Isherwood questions Minister over affordable housing

SHADOW Housing Minister Mark Isherwood has questioned the Housing Minister over action to address the "lack" of affordable housing in Wales, highlighting the increase in new home registrations in England, as they have plummeted in Wales.

 

Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Isherwood questioned the Minister over work to ensure that new affordable housing goes to local people, and also asked what action is being taken to ensure local authorities seek the best way of maximising the supply of quality homes for affordable and social rent.  

 

He said: “As you know, although half of the local authorities in Wales have transferred their housing stock, they all retain a strategic housing responsibility. How will you ensure that, in maximising the supply of quality homes for affordable and social rent, local authorities seek the best way of doing that, whether or not that means that the property remains or becomes council owned?"

 

Questioning him over section 106 agreements, he said: “In the quarter to August, new home registrations in England were up 16%, but down a further 24% in Wales. We know that your predecessor had commissioned some work on section 106 agreements, to try to reconcile the need to maximise the occupancy cascades, which prioritise local people, with the needs of mortgage lenders to protect in law the assets against which they lend. Will you update us on the recommendations of that work and how that is impacting on Welsh Government delivery?"

 

In his reply, the Minister insisted that house building in Wales is showing signs of recovery and said that he did not accept Mr Isherwood’s “negative comments regarding house building in Wales”.

 

Mr Isherwood added: “It is clearly a matter of concern if the Housing Minister in Wales does not recognise the official figures for new home registrations produced by the National House-Building Council (NHBC). It is also a matter of concern that the Minister failed to answer my question on a matter which is absolute key to the delivery of more affordable housing for young people in our communities.”

 

Mr Isherwood also asked the Minister what consideration he will give to enabling tenants in council areas where they have voted against stock transfer to consider voting fo r having a Community Housing Mutual within their own community.

 

He said: “The first community housing mutual was delivered in Knowsley village in 1981 under the Heseltine initiative. However, in Wales, we are still waiting to hear good news about how this can be maximised.”

Ramblers publish their winter 2014 programme

Llangollen Ramblers has sent llanblogger a copy of their programme for winter 2014, which begins early in the new year:

Plaid AM hits out over leisure centre closure proposals

Plaid Cymru AM Llyr Gruffydd has hit out at Wrexham Council’s proposal to close Plas Madoc and Waterworld, with a possibility to build a new leisure centre on the latter site.

 

The North Wales AM, who lives near Ruthin, said: “I regularly take my four children to swim at Plas Madoc on Sunday mornings and am horrified at the suggestion that it and Waterworld may close to save £500,000.

 

“Coming so soon after the Olympics, where £12 billion was spent on sport-related infrastructure in London, I find it absurd that the legacy of the 2012 Games for Wales will be a series of closed swimming pools, gyms and other sporting facilities.”

 

He blamed a combination of UK Government cuts to Welsh Government and what he called an “inept local Labour council” that was targeting frontline services rather than non-essential services.

 

He said: “I fully support the campaign to reta in these facilities and believe alternative savings can be found by the council that do not impact on people’s health and wellbeing.”

 

His views were echoed by Plaid Cymru’s Parliamentary candidate for Clwyd South, Mabon ap Gwynfor, also a regular user of Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, who said: “Cutting leisure facilities when doctors are warning of a childhood obesity epidemic is perverse. Any short-term savings to taxpayers will mean longer-term costs to the NHS. Where else will children from the surrounding areas go to learn to swim if they can’t go to Plas Madoc? Swimming lessons in Waterworld are already over-subscribed and Plas Madoc is particularly good for younger children to get used to the water.”

 

A meeting by local campaigners is being held at the Air Products Club at Acrefair at 7pm on Tuesday.

 

Silver Band plays at church's carol concert

* Fresh from a successful appearance at a similar occasion in Chirk Castle earlier in the day, Llangollen Silver Band played at a carol concert in Llangollen Methodist Church yesterday (Sunday) evening. 

Plans submitted for Chirk station disabled bridge

The BBC is reporting today that work could start on a £1.4m disabled access footbridge and ramp at Chirk railway station could begin in January.

See the full story at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-25368285

MP promotes "Justice for Robert" Bill

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones is promoting a new Bill in Parliament which would mean a review of sentencing for serious driving offences.

The proposed legislation stems directly from Ms Jones’s long-standing interest in the case of nine-year-old Robert Gaunt of Overton who died after being knocked down by a car on the road near his home in 2009.

The car driver was jailed for 22 months and banned from driving for four years after he admitted perverting the course of justice.

Claiming they had been “let down” by the justice system, Robert’s family began a campaign for a change to the law, which has been backed by Ms Jones (pictured right).

In the summer of 2011, she raised the issue in Parliament and called for the law to be toughened but the Government Minister responsible told her there were are no plans to bring in what he described as ‘tinkering legislation’.

Now, the MP has revealed that she is bringing a Bill before Parliament on January 8 next year which will effectively be “Justice for Robert”.  

She said: “The formal title of the Bill is Driving Offences (Review of Sentencing Guidelines).

“The formal description is ‘That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Secretary of State to undertake a review of the maximum penalties for driving offences leading to death and serious injury; and for connected purposes’.

“My Bill calls for a review to be made of what the guidelines are on sentencing, i.e. what the maximum penalties are for various driving offences.

“For too long those who commit serious driving offences have been received overly lenient sentences. A review must be made of the maximum penalties in order to get justice for those families torn apart by these terrible offences.”

She added: “I am very pleased to say that the Labour Party front bench have given their support to this Bill and I very much hope that the Government will do so as well.” 

Group honoured for its community efforts

* The award being presented to John Gambles by Councillor

Huw Jones (right) Shep Evans (Cymdeithas member)  

and AONB Officer Howard Sutcliffe, and t(o the right)

Joy Roberts (Cymdeithas member).

A community group in Llantysilio has been recognised by the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team for successfully establishing a community centre for the village. 

The AONB Award for 2013 has been given to Cymdeithas y Cwm, a voluntary group which was founded in the early 1980s when the two village pubs, The Sun and The Conquering Hero were both, at that time, closed down.  

Cymdeithas y Cwm was soon established with an annual programme of events that included a horticultural show and fete, bonfire and fireworks and a Christmas party for the whole village.

In 1997 the charity was successful in gaining the support of the National Lottery Charities Board to buy and convert The Conquering Hero or The Conq (as it is known locally) into a community centre for the village, and it has since hosted numerous events including weekly youth club, evening classes, community council and committee meetings, Llantysilio Diners Club, and children’s parties.  The charity continues to be committed to maintaining the facilities at Llantysilio Green for the benefit of the local community and visitors to the area. They also offer an employment opportunity and affordable accommodation to local people and support local businesses wherever possible.  Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB Officer,  Howard Sutcliffe said:  “The communities of the Clwydian Range& Dee Valley AONB are a fundamental part of our outstanding landscape and the work and efforts that have taken place in Llantysilio to provide a community centre for the benefit  all of the communities  is inspirational. The Award is very well deserved."

Councillor Huw Jones, Vice Chair of the Interim Joint Advisory Committee, said he was very proud that the communities of the Dee Valley had won the award this year; the group had shown real leadership in partnership work within the AONB.

On receiving the award on behalf of the group, John Gambles said: “We all enjoy living in such a beautiful and welcoming place and Cymdeithas has over the years enjoyed trying to add to this. We are surprised but delighted to receive this Award from the AONB on behalf of all of people who have contributed to Cymdeithas over the last 30 years; it is also a chance to thank Denbighshire County Council for the support they have given us."