River Lodge issue goes under microscope again

* The derelict former River Lodge.

The facts behind the Welsh Government’s acquisition and action to dispose of the former River Lodge in Llangollen will go under the official microscope again next week. 

The Welsh Assembly’s powerful Public Accounts Committee will discuss the controversial issue when it meets in public at Llangollen Pavilion at 1pm next Monday (October 8). 

The committee will take evidence from government officials involved in the £1.6 million acquisition five years ago and from Powys Fadog, the organisation which had planned to use the building to house a community project. 

As part of a high-level Assembly’s inquiry, the issue was last discussed by the committee at its meeting in July, with the details being reported at the time by llanblogger http://llanblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/purchase-of-river-lodge-probed-by-ams.html

At that session, Wales’ top civil servant has admitted the way the Welsh Government handled the purchase was a “sorry story”. 

Through the now defunct Welsh Development Agency, the government bought the building on the banks of the River Dee at the gateway to the town in 2007. 

Sole purpose of the deal was to facilitate a community project by Powys Fadog. 

But the development never went ahead and following a series of vandal attacks the hotel now lies empty and derelict after costing the taxpayer a considerable amount of money. 

The saga has sparked major criticisms of the part played by the government and led earlier this year to the publication of a critical report by the independent Welsh Audit Office. 

That report said the government’s decision to purchase River Lodge as “flawed” and “represented poor value for money”. 

Dame Gillian Morgan, Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Government and head of the civil service in Wales, told the committee’s July session:  “There is more information on this issue than anything else. 

“This was unsafe all the way through from beginning to end.  

“There should have been enough alarm bells ringing for people to say ‘stop this’ but that didn’t happen.

“This is indefensible … this is something that is a sorry story and we should not be in this position.”

AMs also quizzed officials giving evidence to the committee on what was now likely to happen to River Lodge. 

James Price, the Welsh Government’s Director General for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science, explained there were ongoing discussions about the possible acquisition of River Lodge by the local Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board 

Mr Price said the health board was the only organisation to so far an express an interest in River Lodge. 

At the end of an hour’s debate on the issue, committee chairman Darren Miller AM said it would come back before members when they return after the summer recess and that he would been having further correspondence about it with Dame Gillian.

Mr Millar said this week: “Following the publication of the report by the Wales Audit Office into the sale of River Lodge Hotel the National Assembly for Wales’s Public Accounts Committee decided to conduct its own inquiry.

“The Wales Audit Office’s report states that the hotel’s purchase price was not supported by a valuation, that the Welsh Government paid more than the property was worth, and at the time of purchase had not undertaken a robust assessment of risk. This is very concerning.

“We intend to establish the chain of events surrounding this purchase and decisions around its disposal, and ensure processes are on place to avoid it happening again.”

Further meetings are planned on the issue over the next month or so, according to the Welsh Assembly.

Assembly officials advise booking in advance to have a seat at the meeting by calling 0845 0105500, or emailing assembly.bookings@wales.gov.uk

"Is there a hidden agenda" over hospital closure?

* Closure-threatened Llangollen Cottage Hospital.  

Anti-supermarket and "save our hospital" campaigner Martin Crumpton has sent in the following letter on the subject of the closure-threatened Cottage Hospital: 

 

"On Tuesday, I attended two hospital appointments at Wrexham Maelor, both necessary but neither remarkable. Due to personal circumstances, I needed hospital transport both ways – yet another example of a public service patients cherish but the government underfunds.

In all, I spent nearly seven hours for two appointments.

Imagine what that would be like for routine physiotherapy, minor injuries, phlebotomy or any of the other services provided so conveniently by our Cottage Hospital.

Waiting patiently for the return leg of my journey, there was another patient waiting too – a lady in a wheelchair. She was headed for the Cottage Hospital, as an in-patient, occupying one of the tren beds we currently have in Llangollen.

Then it occurred to me: What IS the all-fired hurry to close the Cottage Hospital?

We’ve never had an explanation – satisfactory or otherwise – why they’re so determined to close it in 2013, barely six months away.

The more recent extensions, the Portakabin where the Physio department is, was rewired and redecorated in July this year. So what’s the problem?

Our hospital has been operating since 1837 and, despite being starved of resources, is as functional today as it has been for the last several years. S

o why close it prematurely, before it replacement is up and running?

It is a fact, obtained by a Freedom of Information request, that a bed in our Cottage Hospital costs just over £400pw compared to over £900pw at Wrexham Maelor.

There’s something Betsi Cadwaladr isn‘t telling us.

We need to find out exactly why they’re so dead-set on closing our hospital when they could so easily, and cost-effectively, keep it open until its replacement is operating.

The only reasonable conclusion is there’s a hidden agenda."

 

Martin Crumpton

AM slams 'postcode lottery' for disability grants

An end to the 'postcode lottery’ of disability grant funding has been called for by Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates.

Figures published recently by the Local Government Data Unit show that some councils in Wales are taking over 600 days to pay the Disabled Facilities Grant. 

 

In Denbighshire the average wait is said to be 219 days.

 

The money is a local council grant that helps towards the cost of adapting someone’s home and pays for vital equipment such as hand rails or disability ramps.

Last year Newport council took an average of 638 days to pay the Disabled Facilities Grant compared to Conwy council that took just 180 days.

In September Sarah Rochira, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales, said she would take public bodies, including councils, to court if they fail in their obligations to Wales' 710,000 older people.

 

Mr Skates said: “It’s obviously unacceptable that there is such a wide disparity across Wales in the time it takes elderly and disabled people to receive their Disabled Facilities Grant. In some areas people are waiting four times longer for payments to be processed.

“Whilst I do understand that some adaptations are complex and expensive, we do need to see all councils operating within the 12 month statutory period to pay grants. After all, experts say an average grant of £7,500 can keep someone out of residential care for four years, which can cost over £100,000 so it makes sense to get things done quicker.

“Whilst we don’t want to see the Older People’s Commissioner intervening on councils or taking them to court, it’s up to local authorities to make life easier for older and disabled people across Wales.

“It is possible for councils to do better. Conwy were one of the worst performing authorities only a few years ago, but having made it a corporate priority within the council they now have their payment wait down from over 1,000 days to just 180 days.

“This is the model we should be using to improve services for people and communities right across Wales.

“As a member of the Local Government Committee in the Assembly I will certainly be recommending to my fellow committee members that we look into this matter in order that we can monitor the improvements we need to see in council performance right across Wales.”

The average time it took to pay out grants in Wales was 326 days last year.

In Wales, the maximum available amount is £36,000 which can be spent on lifts, ramps, widening doors, installing a downstairs bathroom or improving a heating system.

County to discuss £134m spending package

* County Hall in Ruthin.

Denbighshire County Council has announced a programme of investment that could see £134 million ploughed into delivering its priorities over the next five years, including a major investment of £97 million in education.

The draft Corporate Plan, which will be discussed by councillors meeting in County Hall next week, looks at:

· Improving performance in education and the quality of school buildings
· Developing the local economy
· Improving roads
· Vulnerable people are protected and are able to live as independently as possible
· Clean and tidy streets
· Ensuring access to good quality housing
· Modernising the council to deliver efficiencies and improve services for customers.

Key proposals for investment for the five year period include:

· £97 million in improving school buildings, implementing area reviews, refurbishment and other improvements to schools.
· £10.4 million investment in roads
· £21 million in three extra care facilities across the county
· £2 million investment in the economy.
· £4 million in information communication technology (ICT) and office building assets.

The council would not need to provide all of this funding.

It expects grants from the Welsh Government that will be available to help fund the planned work to improve schools and roads and that other partners would be likely to contribute to planned extra care housing projects.

£78 million from the total would be found from a range of sources including redirecting funding for lower priorities, the council's reserves, balances and by selling some of its assets, the rest would be generated through prudential borrowing.

Councillor Hugh Evans, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: "It is well known that local authorities are facing difficult times.

"We have got less money to invest in council services, and we must also manage issues that are outside of our control, such as the global economy, welfare rights reform and the restructure of the health service.

"During these difficult times, it is important that we play our part by providing the best services possible for residents, and by focussing on priorities that will make a difference to people’s lives.

"Our Corporate Plan has a clear focus on improving services for our customers. We are also committed to becoming more responsive to the needs of customers, and to being clearer about what standards of service our customers should expect from the council.

"The priorities we have set are very ambitious and will move Denbighshire, and the council, forward. The plan is supported by all our councillors, regardless of political allegiance, and we are very clear that these priorities should direct our financial decisions over the next five years.

"We believe that, by delivering this Corporate Plan, we can transform the lives of many people in Denbighshire, and that we can create a legacy for the future."

Denbighshire's Chief Executive, Dr Mohammed Mehmet, said: "Each of our priorities will have to be approached in a different way. Some are about changing the way the whole council works, whilst others will be delivered by a small number of council services working together.

"Some will take several years to deliver and will require a significant amount of financial investment, whilst others may be achievable relatively quickly and may require additional effort and human resources, rather than substantial amounts of new money.

"The priorities focussing on the economy and education, in particular, have a timescale beyond the five years of this plan. Although we expect to see real progress in these priority areas, we believe that the full benefits will be realised beyond 2017.

"In order to continue to provide high quality services to our residents, it is essential that we modernise the council and exploit technology to become more efficient and cost-effective. Changing the way we work will enable us to divert valuable resources to support services to the public.

" Delivering our modernisation agenda will be the key to protecting frontline services and protecting jobs during the next five years, which is why this is one of the priorities within our Corporate Plan. It is not only important in its own right, but it also underpins our other priorities.

"This is, without question, the most ambitious Corporate Plan the council has ever had, but it is also achievable. I believe that, by delivering this plan, we can make a significant and lasting difference to the people and communities of Denbighshire."

The Draft Corporate Plan will be discussed on Tuesday, October 9 at County Hall, Ruthin, at 10am.

Intrepid Llan grandad's big Christmas challenge

A Llangollen grandfather who braved the wild water of the River Dee last year to raise money for the town’s Christmas festival is repeating the feat, this time with an extra challenge and the help of his local Assembly Member.

A year ago John Palmer swam two miles through challenging white water to the centre of Llangollen.

* John Palmer.

This year he will begin his challenge with a six mile run from Corwen to Glyndyfrdwy and then swim the remaining six miles to the Horseshoe Falls just outside Llangollen.

He will also be joined by local Assembly Member Ken Skates.

John explained that, as enjoyable as his adventure was last year, he is hoping for something more challenging this year.

“Last year was really just a case of sitting there and letting the river take me,” explained the 65-year old former outdoor instructor.

“This year the run will add something of an edge to the adventure. Combined with the swim I think it’s really going to test our stamina.”

John enlisted the help of Clwyd South AM Ken Skates after discussing fundraising for the festival, which takes over the centre of Llangollen in November each year.

 

 

* Ken Skates AM.

“I came to last year’s festival with my family and it’s a lovely event that brings the community together and really does help to keep Llangollen special,” explained Ken.

“It’s a chance to shop in Llangollen’s range of unique shops and find something special for your family’s Christmas.

“John explained how much effort goes into raising money to ensure that it takes place each year so I offered to do whatever I could to help. When he told me about his plans for this year, it was really impossible not to get involved”

The duo hope that the money they raise from sponsors will help fund this year’s festival.

While both Ken and John are looking forward to their challenge with some trepidation, they are training hard to make sure they are in shape to take advantage of the right conditions.

“We want to be able to grab the moment when it comes,” explained John, who has previously raced in the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon.

“We want the river to be high enough that it carries us over rocks without any problems but not too high and it would be nice if it’s not too cold. Ideally we could do without wind too.”

As an enthusiastic runner Ken is no stranger to exercise, regularly leading a group of like-minded AMs, advisors and civil servants on early morning jaunts of up to 10 kilometres around Cardiff Bay. However, swimming the Dee will be a new experience.

“The thought of jumping into a cold river after a six mile run is somewhat daunting,” he said, “but knowing that we’re doing it for a good cause will make it all worth while.”

Sponsors can contact John and Ken via email at Johnpalmer55@hotmail.com or Ken.Skates@wales.gov.uk or contact Ken’s constituency office on 01978 869058 to pledge support.

Bryn Howel Hotel has new owner

* The Bryn Howel Hotel. 

The Bryn Howel in Llangollen has been bought for an undisclosed sum.

The buyers were named yesterday as Anrai Rose Limited.

The hotel had been in administration under KPMG since the collapse of Stephanie Booth's Llangollen Hotels group, of which it was part, in July last year.

A statement released by the hotel said: “The landmark hotel formerly belonged to entrepreneur and TV celebrity Stephanie Booth.

“This was the last of her chain of hotels to find a buyer.

“The management and staff would like to take this opportunity to thank Stephanie Booth for establishing such a successful business and which we intend to maintain under the new private ownership.

“Our new owners were able to greet many of our regular customers over the course of the weekend and seemed equally delighted that the future of the Bryn Howel Hotel has now been secured.”

The general manager of nine years Mr David Irwin was delighted and promised the hotel would maintain its high standards.

It is now planned to refurbish the hotel, but not alter its ambience or historic aspect.

Booth’s Llangollen Hotel Group – which also included Bodidris Hall in Llandegla – went into administration in July last year.

Last month, the Wild Pheasant, also previously owned by Ms Booth, was bought for £2.2million, safeguarding 50 jobs.

It was acquired by London-based investor Asif Siddiqui.

Last June, the Chainbridge Hotel was bought by businessman and hotelier Seamus O'Keeffe.

Man arrested by police hunting missing girl

Breaking news ...

The BBC and other media are reporting that a 46-year-old man has been arrested by police searching for a five-year-old girl abducted from her street in mid Wales.

April Jones was with friends near her Machynlleth home when she "willingly" got into a van at 7pm on Monday.

Police said they are continuing their search in order to bring her home to her family.

"We knew who we were looking for," said Det Supt Reg Bevan, who is leading the inquiry, told the BBC.

Speaking at a news conference in Aberystwyth, Det Supt Reg Bevan said: "Within the last hour we have arrested a 46-year-old man from the Machynlleth area who has been detained at Aberystwyth Police Station.

"We made the arrest just outside Machynlleth and we're hopeful that the individual will assist in locating April who is still missing."

He said that the man arrested was being sought by police and was stopped while he was walking along a road outside the town. His vehicle has now been recovered.

"We knew he was in the area, we've been anxious to trace him and speak to him," he added.

Det Supt Bevan added: "We're still pursuing all lines of inquiry with the view that April is still alive and will continue to do so until we find her."

When asked if police were looking for anyone else, he said: "It's a very early stage. He is a local man and it's a small community. I wouldn't like to speculate further."

Meanwhile, a 12 mile stretch of the A487 from Machynlleth to Cross Foxes near Dolgellau has been closed in both directions due to a "police incident".