Council slammed in row over free PPE for vulnerable people

 

* Mario Kreft, chair of Care Forum Wales. 

A council has been blasted for refusing to supply vulnerable people with free personal protective equipment even though it’s been paid for by the Welsh Government.

Denbighshire County Council has been accused of a “gross dereliction of duty” by social care champions Care Forum Wales (CFW) after it sent an email to care providers – including those in the Llangollen area - informing them it would no longer distribute PPE to them.

At a time when Covid was still a health risk with a rising number of cases again, CFW chair Mario Kreft MBE said the blatant disregard for the safeguarding of vulnerable people was a further demonstration that the authority was not fit for purpose.

Mr Kreft spoke out after the council sent a message to providers on July 25 blaming the Welsh Government for failing to fund the storage and the distribution of the PPE, including face masks, latex gloves and disposable aprons.

The message added: “On the basis that the funding has ceased and Denbighshire is experiencing significant budget pressures, we are now unable to continue with the storage and distribution of PPE and this is with immediate effect.”

The PPE is provided free by the Welsh Government to all local authorities in Wales at a time when Covid-19 is resurgent again.

Over 108 people in Wales tested positive for the virus last week when there were seven deaths linked to the disease but those figures are expected to rise in the autumn and winter.

Mr Kreft said: “Denbighshire is a council which pays the lowest residential care fees in Wales, £101.69 a day and that’s considerably less than their councillors get as a day rate for expenses.

“They’ve been given this PPE free by the Welsh Government and they’re not prepared to make any effort to get that to vulnerable people and the registered staff who are caring for them.

“Care homes and home care companies are supposed to be able to have the PPE free of charge.

“The cost of providing it themselves has not been factored into the fees they receive from Denbighshire so the council should either review the decision or recalculate fees to take account of costs of PPE. 

“It’s shocking and a dereliction of duty by the authority and they should be held to account for it.

“Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide services and here where they’re paying the lowest amount for care in Wales and they’ve got the chance to assist the private care sector they show their institutional prejudice.

“It’s just not acceptable and people are entitled to ask the question, ‘Is Denbighshire the right organisation to ensure these vulnerable people are properly protected?’.

“Whoever has made this decision needs to be held accountable if this leads to illness and death.

“We know Covid infections are going to go up and everyone over 65 is going to be offered a vaccine – that tells me this virus hasn’t gone away and it is going to kill people.

“It’s a safeguarding matter and what Care Forum Wales will do is ensure that whoever is responsible for that decision is held accountable for not passing on vital PPE.

“If there was partnership working they would be co-operating with care providers to ensure vital, life-saving equipment was getting to where it is needed.

“This is an example of a system of social care where the Welsh Government says one thing and a local authority like Denbighshire says another and the care providers and vulnerable people are left in limbo.

“It’s an indictment of the current system and the public have a right to ask if vulnerable people are safe in the hands of a local authority which pays its councillors more in expenses than it pays for the care of vulnerable people.

“You would think people would expect local authorities would do everything they could to support the providers looking after some of the most vulnerable people in the community rather than treat them with contempt.

“It’s an example of the broken system of social care in Wales and shows it’s not safe in the hands of authorities like Denbighshire.”

Denbighshire is one of three councils in Wales to announce they can no longer afford to store and distribute PPE provided free by the Welsh Government - the others are Merthyr Tydfil and Newport.

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: "Denbighshire County Council has been involved in discussions, along with representatives from Care Forum Wales and the National Commissioning Board regarding the continued provision of PPE. 

"During those many meetings, whilst advocating for the provision of PPE, the council was very clear that continued funding would need to be provided to Local Authorities to enable them to cover the additional costs of storage and distribution. Unfortunately, Welsh Government only secured the funding for the provision of the PPE and Local Authorities were asked to cover the additional costs. 

"There is a mixed picture across the region – the other Local Authorities across North Wales are continuing to store the PPE from Welsh Government with most asking providers to collect themselves from storage facilities. Across Wales the picture is also varied with a number of Local Authorities ceasing the storage and/or distribution of PPE altogether.

"Denbighshire has taken a decision not to store and distribute PPE to its care providers based on the fact that there is no funding from Welsh Government to support this and unfortunately the financial pressures that the council is under as a local authority has led to it having to make this very difficult decision. The amount of PPE the council was delivering to care providers has reduced significantly over the last 12 months and whilst it recognises that many of its providers utilised the service, others haven’t. Without any additional Welsh Government funding Denbighshire County Council is simply not in a position to continue renting a storage unit and staffing it.

"Care providers have expressed to the council that they are disappointed that Welsh Government was unable to continue the funding for storage and onward distribution, but also added their thanks for the support they have received over the last 3 years and they have taken the opportunity to collect PPE from the amount the Council has left."

MS hits out at 'bonkers' new 20mph speed limit

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has added his voice to protests against the controversial blanket 20mph in his region. 

Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government, who has campaigned with residents in Buckley, against the proposals, said he fully understood the frustration of motorists who have started to tie red ribbons on their car bonnets and grills to protest against the soon to be imposed new speed limit. 

He said: “For the past 18 months I have been supporting campaigners in Buckley, who are totally against this scheme which comes into force across the whole of Wales on September 17.

“It is completely bonkers and will have serious consequences for people who live, work and travel in North Wales and not in a good way.

“Despite the vast majority of people being totally against the move and thousands signing a petition against it Welsh Government blithely carried on punishing motorists.

“It is a real shame that people feel they have to resort to these measures to be heard by Welsh Government and I am not surprised that drivers have become frustrated and feel they need to protest and I am sure we will see a lot more red ribbons as we approach the launch date for the blanket 20mph speed limit.

“Like most people I am not against introducing 20mph in certain areas and support letting councils put these limits outside schools, hospitals and other areas where evidence shows it’s a benefit, but a blanket 20mph speed limit across urban roads in Wales is just not right.

“I would really like to see the Welsh Labour Government  make a u-turn on this ludicrous policy but as we all know they are not interested in the views of the electorate.

“I make no apology for once again expressing my concern over the detrimental impact this default limit is going to have on people going about their daily lives and businesses.

“Instead of slowing Wales down, Labour should grip the wheel and get Wales moving again with a pro-growth, pro-business, pro-worker programme that works for those who need to drive.”

Pengwern Hub celebrates first birthday with Mexican-style fiesta

 

To mark its first birthday the Pengwern Community Hub is hosting a summer street party fiesta on Saturday, between noon and 3pm.

It will include a range of attractions plus Mexican vibes and food, including chilli and nacos. 

Executive producer made redundant as eisteddfod faces 'dire' financial position

* The International Pavilion where tonight's 'ideas' meeting was held.

llanblogger exclusive

The executive producer of  Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been made redundant amidst what has been described as the “dire” financial situation facing the 76-year-old festival. 

At a meeting in the Pavilion earlier tonight (Monday) at which grassroots members and supporters of the eisteddfod were invited to come up with ideas for its future survival vice-chairman Chris Adams revealed this year’s event had led to a loss. 

Another eisteddfod official later explained to llanblogger that the actual amount was yet to be verified but was "substantial".

Later it was announced that executive producer Camilla King has been made redundant. 

An official statement says: “Camilla is leaving with the thanks of all Board Members and Chairs of the Committees.  

“She has been Executive Producer since September 2021 and steered the festival since the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Chair of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Sarah Ecob said: “The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been severely impacted by the aftermath of the Covid pandemic and by the current cost of living crisis.  

“Like many other cultural organisations, the Eisteddfod is facing an extremely challenging future due to our financial situation.  

“The Board and the Committee Chairs have met to discuss emergency actions to try to stabilise our organisation.  We have taken the very sad decision to make our Executive Producer redundant and we will shortly be launching a major fundraising campaign to safeguard the Eisteddfod’s future.  

“We’d like to thank Camilla for her outstanding work at our festival and wish her well for the future.  We would like to thank our customers, volunteers, staff, competitors, performers  and funders who make the Eisteddfod such a special event every year…with their help we can ensure the Eisteddfod continues to be central to cultural life in Wales and continue its role in promoting peace in an uncertain world.” 

The festival statement adds that several new board members have been appointed “who will work with the staff and hundreds of volunteers to make sure the Eisteddfod continues”. 

It is believed that Camilla King has five days in which to appeal the decision.

At tonight's meeting Chris Adams told around 60 supporters gathered in one of the Pavilion’s meeting rooms and others who had joined via Zoom that the financial situation was “frankly dire” with inflation, the cost of living crisis and the aftermath of the pandemic all taking their toll on last month's 2023 eisteddfod. 

He added that the people running the eisteddfod knew they must now "move very quickly" to ensure that enough money was generated to keep it trading. 

He said that a number of small specialist groups within the organisation were already working on plans to see that next year’s festival went ahead on a firm financial footing, explaining: “There’s a lot to be done but I see this is as an opportunity as well as a challenge.” 

The supporters split into small groups to discuss key factors of the eisteddfod such as fundraising, competitions, concerts and events on the field. 

The large number of suggestions they put forward were then collated and discussed before being taken back for further consideration by the board.

Council asks dog owners to be responsible during summer holidays

Denbighshire County Council and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB are urging dog owners to act responsibly as more prepare to visit the area’s countryside hotspots during the summer holidays.

Both bodies are sending out advice to keep pets on leads whilst walking through the countryside following incidents already reported on land around Moel Famau this year.

Livestock worrying, where dogs disturb and chase sheep, is illegal. Any caught worrying livestock can be destroyed and owners can be prosecuted.

Visitors should be aware of what restrictions and guidelines are in place and to keep themselves and others safe. People should also check ahead to see if facilities are open and also park responsibly in designated areas.

Councillor Win Mullen James, Denbighshire Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “Many dog owners visiting our countryside areas are respectful and do keep their pets on a lead and I would like to thank them for doing this.

“However there is a minority who do not follow the rules and we want to remind them that they ultimately responsible for their dog while walking through the countryside.

“Owners who ignore the rules and let their pets worry livestock in the area can be prosecuted and their dog legally shot if caught in the act. This is distressing to all and an outcome we want to prevent.

“Please always plan ahead if visiting our countryside, know the land you are going to walk through, respect the countryside code and always keep your dog on a lead.”

Extra countryside rangers will be at Moel Famau, Loggerheads and Horseshoe Falls to provide information and support for visiting members of the public.

* For more information, visit https://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/ and follow the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Woman pulled from Dee in early hours of this morning

North Wales Live is reporting this afternoon (Sunday) that a woman was pulled from the River Dee in Llangollen in a dramatic incident in the early hours of this morning. 

The story says that a member of the public hauled her out and she was taken to hospital for treatment.

* For the full story, go to: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/woman-pulled-river-dramatic-incident-27511938?fbclid=IwAR3VKWIMFZYGkgs3CF51mT0HliuUHTD124_RU1vCtuyUhWgC33fVSKpmR

Two people seriously injured in A5 collision yesterday

North Wales Live has given more information about the serious road traffic collision which closed a section of the A5 at Glyndyfrdwy yesterday (Saturday).

The story says: "Two people were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries last night after an accident on the A5 in Denbighshire. 

"The one-car crash happened on the eastbound lane of the road between Corwen and Chirk in Glyndyfrdwy.

"Emergency services were called to the scene near the Berwyn Arms pub. The two casualties were taken to separate hospitals."

* For the full story, see: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/two-suffer-life-threatening-injuries-27511774?fbclid=IwAR3rmlDWZjSK6M05UlncuD0fKW1rhzSzY6n0yVWT0I58Hvu8UAoWNuFKlok

Shea gets a waterborne surprise on a canal trip

* The boat/car sails towards the canal boat. All pictures from Shea Ferron's Facebook.

Well-known local entertainer Shea Ferron was in for a waterborne shock when he took a trip along the Llangollen Canal yesterday. 

But he was quick on the draw with his phone camera as a car which had been converted to a boat sailed by him with its grinning crew.

On a Facebook post about the rather unusual sight for our local waterway he says: "This is something you don’t see everyday on the canal.

"Started to panic when I saw a car coming towards.

"Someone’s been watching a bit too much Top Gear."

* ... a big smile from the helmsman.

* ... and the crew.

Minister hears about Rhug Estate's pioneering green project

 

* Rural Affairs and North Wales Minister Lesley Griffiths with Lord Newborough at the Rhug Estate.

Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has been hearing about how farm businesses in North Wales have been taking action to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.

On a visit to the Rhug Estate near Corwen, the Minister met proprietor Lord Newborough and his team and heard about their pioneering low carbon project to measure and monitor the business’ carbon footprint and take action to mitigate it, with the aim of reaching net zero across all business operations within Rhug. The estate operates a diverse business model which embraces sustainable organic farming as well as renewable energy, retail, wholesale and most recently, skincare. By the nature of the way the land has been managed over the last twenty years since the farm went organic, a very significant amount of Carbon has been sequestrated into the ground making it a carbon positive estate. The carbon positive result has been greatly assisted by its green energy projects in solar, wind, hydro and geothermal, and the EV chargers on its estate. The data they are collecting is being used to modify carbon management. The team spoke about their drive towards further improvements in carbon savings and green energy projects and the challenges and opportunities ahead of them. In Ysbyty Ifan, the Minister heard about the work of the group of 11 innovative farmers on the Ysbyty Ifan estate and what they have done to improve the area’s ecosystem resilience, especially that of the Migneint SAC. They explained to the Minister how collaborative working has been vital in helping meet their goals to improve land and water management and deliver multiple ecosystem services for now and future generations. Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths said: “It has been great to visit and hear about the important work taking place at the Rhug Estate and in Ysbyty Ifan to decarbonise their farms and support our environment. “As a Government, we will continue to work with and support farmers and land managers to meet the challenges of the climate and nature emergencies. “It is important everyone works together across geographic and sectoral boundaries. Collaboration is essential if we are going to be successful.”

 

A5 road closure warning

North Wales Police have just posted on Facebook: " ***ROAD CLOSED*** - Due to a road traffic collision - the A5 by Ruth Lee, Glyndyfrdwy is currently closed.  Please avoid the area."

Free weekly sessions to help find new jobs

A series of weekly drop-in sessions are currently being hosted by the county council’s Working Denbighshire team, offering free employment support and guidance. 

The sessions are being held at locations across the county, including Corwen and Ruthin but none in Llangollen.

Support available includes help to search for jobs, update CV’s, prepare for interviews, basic IT support and filling in applications. 

From Tuesday to Friday, Working Denbighshire’s staff will be on hand for guidance and support at the following locations each week: Wednesday – Canolfan Ni, Corwen, 11am-1pm, and Thursday – Ruthin Library, 1pm-4pm. 

Tina Foulkes from Working Denbighshire said: “These free weekly drop-in sessions provide an excellent opportunity for Denbighshire residents to access high quality employability support in their local communities. Residents can pop in for help to update or create their CV, find out the best ways to search for jobs and get hints and tips on how best to fill out application forms.

"At these sessions, attendees will also be able to find out how Working Denbighshire can help with funding for training, funding to remove or reduce your barriers to employment, as well as information on confidence, motivation, and resilience courses.”

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation, said: “These sessions allow Denbighshire residents access to professional and informative employment support across the county.

"I would urge anyone who may need employment support to attend one of the many free sessions at a location near them.”

* For more information please contact workingdenbighshire@denbighshire.gov.uk.

Free emergency period products available at Llangollen Library

Llangollen Library is among the locations where free emergency period products are being supplied by Denbighshire County Council.  

It is one of 15 ICE - In Case of Emergency - places confirmed across the county where these products can be obtained should they be needed by members of the public. 

Display units in each location, including the library in Castle Street, include a variety of eco-friendly and plastic-free period products.

The project has been carried out by the council's period dignity team funded through a Welsh Government grant. 

Products are supplied by TOTM, a multi-award winning period care brand who hope to inspire better, sustainable ways to manage periods.

Other ICE locations include a number of public building restrooms.

The full list of locations is:

Denbigh

1. Denbigh Library, Hall Square, Denbigh LL16 3NU
2. Denbigh Youth Project, HWB Dinbych, Smithfield Rd, Denbigh, LL16 3RG

Prestatyn

1. Prestatyn Youth Centre, Dawson Drive, Prestatyn, LL19 8SY
2. Prestatyn Library, 21 King's Avenue, Prestatyn, LL19 9AA

Rhuddlan

1. Rhuddlan Library, 9 Vicarage Lane, LL18 2UE

Rhyl

2. Hafan Deg, War Memorial Court, Grange Road, Rhyl, LL18 4BS
3. Rhyl Library, Church Street, Rhyl, LL18 3AA
4. Salvation Army Rhyl, 16 Windsor Street, Rhyl, Wales, LL18 1BW
5. The Oak Tree Centre, Ffordd Las, Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL18 2HN
6. West Rhyl Young Peoples Project, 17 Bedford Street, Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL18 1SY

Ruthin

1. Ruthin Goal, Clwyd Street, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
2. Ruthin Library, Record St, Ruthin, LL15 1DS

Corwen

1. Corwen Library, London Road, Corwen LL21 0DR

Llangollen

2. Llangollen Library, Castle Street, Llangollen LL20 8NU

St Asaph

3. St Asaph Library, The Roe, LL17 0LU

Councillor Julie Matthews, Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy and Equalities said: “It is great that there are now 15 in case of Emergency locations in Denbighshire. Period products should be accessible to all, in a convenient and easy to use manner, and I am very pleased that many of Denbighshire County Council’s public buildings are offering this.”

* Third sector organisations like charities, community centres and public sector organisations can register to become a ICE location by emailing perioddignity@denbighshire.gov.

New web pages show how county council is funded

Denbighshire County Council has launched new web pages to inform residents about how it sets its budget to deliver local public services with a focus on providing value for money.

Local authority funding is complex and technical and while many believe that council tax pays for delivering all the council’s services, this is far from the case. 

In fact, only a quarter of Denbighshire County Council’s funding comes from council tax.

The council's net budget is funded from three main sources:

1. 62% - Revenue support grant from Welsh Government
2. 13% - Business rates which are a property tax paid on business and non-domestic properties to pay for services
3. 25% - Council tax, which is the annual fee that residents pay to Denbighshire County Council

Gwyneth Ellis, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets said, “We think it’s vital that residents understand how their council, and therefore, its services are funded. There are lots of misconceptions about where the money comes from, and we want residents to understand how their money is spent.

“To address this, we have developed new web pages with information about how Denbighshire County Council spends its money. The aim is to set out in a clear way where we get our funding, how we spend the money, give an overview of the council’s budget, and explain to residents how the council tax bill works.”

* To find out more about council spending, how the Council is funded and your Council Tax bill, visit Denbighshire County Council’s new website pages on the link below.

How the Council is funded

You can also check how much you know about the Council by completing a quick quiz on the following link:

Quick quiz

 

Warning about door-to-door mattress sales

Denbighshire County Council’s Trading Standards Section is warning residents to be on their guard as more reports of doorstep sellers come in. 

The authority has received information about attempted sales of mattresses out of the back of a white Van by a trader cold calling at consumers' homes and whilst walking down the street. 

And trading standards officers say residents must be on their guard, as it is unknown at this time where these mattresses are manufactured, whether they bear the correct safety labelling or if they are genuine branded product. 

The sellers are claiming that the mattresses are on sale due to a family business closing down, liquidation of stock and cancelled hotel orders. 

It is understood that the mattresses have been described as memory foam, luxury etc. However, they are carefully wrapped, making it difficult to inspect them before buying. 

The sellers do not provide any paperwork or invoices and are currently operating under false business names and addresses. 

More importantly, the seller is not complying with the law relating to Cancellation Regulations, which entitles the consumer when entering into a contract in their home, to have a 14-day cooling off period where they can change their mind and cancel the contract at no charge. 

Councillor Win Mullen-James Lead member for Local Development and Planning said: “We are urging the public not to deal with these sellers, you really do not know who you are buying from and if things go wrong, there is no way of identifying the seller or rectifying the matter. If an offer seems too good to be true, in most cases it is."

If you are unsure about such traders or receive a visit, contact the Citizens Advice Customer Service on 03454 040506 or alternatively contact the police on 101. 

And, if you feel intimidated or threatened by any doorstep seller you should shut the door and call the police emergency number 999, advise trading standards.

Food Share featured in Rotary's next social event

The Vale of Llangollen Rotary Club's next community speaker event will be taking place at St Collen's Community Hall on Wednesday  August 16 and will feature the town's Food Share group. 

Running from 7.30-8pm, it is a free social event where you can meet others from the community and learn more about this important initiative and how it operates in Llangollen.

Skoda Karoq is clever contender for top of the SUVs

Skoda Karoq drive by Steve Rogers

Decisions, decisions, decisions, and if it concerns choosing a family SUV then you are in for a hard time.

Why? Because there are around 20 to choose from and they are all good. Make that very good.

But I am going to take a punt on the Skoda Karoq making the top three for a lot of buyers. 

Yes a Skoda, once the butt of all jokes so much so that Skoda joined in the fun happy to take the mickey out of themselves in some brilliant TV adverts. That is ancient history although there are still people of a certain age who will not give the badge garage space, like my neighbour’s wife. 

He has come to like them having looked at many on my drive down the years but got short shrift from his wife when he suggested taking a look around a Skoda showroom.

So what is it that makes Karoq so appealing? For me it is a well thought out family SUV, making good use of space and packed with thoughtful odds and sods. Simple things like elasticated straps in door bins and boot wall pockets to stop things rolling around, sliding hooks for shopping bags and the like, a reversible boot mat, rubber one side, carpet the other, chilled glovebox, ice scraper in the fuel filler cap and, of course, the now famous umbrella secreted under the passenger seat.

Children, and no doubt adults, will appreciate the mobile phone holder that slots into the front seat head rests along with the flip up trays in the seat backs, all part of the company’s Simply Clever philosophy. Rivals could take a leaf out of that book.

It is no surprise that Karoq is the third best seller in the range, or that SUVs account for 50 per cent of Skoda sales. Yet it is not a car that stands out. It’s not bad looking but nowhere near as eye catching as a Peugeot 3008 or the latest Kia Sportage. Inside is pretty ordinary as well although everything flows seemlessly and now has high end tech and infotainment upgrades in this second generation model.

The line up is simple, just three models SE Drive, tested here, SE L and Sportline with a choice of two diesel and three petrol engines. Some will think the three cylinder one litre engine too small for a car this size, well think again.

It is no flyer but has a satisfying amount of pull at low revs so you are not dropping a gear for every overtake, and it scoots along sweetly at motorway speed. Small three cylinder engines have been the stars of the 21st century surprising everyone with their performance and economy and Karoq’s tiddler is a another fine example.

It is no class leader on economy but mid forties should be a ball park for most drivers. I managed 47mpg over 450 miles of mixed driving with a best of 48mpg on a 120 mile round trip. It would do a lot better with hybrid power, look what it does for Toyota and Honda hybrids, but Skoda has no plans to go down that road. If Karoq has an Achilles heel that is it.

The entry SE Drive has a reasonable amount of equipment with a fast response touchscreen for radio, navigation and other bits of car info, LED headlights, front parking sensors (go up a level for a rear camera) electronic parking brake, and pleasing physical buttons for heating controls.

It has a speed limiter and cruise control, but working out how to use it took a bit more time than usual.

There good adult size space all round and at SEL level the back seats can be removed providing even more carrying space although Karoq is up there with the best for boot space even with the seats in place.

A hybrid engine option would certainly widen the Karoq’s appeal but it still stays in my top three for a family SUV.

Fast facts

Karoq SE Drive

£27,470

1.0 litre TSI 109bhp

0-62mph 11.3secs; 118mph

46-48mpg combined

132g/km. 1st tax £255

Boot: 521-1630 litres

Insurance group 10

MP meets two of the area's youngest councillors

* From left, Cllr Damon Richards-Gwilliam, Simon Baynes MP and Cllr Will Martin. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has met with two new councillors from his constituency.

Cllr Damon Richards-Gwilliam was co-opted on to Llangollen Town Council in June, making him one of the youngest councillors in Denbighshire. 

Since becoming a councillor he has been assigned to the council's Climate, Ecology and Cittaslow Committee. 

He is one of 11 members of the council, which meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6pm in the Council Chambers in Llangollen. 

Cllr Damon Richards-Gwilliam said: “I would like to thank Mr Baynes for taking the time to meet with me. I am determined to serve the people of Llangollen where I live and delivering for them.”

Further details of Llangollen Town Council can be found on its website at: https://llangollentowncouncil.gov.uk/

Mr Baynes also met Cllr Will Martin who was co-opted on to Brymbo Community Council on July 6, making him one of the youngest elected officials within Wrexham County Borough. 

Cllr Will Martin said: “It is an honour to be able to represent my community of Brymbo on our Community Council. 

"Going forward, my main priorities will be to focus on ensuring the development in Brymbo is completed and that the people of the village have their voice heard.”

 

Brymbo Community Council represents the Brymbo, Bwlchgwyn and Tanyfron communities and is comprised of 11 members in total. 

They meet once per month on Tuesdays, with the dates of their meetings available on their website: https://www.brymbo.org/

Mr Baynes said: “It was a pleasure to meet with two of our newest councillors and learn about their ambitious plans for their local communities. 

"Both Damon and Will are two of the youngest councillors in Denbighshire and Wrexham respectively and it is great to see young people coming forward to serve their communities. I look forward to working with them.”

Police warn over fraud on WhatsApp groups

Large community and religious WhatsApp groups are being targeted by scammers who infiltrate them to try and deceive their members into sending them money.  The warning has come from North Wales Community Alert who say that since January of this year, 268 people have reported falling victim to this scam.  The fraud often begins when a member of the group receives a WhatsApp audio call from the fraudster, pretending, or claiming, to be a member of the group.  This is done in order to gain the individual’s trust, and often the scammer will use a false profile picture and/or display name, so at first glance it would appear to be a genuine member of the group. The fraudster will then call the victim and say they are sending a one-time passcode which will allow them to join an upcoming video call for group members.  The scammer then asks the victim to share this passcode with them so they can be “registered” for the video call. What’s really happening is that the scammer is asking for a registration code to register the victim’s WhatsApp account to a new device where they then “port” their WhatsApp profile over. Once the fraudster has access to the victim’s WhatsApp account, they will enable two-step verification which makes it impossible for the victim to access their account.  The scammer will then message other members of the group, or friends and family in the victim’s contacts, asking them to transfer money urgently as they are in desperate need of help. Oliver Shaw, Detective Chief Superintendent and Head of Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) said: “WhatsApp continues to be a popular platform for community and religious groups, but sadly also for fraudsters. Here, the scammers rely on the goodwill of group members and their intrinsic desire to help others in distress. “We urge people always to be wary when receiving contact via WhatsApp or other messaging platforms. This is particularly the case when being asked to provide account information – despite the fact that you may recognise the individual’s profile picture and / or name. “Never share your account information with anyone, and if you think it’s a fraudulent approach, report the message and block the sender within WhatsApp. To make your account more secure, we advise setting up two-step verification to provide an extra layer of protection. This makes it increasingly more difficult for fraudsters to gain access to somebody else’s WhatsApp account." Analysis of Action Fraud reports indicate that victims targeted by this scam are often part of large WhatsApp community, alumni and academic, work groups, and religious groups (such as church or prayer groups). What can you do to avoid being a victim? ·  Never share your account’s two-factor authentication (2FA) code (that’s the six digit code you receive via SMS). ·  Set up two-step verification to give an extra layer of protection to your account. Tap Settings > Account >Two-step verification > Enable. ·  THINK. CALL. If a family member or friend makes an unusual request on WhatsApp, always call the person to confirm their identity. ·  You can report spam messages or block a sender within WhatsApp. Press and hold on the message bubble, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions.  If you have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, report it  at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, victims of fraud and cybercrime should report to Police Scotland on 101.