Warning over 10% rise in council tax

A Llangollen county councillor says Denbighshire residents could be facing a 10% rise in council tax as the result of a much worse financial settlement from the Welsh Government than expected.

Cllr Stuart Davies has issued the grim forecast in the wake of an announcement yesterday (Tuesday) by the county council on the latest financial outlook.

The council expressed its concern about the likelihood of a "substantially worse" financial settlement for the county for 2015/6 than had previously been indicated.

Cllr Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance and Assets, said: "We have been working very pro-ctively as a county on developing our budget strategy for 2015/6 and beyond, to ensure that we are not having to take knee jerk reactions late in the year.

"We have developed a new system for providing our councillors with choices over where we make our reductions in budget and are working our way through detailed discussions on each and every one of our service areas.

"As Welsh local authorities, we have been given from Welsh Government an indicative budget reduction at an average of -1.6% and this is what we have been working to deliver.

"We are now very concerned that the Welsh Government may be considering a significantly greater reduction in the local government budget next year.

"This would equate to a potential additional £3 million over and above the £6m of cuts we are already planning for.

"What we need from the Minister is a clear statement as to exactly how bad the settlement is going to be so that we can make our plans accordingly.

"As an authority our councillors want and need to make decisions well in advance of the final announcement of the budget in November otherwise we will not have sufficient time to ensure proposals are properly thought through and indeed many will require a substantial lead in time to deliver and these decisions simply cannot be made with only a couple of months notice.

"I am also highly concerned that Welsh Government may be looking for councils to protect spend in areas which are not statutory. In these very difficult times it is vital that local councils have as much flexibility as possible to determine at a local level, taking into account local priorities, how we structure our own budgets. The more areas which are externally protected the worse the impact on remaining services. In a similar vein we would be calling on the Minister to assure local government that the established principle that there will be no new requirements imposed on councils without the requisite funding being allocated will remain in force.

"In all of this, Welsh Government need to be clear that whilst we will at all times seek to preserve front line services for the residents of Denbighshire, the impact of these cuts will undoubtedly have a significant impact on our ability to maintain services and we would welcome the Minister giving us the assurance that they will not be making any punitive reductions in local government funding. We do appreciate that they have the perfect right to transfer funds from local councils to the NHS.

"I would reiterate what is needed from Ministers is a clear and transparent announcement as to what reductions in budget will be required from councils, in order that we can plan in good time and we do not need to be hamstrung by having large areas of budget protected restricting our choices unnecessarily. This is only the same consistency of approach adopted in other regions of the UK where 3 year budgeting for local councils has been the norm for some years, this should be the case here in Wales to allow us to forward plan effectively."

Cllr Stuart Davies said: "This is devastating news for residents.

"The way the funding works means that £300k is equivalent to 1% on council tax. This news means that, if we have to find an extra £3 million on top of the cut that we were threatened with, we could be potentially looking at a 10% rise in council tax, all due to the stupidity of the Ministers.

"They are presiding over a failing NHS and are allegedly taking money off local government to pay for their mistakes with the NHS.

"I had the unedifying sight last week of the former Minister for Health, Lesley Griffiths, pontificating about councils merging when she couldn't get it right at health and is now going to make a mess of local government.

"This makes my job almost impossible. Next Monday I will be participating in the budget process where I will be asked to make swinging cuts in our services or put council tax up."

Bill Liar sought by Limelight

The 1960s play Billy Liar will be staged at Llangollen Town Hall from Thursday-Saturday, September 18-20 by award-winning Limelight Productions.

The production will be directed by local playwright, author and actor Peter Read.

The theatre company is building up a good following and a strong reputation for its high quality productions.

In the last year they have wowed Llangollen audiences with their staging of Godspell, Musicals In The LimeLight, Festive Follies, Dixie or Me, Dylan's Final Journey and, most recently, Jekyll & Hyde.

However, due to illness the lead part of Billy has become available, so Limelight is urgently seeking a good male actor to play this very funny part.

Rehearsal will take place in Wrexham, and the person being sought is male aged 20-35 with good acting ability.

* Anyone interested should contact LimeLight on 01978 351315/07504031029, or email: limelightwrexham@googlemail.com

Large section of River Lodge is demolished

Latest pictures by llanblogger and reader Mike Connolly show that the demolition of the former River Lodge is pressing rapidly ahead.

Most of the roof tiles have now been removed and a large section at the front of the building was being knocked down this afternoon (Tuesday) by contractors.

The former hoel is being cleared to make way for the town's new £5 million health centre.

* A large section at the front of the building is demolished by contractors' machinery.

* This picture by reader Mike Connolly shows that a significant

section of the building has now disappeared.

Silver Band to play at Picnic in the Park

* Llangollen Silver Band play at last year's successful Picnic in the Park.

This Saturday (June 28) Llangollen Silver Band are holding a Picnic in the Garden musical event in the grounds of Plas Newydd in aid of Llangollen Christmas lights.

 

The programme starts at 3pm when Chem the town cryer will welcome everyone to Plas Newydd.

 

Music will begin with the youth band presenting a 30-minute programme, including solo performances and ensemble playing.

 

The training band will play next before the five-piece Welsh girl band Paradwys do a 30-minute set, including solos performed on both the harp and keyboards.

 

The girls will perform two of their own compositions as a unit and a vocal duet accompanied by the harp will round off their set.

 

Special guest artist this year is local girl Karen Davies, an operatic soprano singer.

 

Her set will include Gershwin's well-loved Summertime. Karen will be accompanied by Owen Roberts on piano.

 

To round off the event the senior band will play the final set of the afternoon.

 

The weather forecast is looking good for the day and the event is due to finish around 5.30pm  to 6pm.

 

Conductor Trevor Williams said: "The band are thrilled to be able to organise this event in conjunction with Plas Newydd to assist in raising funds towards something that will be of benefit to Llangollen town residents, businesses and visitors for many years to come.

 

"We wish everyone involved with Llangollen Christmas Lights every success in reaching their target figure."

Elizabeth is railway's new chair

* New chair: Elizabeth Harland.

Llangollen Railway has a new woman at the controls.

Elizabeth Harland has been appointed chairman of the Llangollen Railway Trust and PLC, replacing Neil Evans, who stepped down at the annual meeting on June 13.

Miss Harland has been a working member of the railway team for 10 years and since 2010 has been a member of the PLC and the Trust boards.

She currently has responsibility for policies and procedures and for the railway’s safety management system but has also previously served as the railway’s operations director.

Following a career in data management in Hampshire, Miss Harland worked for one of the major UK banks in Southampton, the Isle of Man and Leeds before taking early retirement.

She now works as a fundraiser for a major national charity.

At the railway she is heavily involved in operational issues as a responsible officer, guard and trainee railcar driver and is also plays a hands-on role in restoration projects.

Speaking of the appointment Miss Harland said: “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to head the Llangollen Railway at a time when we are finally achieving the goal which the founder members set of having a heritage railway running from Llangollen to Corwen.

“In these changing times I am sure that there will be many challenges ahead but I look forward to helping the railway to become fully sustainable and adaptable during my time in office.”

Community garden events planned

Llangollen Community Garden has asked llanblogger to display the following poster for its forthcoming events, two straw bale building and self-build skills sessions in July and August:

Plea over missing poodle

UPDATE ... Yogi the poodle has been found tangled up on the Horseshoe Pass.

His owner said: "Thank you ever so much everyone."


This urgent message was posted on llanblogger's Facebook page on Sunday afternoon.

MISSING - Yogi a little orange poodle has gone missing from Pentredwr 8am yesterday morning. He is dragging his extendable lead behind so may be stuck somewhere. Please check around and in hedges if you are walking dogs or around the area. He's been out all night! He is very timid and good at hiding. Ring 01978 449646.

Please help if you can.