service we offer our communities.

Every action, big or small, plays a part in strengthening the language and creating Cynefin in the Vale of Glamorgan.

As always, thank you all for everything you continue to do. The impact of your work is felt across the Vale every single day - in the services we deliver, the communities we support and the future we are helping to build.

For those of you not in work this weekend, enjoy a relaxing couple of days off.

Diolch yn fawr a mwynhewch y penwythnos.

Rob