End of Week Message from Rob
15 May 2026
Hi Everyone / Shwmae Bawb,
Now that the Senedd elections have taken place, it’s full steam ahead with a number of exciting Council projects that will significantly benefit the Vale.
In the run-up to polling day last week, we had to be careful about releasing information about this work as doing so could influence voting and break pre-election regulations.
Many of us have also been tied up with election planning and administration as we oversaw arrangements for the new Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg constituency.
Before sharing some details of these upcoming schemes, I wanted to again thank the staff that made sure everything ran so smoothly last Thursday and Friday.
It was a thoroughly professional and efficient operation that led to us announcing our election result at 3.05pm.
We were the second constituency in Wales to declare, finishing before many other areas that, unlike ourselves, conducted the verification element of the count the night before.
That was a fantastic achievement and testament to the hard work and dedication of the colleagues involved. Diolch yn fawr iawn pawb. Ardderchog!
I would also like to pass on my congratulations to Cllr Mark Hooper on being voted into the Senedd as one of the six representatives from our constituency.
That will trigger a by-election in the Baruc Ward – which we will start planning for immediately – as Senedd Members can no longer also hold a Council seat. Organising, planning for and holding an election is a project, a process with many important milestones along the way that must be delivered on time.
There is a deadline for legal notices and for finalising and publishing a list of standing candidates.
Polling cards also need to be sent out by a certain date, postal votes must be distributed and processed, while there are a multitude of other arrangements that require careful management.
Following on from this example, such meticulous attention to detail must be our approach to any project, especially those on the horizon I mention.
If we are to deliver on time and in budget, no matter the size of the scheme, this needs to be the attitude.
In terms of what’s upcoming, firstly there are big plans for Pencoedtre Park, which is set for a £1 million investment.
This money, secured by the Council’s Regeneration Team from the UK Government’s Pride in Place fund, will be spent on enhancements to the splashpad and improvements to the skatepark and toilet block.
It is hoped all elements can be completed before the summer of 2027 and I will share further details when I have them.
This scheme links closely to Vale 2030, our Corporate Plan, specifically the wellbeing objective within it to create great places to live, work and visit.
It also helps us meet another of those aims – to respect and celebrate the environment.
We want to deliver fantastic public spaces that offer as much as possible to the people that use them.
That in turn can help encourage healthy lifestyles, promote wellbeing and help us deliver on Project Zero and our decarbonisation agenda.
Work to redevelop the former Wilko building on Holton Road is also a priority.
The Council purchased this premises in November last year, with the plan to redevelop it and breathe new life into Barry town centre.
We want this prime retail site to be a vibrant space that will drive people to the area.
Over the last few months, we have been exploring possibilities for the building and carrying out important consultation work with the community to understand their views on its future.
With that process nearing completion, we hope to announce our long-term plan in the next few weeks, along with some temporary uses while work to realise that vision takes place.
We are also close to acquiring the old Filco building on Thompson Street in Barry.
This will be a hub for Adult Services staff and is part of wider office reorganisation activity linked to the Eich Lle programme.
That has seen other Social Services Teams switch from the Dock to Civic Office, with the former set to become a business development unit under the Making Waves Project.
Using £20 million Pride in Place funding, this scheme will also see the creation of a watersports centre, housing and park at the Mole at Barry waterfront.
Improvement work has also been taking place in Penarth town centre this week in connection with Street Scene, our new enhanced public realm cleansing service.
Some outdoor trading spaces attached to businesses, known as parklets, are being removed.
These were installed during the pandemic using covid funding as a temporary measure to comply with regulations.
Their condition and appearance has deteriorated since and they are now starting to show their age.
Contractors have been removing these over the last few days with work continuing into the next week. We will then work with businesses to explore alternative options for outdoor trading if they do not already have any in place.
As the parklets are removed, our Street Scene colleagues will be carrying out further work in the town centre to ensure the pavements and streets are clean and tidy, while new recycling litter bins are also being installed.
The Street Scene service is operating in all our towns and throughout the Vale.
It also involves more frequent cleaning of road signs, public toilets, roads, pavements and alleys, extra resources to tackle fly-tipping and greater leaf and weed clearance.
Finally, congratulations to Councillors Carys Stallard and Belinda Loveluck-Edwards, who were elected to the positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the next year at the Council’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday evening.
Good luck in your roles and thank you to Councillor Naomi Marshallsea for the work she has done representing the Council while in post as Mayor over the last 12 months. Llongyfarchiadau a diolch.
Thanks also to everyone else for your efforts this week.
They are always very much appreciated.
For those not in work, have a relaxing and enjoyable couple of days off.
Diolch yn fawr iawn,
Rob