Lib Dems home in on Wales' reception "not spots"

People in Llangollen who have had trouble with Vodafone mobile phone reception may be interested in the following story ...

 

In their debate this week, the Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for an end to internet and mobile ‘not spots’ in Wales.

 

Wales currently has the largest proportion of premises in potential not-spots and the lowest availability of superfast broadband services.  

 

In the past, the Welsh Government’s broadband schemes have proven to be inadequate for businesses due to the slow speed of the broadband provided, according to the Lib Dems. 

 

They are now calling on the Welsh Government to examine the support that can be offered to businesses to improve their ability to compete worldwide through better access to digital services.

 

Welsh Liberal Democrats will also be calling for the Welsh Government to investigate recent problems with mobile signals in rural areas and to work with network providers to ensure these issues are addressed and coverage is maximised across Wales.

 

William Powell, Welsh Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs spokesperson, said: “There is a fear that many businesses are being left behind the rest of the UK due to inadequate internet connections.  Frankly, using a homing pigeon would be more effective than the non-existent email service many businesses have to put up with.

 

“There are an increasing number of people who are self employed and working from home.  Not only is that a convenient way to help people fit their work around their home life, it can also save them vast amounts of money. Yet for many people that simply isn’t an option due to the lack of phone and internet connection.  The Welsh Liberal Democrats want to put that right.”

 

Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: “Technology moves fast and the difference between those who have broadband and those who don’t is getting wider and wider.

 

“Fuel poverty is a massive issue in many rural communities.  Yet figures show that rural households are less likely to take up schemes that reduce fuel costs, such as cheaper tariffs or energy efficacy schemes, due to a lack of broadband access.  Far too many people in Wales are being made to feel like second class broadband citizens.

 

“We’ve had some terrible problems with mobile signal recently in Mid Wales.  We are calling on the Welsh Labour Government to investigate these recent problems with mobile signal and work with network providers to ensure these issues are addressed so that coverage is maximised across Wales.”

New business rates schemes for Wales unveiled

Two new business rates schemes have been announced by Economy Minister Edwina Hart to help revitalise Welsh High Streets and stimulate and encourage speculative commercial development.

 

The schemes, announced in a statement to Assembly Members, are in response to the recommendations from the Task and Finish Group that examined how the business rates regime in Wales could be used to encourage economic development.

 

The two new schemes Open for Business and New Developments represent an anticipated investment of over £5m by the Welsh Government which will provide a grant to local authorities to run the programmes.

The Minister said: “These two schemes send a clear message that Wales is open for business and will provide an incentive to construction and the reoccupation of long-term empty properties.

"In addition Open for Business will  support all businesses considering a move into a long term vacant retail property, for example businesses in the first year of trading or those considering a move closer to a town centre.”

Open for Business is expected to cost around £2.5m and will run until 31 March 2015 to encourage re-occupation of long term vacant retail properties, particularly in town centres and shopping areas.

Open for Business funds 50% relief on business rates for eligible properties for up to 12 months from the first date of occupation.

The retail properties will have had to have been unoccupied for a continuous period of 12 months or more and have a rateable value of no more than £45K. Similar schemes run in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The New Developments Scheme is estimated to be worth over £2.8m and will exempt all newly built commercial property from business rates for the first 18 months and will run until September 30 2016.

This scheme will extend the exemption period for new build developments to 18 months and give an incentive to developers in Wales and could boost construction.

Professor Brian Morgan, who chaired the Review Group, said: “I think the new schemes being announced today offer common-sense and pragmatic ways in which the Welsh Government can work with the property sector to facilitate new developments and also encourage investment in vacant premises in our towns.

“A lack of new modern business space is hindering economic recovery in Wales and the New Developments scheme will help kick start speculative development. Similarly Open for Business will offer an important avenue for encouraging more diversified investments into empty properties in our town centres.

“Taken together, these measures will provide a consistent and coherent approach to working with the private sector to create a more competitive environment for Welsh businesses to expand.” 

* Eluned Parrott, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Business Minister, has accused the Business Minister of costing Wales jobs due to uncertainty over the future of business rate relief for charities.

 

The Business Minister has decided to delay her decision on business rates relief for charities.

 

Instead she plans to work with the UK Government and other devolved administrations to discuss the proposals.

 

The Business Minister has also announced that she is to introduce two further business rates schemes to help businesses.

 

Eluned Parrott AM said: “Today’s announcement should have nailed the coffin lid on proposals to hike taxes on charities, however the Minister decided to fudge the decision.  I’m pleased the Minister has finally taken some action to tackle the blight of empty properties, but the uncertainty over the future of charity business rates could actually mean more empty shops on our high streets.

 

“Due to the Minister’s proposals to cut rates relief for charities, we have already heard that some charities have abandoned plans to expand in Wales.  Sadly the uncertainty will remain until the Minister categorically says these proposals will never see the light of day.  This lack of clarity is costing Wales jobs and investment.

 

“It’s ironic that with one hand the Minister is aiming to encourage businesses to fill Wales’ empty shops, but with the other she is creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and concern that we know has prevented a number of charities doing exactly that.

 

“Charities are telling me that they won’t invest and expand in Wales until there is clarity over future future proposals.   The Minister had a chance to end that uncertainty today, yet refused to do so.”

 

Council consults on its big plan

Denbighshire is currently consulting on the next BIG Plan (BIG Plan II) to deliver key partnership actions on issues such as older people, vulnerable families, children and young people, rural areas and keeping people safe.

The plan aims to set out the work be council will be doing with its partners over the next few years to help improve the lives of residents.

It is now time to prepare for the next phase of the BIG Plan which cover 2014-2017.  

A council spokesperson said: "We want to know what you think our priorities should be for the BIG Plan II.  

"You can let us know online what you think we should focus on to make a real, positive difference to people living, working and learning in Denbighshire. You can find the short survey at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/current-consultations

"It is essential to make sure that we are tackling the issues that matter the most to you and so we would encourage as many people to take part in this consultation as possible. The closing date for letting us know your views is Thursday 31st October."

Welsh Government launches NHS performance website

A new website giving patients easily accessible information on NHS performance has been launched by the Welsh Government.

 

mylocalhealthservice.wales.gov.uk will provide performance data on a range of health services, including:

• hospital information, such as mortality rates, healthcare infection rates and nurse ratios;
• progress in primary care on preventative measures to address the major health issues facing the population such as heart disease and stroke;
• the results of patient satisfaction surveys; and,
• links to reports and locally-published performance data.

Launching the website, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “We have made a firm commitment to transparency in the NHS. Gathering together key performance datasets into one place and explaining them clearly is part of our delivery on that commitment.

“The current site is just the start – we will continue to build on this initial information set, with more information provided over the coming months to make My Local Health Service our window on the performance of our local NHS services right across the country.

“Increased transparency is a key driver in improving quality across the NHS as a whole, highlighting both those areas where good practice is in place and those where there is scope for improvement.

“The website is in line with our wider aim of introducing more mechanisms to detect risks or problems before they occur, and publishing more performance data to raise quality of care.”

Labour team seeking prospective Picasos

ASSEMBLY Member Ken Skates and MP Susan Elan Jones are encouraging schoolchildren in Clwyd South to show their artistic side by designing their own Christmas cards.

 

The political duo may have only just returned to Cardiff and Westminster after their summer breaks, but they are already inviting pupils of every infant and primary school in the constituency to get into the festive spirit and enter their annual competition.

 

The winning design, which will be picked by First Minister Carwyn Jones, will become the Labour pair’s official Christmas card and will be sent out to constituents, businesses, schools and voluntary groups in Wrexham and Denbighshire.

 

Last year’s winner was Jack Warburton from Rhosymedre Community Primary School, whose card was chosen out of hundreds of entries.

                                       

Clwyd South AM Mr Skates said: “There were so many fantastic designs last year and we’re hoping to give the First Minister an even more difficult choice this time!

 

“The children in Clwyd South always throw themselves in to this competition and their creativity is encouraged by our dedicated teachers. I’m sure this year will be no different, and I’m looking forward to seeing the entries come flooding in.”

 

MP Ms Jones added: “The competition gives us a good opportunity to engage with young people in Clwyd South, and it’s a fun way for them to learn a little bit about who represents them. The competition closes on Friday, November 1, so the sooner the children get cracking the better!”

 

Prospective Picassos should ask their teachers to send their designs to Mr Skates’ constituency office at Unit 19, The Malthouse, Regent St reet, Llangollen, LL20 8HS.

Work of specialist ambulance team revealed

* Members of the Welsh Ambulance Service’s HART team on a training exercise.

A SPECIALIST team of ambulance staff trained to provide life-saving care at major incidents has dealt with more than 2,300 emergency calls since its creation last year.

The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) - which is part of the Welsh Ambulance Service - provides clinical care in hostile environments like industrial accidents and natural disasters, as well as chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and terrorist incidents.

Of the calls dealt with since its launch, more than 40 involved flooding, a further 40 involved a firearm or other weapon, and more than 140 meant working at height, in a confined space or on tricky terrain.

Staff are deployed to major road traffic collisions, like the one outside Rhws Primary School in June, in which nine people were injured, and large-scale fires, like the one in Clydach Vale in March, which left a former workingmen’s club destroyed.

The team was also involved in the multi-agency search for missing schoolgirl April Jones in Machynlleth last October.

Chris Sims, Welsh Ambulance Service HART manager in Wales, has been reflecting on a challenge-filled first year. He said: “The introduction of HART in Wales is a huge step forward for the Welsh Ambulance Service, and now means we can provide clinical care to patients in difficult environments.

"HART in Wales is part of a UK network of HART teams, whose members are skilled ambulance professionals with additional training.

"Throughout the year we’ve attended a number of challenging incidents where, in partnership with other agencies, our training and equipment has helped to get access to a patient and support our operational crews.”

The Bridgend-based HART complements the existing Special Operations Response Team (SORT), whose members are trained to provide decontamination and mass oxygenation at such incidents.

The specially trained personnel work 24/7 across Wales, and can also called upon to give clinical care to patients outside of a major incident.

Elwyn Price-Morris, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, added: “The creation of HART marked a significant development in the history of the Welsh Ambulance Service.

“We hope that HART is not in serious action too often, but knowing that they exist here in Wales gives us all some peace of mind that their expertise is available if and when they are needed.”

Concerns raised over Corwen Health Centre

CLWYD South AM Ken Skates and MP Susan Elan Jones have called for assurances from the health board over GP services at Corwen Health Centre.

The Labour politicians say they contacted Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on behalf of their constituents after one GP left the surgery and the other partner tendered her resignation – leaving the practice without a permanent doctor.

 

BCUHB says the vacancy has been advertised nationally, but a replacement is unlikely to be found before the remaining GP, Dr Sue Hesketh, leaves on November 29.

 

The board will manage the surgery from December 1 and use locums in the interim.

 

Assembly Member Mr Skates said: “We know some of our constituents in Corwen are worried about the current situation, and we have contacted the health board on their behalf to relay their concerns.

 

“Betsi Cadwaladr has assured us it will do all it can to minimise disruption during the next few months, and myself and Susan will continue to monitor the situation.”

 

MP Ms Jones added: “As soon as we were made aware of the situation at Corwen Health Centre, Ken and I contacted Betsi Cadwaladr to seek immediate assurances that patient services will not be adversely affected.

 

“We know this upheaval will concern our constituents. We will be in regular contact with the health board until the situation is resolved and will do our best to keep them abreast of developments.”