First Minster quizzed over elderly care costs

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has questioned the First Minister over Welsh Government action to address the substantial care costs many elderly and disabled people are faced with.

 

Speaking in the Assembly, Mr Isherwood referred to the UK Government’s Care Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech last week which  is aimed at joining up health and social care and will protect families in England from the "catastrophic" bills that can be run up,  and asked what is being proposed in Wales to deal with the problem.

He said: “One of the proposed Bills in the legislative programme announced in the Queen’s Speech was the Care Bill, which, among other things, proposes to cap care costs and extend the threshold for financial assistance from some £23,000 to £118,000 to protect people from catastrophic costs.

“My understanding is that that is England only, although, presumably, Barnettised money will come to the Welsh Government. How does the Welsh Government propose to address this particular problem, on a similar basis or otherwise, to protect people from those catastrophic costs in Wales?”

The First Minister told Mr Isherwood that the Welsh Government will “keep a close eye on the Care Bill in England”.

 

He said: “This is an issue on which we have to accept that there is a substantial cross-border flow of people who, potentially, will need to access care, and so, putting Wales in a better or worse position, as people might see it, will have an effect on where people would seek that care. Therefore, we will have to keep a close eye on the situation in England as we formulate our policy in Wales.”

County making "good progress" says finance watchdog

Denbighshire County Council continues to make good progress in delivering its improvement programme, according to the latest evaluation from the Wales Audit Office.

Each year, the Auditor General must report how well councils are planning for improvement and delivering their services. They draw on the work of relevant Welsh inspectorates, as well as work undertaken by the Wales Audit Office.

There are no recommendations for improvement in this year's Annual Improvement Report for Denbighshire.

The report's main highlights include:

• The council has made good progress in most aspects of its work to adapt its services to address demographic change. This includes arrangements to support independence for older people and people with a learning disability and plans to support community initiatives to meet the need of older and disabled people.

• Progress has been made in supporting regeneration projects in Rhyl. The council has begun to identify the resources necessary to achieve the ambitions it shares with partners for the town.  The council has also delivered many actions to support the county's economy, but its measures of success show limited progress during very challenging economic times.

• Estyn has judged that the council provides good quality education services for children and young people, with good prospects for further improvement

• The council's programme of road improvements is progressing, although an investigation is underway to identify whether  any additional work is needed to manage flood risk in the county following the 2012 flooding.

• The council continues to make good progress with its plans to improve the way it works.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans, said: "This latest report makes for very positive reading.  We are pleased that the report authors recognise the work going on around the Council's main priorities and there are already many successes that the Council can be proud of.

"Our work is centred around improving services for residents and it is clear from this report that the Council is heading in the right direction and that it has a sound plan for improving services and monitoring performance in the future.

"However, there is always room for improvement and the report recognises areas where the Council needs to make some progress. We will work to address those matters. "

This morning's flooding latest ...

A press statement on the flooding from North Wales Fire & Rescue Service this morning says:

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has been attending flooding incidents this morning (15^th May) - mainly involving surface water with no homes or buildings seriously affected.

Wrexham is the most affected area, although flood alerts issued by Natural Resources Wales / Environment Agency Wales also exist in other areas.

In Froncysyllte near Llangollen, the A5 has suffered significant flooding and is impassable to cars. At 7.11hours this morning a fire appliance from Llangollen was mobilised so that firefighters could help to push a car and its driver from floodwater to safety.

At 6.51 hours, two appliances from Wrexham were called to Lambourne Court to assist in pumping floodwater away from a property.

At 7.54 hours an officer was called to advise at a property in Bethania Road, Acrefair where sandbags are being deployed.

At 7.47 hours, a fire appliance from Wrexham was called to Hightown Road where a number of properties are affected and sandbags have been requested. North Wales Police is assisting in managing the traffic in the area.

Further advice is available from Natural Resources Wales / Environment Agency Wales and on the following websites;
www.environment-agency.wales.gov.uk
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
/keeping-you-safe/near-water/advice.aspx?lang=en

Heavy rain causes flooding in the area

The Leader is reporting on its website how this morning's heavy rain has caused flooding which has affected this area.

See the full story at:
http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/122720/downpours-in-flintshire-and-wrexham-cause-flooding.aspx

Skates calls for more foster carers

 

* Assembly Member Ken Skates in the frame.

 

 

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has marked Foster Care Fortnight in the Assembly by calling for more foster carers to be recruited in North Wales.

 

A report by the Fostering Network to mark the campaign fortnight found that children are being moved too many times between foster families because of a shortage of foster carers across the country.

 

The survey found that in the last two years 3 in 5 foster carers (61 per cent) have cared for children who have previously had two or more moves between homes.

 

The Fostering Network photographed Assembly Members ‘In The Frame’ to help mark this year’s campaign which runs from 13^th to 26^th May.

 

Mr Skates said: “Foster carers in my constituency and right across North Wales do a fantastic job providing care and loving support to looked after children who need it most.

“The problem is we are short of up to 600 foster carers right across Wales.  This causes local authorities big capacity problems, particularly as the latest statistics show the numbers of children in care have risen 6% in the last year and 24% in the last five years.

 

“That’s why in areas like North Wales we need to recruit and train more foster carers to help young people in care.  The current shortage of foster carers causes instability for looked after children, particularly those with challenging needs.

 

“Yet we face a huge challenge in terms of finances and there is a sustained squeeze on local authority budgets everywhere.

 

“However we cannot put a price on the value of Fostering or adequately do justice to the role foster carers play every day in the lives of children and young people in care.  The aim of Foster Care Fortnight is to remind us all how challenging but ultimately rewarding the role can be.”

 

The survey also found that 2 in 5 (43 per cent) of foster carers have looked after at least one child who has been moved four or more times, while 1 in 10 (11 per cent) have cared for children who have had 10 or more moves before coming to live with them.

 

It found that as a result, children are being moved too far away from their families, are being unnecessarily split up from brothers and sisters and are being forced to move school.

 

Others live with a foster carer who has space but may not have the experience and skills to meet their specific needs. This can put such a strain on relationships that they break down, resulting in these multiple, damaging moves.

 

The survey also found that in the last two years:

 

·        1 in 3 (34 per cent) foster carers have looked after children whose brothers and sisters were placed elsewhere because the fostering service couldn’t find a place to keep them all together. 

 

·        Almost 1 in 3 (28 per cent) of foster carers have felt under pressure to take children (mainly teenagers) who they felt they were not trained or supported to look after.

 

·        1 in 10 foster carers (12 per cent) have felt under pressure to take in another child (mainly teenagers) when they felt they had no more capacity.

 

·        2 in 5 foster carers (39 per cent) have looked after children temporarily because the fostering service couldn’t find a suitable long-term home.

Police warning over illegal parking near car boot sale site

Police are reminding motorists visiting a popular car boot sale that they will crack down on illegal parking.

 

Last summer illegal parking at the Chirk car boot sale on Sunday mornings resulted in 12 motorists being issued with tickets.

 

Following recent boot sales at the site there are concerns that the problem may return this summer, so police are putting out an early warning that enforcement action will be taken against offending motorists who ignore warnings from the police and council officials.

 

Local Inspector Nick Evans of North Wales Police said: “A lot of drivers display a total disregard and ignorance for other road users. 

 

"When they abandon their cars on pavements or grass verges they not only obstruct the free flow of traffic on a very busy road, but more worryingly they cause a hazard obstructing a clear view for other motorists and obstruct pedestrian’s right of way which could lead to a collision and injury." 

Police warning after Carrog burglaries

Police appealing for information following two burglaries in Carrog are reminding individuals to be vigilant.

 

On Tuesday, May 7, an offender or offenders targeted the isolated properties in Carrog near Corwen.

 

Once inside, untidy searches were made and a few items were taken from one property including a CD player and mobile phone.

 

The first offence is believed to have happened sometime between 12.30pm and 3.38pm and the second between 11.30pm and 4.37pm.

 

Police inquiries are underway and officers are issuing the following tips which can help keep property secure: 

 

•             Always keep your property secured – keep all windows and doors locked including those on conservatories.

 

•             Never keep spare house keys under plant pots or under foot mats – these are the first places a burglar is likely to look.

 

•             Ensure that garage doors are kept firmly secured – especially if it has a connecting door to your property. 

 

•             Don’t leave any valuable items in full view of people passing by your door or windows. This includes gaming stations and handbags etc.

 

•             Remember to postcode all your property.

 

•             If you are planning to go away on holiday for a few nights, use a timing switch which controls the times the lights, radios and other electrical items are activated. This will give an impression that someone is at home.

 

•             If you are planning to go away remember to cancel any deliveries, such as papers and milk.

 

Finally, report any suspicious behaviour to police immediately.

 

Inquiries are continuing and police are keen to speak to individuals who saw anyone acting suspiciously or has information to contact officers at Denbigh on 101. Similarly, they are keen to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious vehicles in the vicinity around the time of the burglaries. Individuals with information can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.