Plan for extra police gets go-ahead

Seventeen extra police officers and an additional six staff will be recruited in North Wales after a police boss won backing for his budget plans.

The proposal by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones (pictured) to increase the cost of policing by 76p a month – less than the cost of a loaf of bread - was supported unanimously by the North Wales Police and Crime Panel.

The increase of 3.79 per cent in the police precept is among the lowest in Wales and was backed by the public in an online survey.

The survey showed that 63 per cent of almost 1,000 council taxpayers questioned were in favour of an increase of five per cent or more.

The average householder in a Band D property will pay just £9.09 extra a year, a total of £249.21 for the annual police precept, up from £240.12, and it comes in the wake of a cut of more than £1 million in the Government’s policing grant for North Wales.

Next year the central government grant, which makes up half the force’s budget, will amount to £71.7 million, a 1.4 per cent cut.

The panel refused to consider the proposal last week and deferred the meeting until today.

Arfon Jones was "disappointed and frustrated" last week's meeting was deferred 90 minutes before it was due to start.

He said: “I am pleased we have finally been able to resolve this issue because the interests of the people of North Wales must always come first.

"We live in challenging times and that is true of policing as well as other areas of society.

"The figure of a 3.79 per cent increase is based on a sound business case which has been worked through in great detail and in consultation with the Chief Constable.

“I have also consulted with the public by holding an online survey which almost 1,000 council taxpayers took part in and which saw an overwhelming majority in favour of an increase of at least five per cent.

“The increase is considerably less than that and is based on achieving a balance between running an efficient and effective police force with a recognition that many people in North Wales find it difficult to meet even a small increase.

“The level of the precept is crucial to the effectiveness of the force in keeping North Wales a safe place to live, work and visit and setting it is one of my principal responsibilities.

"As a result of the decision today, North Wales Police will be able to recruit another 17 police officers and six more members of staff.

“Policing budgets have been under pressure for a number of years and this will certainly continue to be the case with a further £7 million in cuts to the budget due by 2020.

“There will be continued uncertainty for police funding for 2018/19 and beyond so it was vitally important to get today's decision right.

The Commissioner and the Chief Constable have agreed cuts of £2.86 million in the North Wales Police budget for 2017-2018 with over £1.25 million of those cuts reinvested in frontline services which will also be boosted by an extra £1 million in front line posts from the precept increase.

Mr Jones added: “Policing is under great pressure from new demands being placed upon it – who would have thought that the majority of crime in North Wales is now being committed online rather than on the street?

“My reserves are in a stable and healthy position and so I am only looking to increase council tax in order to fund the coming year’s expenditure and to deal with the effect of further reductions in government grant if and when this should occur.”

Gill and Glyn Thomas honoured by Llan Civic Society

* Betty Lowe presents the Civic Award to Rhodri

and Penri Thomas, sons of Gill and Glyn. 

At the January AGM of Llangollen Civic Society there were five nominations for the Civic Award for 2016.

But there was unanimous vote that the award should be made posthumously to Gill and Glyn Thomas, who had both died in the past few months, and had both made a valued contribution to the town over many years. 

The presentation was made by Betty Lowe, the society’s life president, during the meeting which was held at Llangollen Museum. 

Gill and Glyn had been secretary and treasurer of Hanes for some years, and after their loss the committee had recommended that the society be dissolved. 

At the AGM the members overwhelming agreed to this course of action. 

Members of the society will be welcomed as Friends of the Museum, which holds talks on the last Wednesday of each month.

It has been suggested that the Friends expand their activities to include visits to places of interest, as Hanes used to do. 

The Museum plans to develop a historical herb garden in memory of Gill, since this was a passion of hers. 

It will be based on a monastic herb garden such as at Valle Crucis, with sections for herbs with different applications. 

This would form the basis for demonstrations of the historical use of herbs. 

MP hits out over asylum seekers' treatment

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has written to Home Secretary Amber Rudd to express concern about the Home Office’s handling of the cases of asylum seekers who have been tortured.

Ms Jones (pictured), who met recently with members of Llangollen Refugee Support Network, expressed particular reservations about how survivors of torture are sometimes turned away on "specious grounds".

The MP referred to a report authored by the organisation Freedom from Torture that documented how asylum caseworkers without any clinical qualifications often replace the expert opinion of a medical doctor with their own speculation about clinical matters.

She said: "The current set-up contravenes a clear Home Office policy on how to handle expert medical evidence of torture.

"Too many Home Office decisions with medical evidence of torture are poor and have to be corrected by judges. This is wrong in principle and it is also wrong in that it is a waste of taxpayers' money." 

Ms Jones also expressed her opposition to an Official State Visit to the UK by new US President Donald Trump until his "discriminatory travel ban" has come to an end. 

Indian theme for fundraiser

Another successful year for Tidy Town Team

* Members of the team at work outside the museum a couple of years ago.

Co-ordinator David Davies has given an account of Llangollen's Tidy Town Team's latest successful year in the organisation's 2016 annual report.

Our  eleventh year of operation.

With a couple of retirees replaced by new additions, the team continues to maintain a membership of 20 people.

Litter clearing continues on Dinas Bran Castle Hill, roadside and around the “Hawthorn” sculpture, along the Panorama and around the School and Wharf area, but litter is much reduced (except around the school) compared to a few years ago.

Highlights of the year have included our second year of the “Cemetery Woodlands” project. This has involved continuing to open up the area which subsequently revealed the appearance of a mass of spring flowers. This was especially appreciated from the opposite side of the river along “Victoria Promenade”.
  
We have also planted over 1,200 daffodil bulbs on the canal wharf bank and the roadside by the Medical Centre.

In Plas Newydd we have assisted the Head Gardener with the task of giving more light to the Cyflymen by clearing laurel growth from the steep riverside bank.  We all now know how sheep feel walking on hill sides.

The Town Christmas Festival saw us in action as usual erecting stalls and parade support duties, with the task of erecting the Christmas Tree somewhat easier this year with the new “high- tech” version around the flag pole. 

A big thank you to all our supporters during the year including: Llangollen Town Council,  Denbighshire CC,  Keep Wales Tidy,  Horse Drawn Boats,  K&C Construction and the estate of Tom Edwards.

Finally, thank you to the members of the team for another 600 hours of voluntary (same pay as when we started) work during the year.

Parish's Snowdrop Service

County's response over travellers agreed

Members of Denbighshire’s Cabinet have agreed a formal response to the Welsh Government on the assessment of accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers.

All local authorities have been required to undertake an up to date assessment by the end of February of the needs of gypsies and travellers and to address any identified need.

Denbighshire County Council’s own assessment recognises the need for a six-pitch permanent residential Gypsy and Traveller site in the county, as well as a transit site for 4-5 pitches to provide accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers travelling through the county.

Councillor Hugh Irving, Cabinet Lead Member for Communities, said: “We fully recognise the need and duty to review accommodation issues for gypsies and travellers.

“Historically we have seen unlawful encampments on Council and private land, predominantly in the north of the county and the position will continue if we don’t take a proactive approach to managing the accommodation  needs of gypsies and travellers.

“Resolving unlawful encampments will inevitably result in costs for the Council, and providing facilities for residential and transit accommodation would certainly help address this issue.

“We will now submit our formal response to Welsh Government and await the outcome."