Budget goes up for discussion

Delivering a balanced budget and making a final recommendation for the council tax levels for 2018/19 were some of the items on the agenda for Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet, meeting in Ruthin today (Tuesday).

Members were asked to consider the implications of the local government budget settlement for 2018/19, which saw Denbighshire’s budget allocation from the Welsh Government continue to reduce.

The Council is now considering how to set a deliverable budget and the resulting level of council tax. Denbighshire is proposing to increase the council tax to a level that recognises specific pressures in social care and continues to support schools.

Denbighshire is not alone in considering how to fund an increased demand for funding education and, particularly, social care.  The proposed budget includes an increase of £1.8m (2.7%) in budgets for schools, and an additional allocation of £1.5 million (3.2%) to social care.  Pressures exist across the organisation and further efficiencies in all services have been identified to help deliver a balanced budget.

To support this year’s budget, Cabinet discussed a proposal to increase council tax by 4.75%. For the average Band D property, this would mean an increase of £56.58 which equates to £1.08 a week.

This will be discussed by Full Council on January 30 when it meets to set and approve the budget.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance, said: “Over recent years, Denbighshire has planned for the budget cuts well in advance and this has helped us to carefully allocate our resources, maintaining key frontline services as much as possible.

“Whilst the actual reduction from Welsh Government is not as bad as first feared, we need to take into account a number of other factors, such as pressures in pay, pension and the National Living Wage, as well as price/energy inflation, 1% in fire service levy and allowances for increases to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

“The financial climate continues to be challenging and staff across the Council have found savings that will help us balance the books.

“We know that residents of Denbighshire demand that we protect the most vulnerable members of our society, while continuing to deliver the best possible services across the rest of the Council.  In order to address the increasing pressures in Social Care we are therefore recommending that the average Council Tax will increase by 4.75% allowing the council to invest an additional £1.5m in this area to support our most vulnerable residents".

“However, we also know that all our residents are finding the current economic situation challenging, which is why we must keep any increase in Council Tax down to the minimum necessary."

Council hits back over bridges survey

Denbighshire County Council has responded to a study which claims it has the second highest number of “sub-standard” bridges in Wales. 

The RAC Foundation survey, details of which were revealed earlier this week, found 361 out of 6,694 council-maintained bridges across the country did not meet Department for Transport standards for capacity and weight restrictions, which means they are not fit to carry the heaviest vehicles on the roads.

Newport had the highest proportion of substandard bridges (30%) followed by Denbighshire (22%) and Conwy (20%).

The survey said that 36 of Denbighshire’s 161 bridges failed to meet the standards, representing a work backlog of £11 million.

Philip Gomm, the RAC's head of external communications, said bridges were not "about to collapse" but the survey highlighted how many were incapable of supporting large vehicles such as 44-tonne lorries.

"These structures, many of which will have been built hundreds of years ago, are under relentless and growing pressure from both human activity and the elements," he said.

The RAC estimated the cost of bringing all of Wales' bridges up to a good standard would cost about £98m.

_{A spokesman for the county council said: “The figure for Denbighshire includes all bridges that have a sub-standard structural / scour assessment or where inspections have identified significant (capital sized) works.  All these bridges are being monitored, and restrictions are only being applied where necessary.}

_{“The information has enabled us to identify works necessary to make sure that our bridges remain operational and we have a 10 year investment plan to address those works.}

_{“We also made a substantial additional investment in the revenue budget for highway structures last year, which is aimed at ensuring they are adequately maintained and remain operational for the foreseeable future.”}

County has volunteering opportunities

Are you interested in volunteering with Denbighshire’s leisure or youth services?

Denbighshire County Council currently has opportunities due to its current volunteers gaining employment or fulltime training.

Those opportunities are within Community Arts, GP referral, Community Sport, the Youth Service and DofE (Duke of Edinburgh Award) across Denbighshire.

If you are interested in any of these areas, or feel you have a certain skill set to offer and would like to volunteer then you are invited to attend one of the council's drop in sessions to find out more.

All volunteers are offered free relevant training, including Certificate in Youth Work, Sports Leaders, Safeguarding, First Aid and DofE Leaders. A DBS check will be completed and ongoing support in the role will be provided.

The council says it is particularly keen to offer more volunteering opportunities to Welsh speakers.

It adds that opportunities gained through volunteering in Strategic Leisure and the Youth Service have  previously led to paid employment for the leisure, children, young people's and social care related job opportunities and can widen skills and experience.

Two drop in sessions are being arranged for those interested in volunteering:

Wednesday 31st January 5-6.30pm at Ruthin Youth Centre, Ruthin Youth Centre, Ruthin, LL15 1NT and Monday 29^th January 5-6.30pm at the Oaktree Centre, Ffordlas Road, Rhyl, LL18 2DY.

* For more information please contact Sian Bennett, Health and Wellbeing Manager 01824 712710 sian.bennett@denbighshire.gov.uk

County helps chamber re-design its website

Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism has been given funding from Denbighshire County Council to redesign its website and to fund social media courses for businesses.

The chamber represents and helps promote more than 60 businesses in the town including independent traders, food producers and tourism businesses.

David Davies, chair of the chamber, said: “Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism’s website launched in 2011 and achieved excellent viewing figures.

“However, it was recognised smartphones required a more functional, responsive design to sustain engagement and last year, with financial support from Denbighshire County Council, a local website designer updated the layout, colour scheme and typeface.

“This made the website more accessible and has improved engagement. The upgrade is not just a ‘refresh’ but a key development in our social media strategy supporting businesses in Llangollen.”

Denbighshire County Council also provided financial support for two social media training courses, delivered by the  Retail Skills Academy, for members to increase and develop their knowledge of social media as part of its work to develop the local economy by supporting local businesses.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “Promoting your business online is vital to get your message out to the widest possible audience and to increase sales.

“It is great to see businesses in Llangollen engage with the Council and take advantage of the support available to help promote the town to both visitors and residents.

“As a Council we provide training and workshop sessions for businesses covering a wide range of subjects, including social media.

“Every year we listen to businesses by asking them to complete our business survey and plan training sessions around the responses.”

In 2016 Denbighshire County Council provided 40 hours of free practical training sessions to 123 businesses and 27 hours of free advice sessions to 289 businesses.

Mr Davies added: “I’d like to thank the Council for providing this support to members of the chamber. The redesigned website has seen an increase in traffic and businesses have benefited from help promoting themselves online.”

* If you would like more information on what support or advice is available for your business contact econ.dev@denbighshire.gov.uk or 01824 706896.

Corwen-based project marks £350,000 boost

<sub>A four-year project to tackle rural poverty and isolation in part of the county has received a £350,000 boost from the Big Lottery.

The cash will go South Denbighshire Community Partnership and Citizens Advice Denbighshire for their joint project, Your Place or Ours, which aims to address rural poverty and isolation through a number initiatives across the Edeyrnion area.</sub>

<sub>This will include a variety of  community events and activities, meals on wheels and dial a ride service, reducing personal stress associated with low income, gains in welfare benefits and grants, lifting households out of fuel and income poverty and pre-negotiated personal indebtedness.    

A special launch event to celebrate the grant will be held from 10am-noon at Canolfan Ni in Corwen on Friday January 26.

Sally Lloyd Davies, Community Engagement & Development Manager for South Denbighshire Community Partnership, said: “There will be an opportunity to meet with  local service providers, including Citizens Advice Denbighshire,  DVSC, Mind, Youth Service, Nat West Bank, NEST, Denbighshire Housing, Denbighshire social services and many more,  take part in taster sessions in arts and crafts, indoor sports and find out how you or your organisation can get involved.”

* For further information, email: Sally@sdcp.org</sub>

Statement 'to clarify' Community Garden issue

* Plas Newydd is not to be confused with the site of the Community Garden, says our correspondent.

A concerned local resident who does not wish to be identified has contacted llanblogger over the ongoing issue of Llangollen Community garden.  

The resident writes: "My attention was drawn to some very confused and inaccurate statements on social media but these were widely off the mark and seem to confuse the Weaver's Garden area with Plas Newydd itself.

1. The Weaver’s Cottage and Garden was acquired by Denbighshire CC on the 30th October, 2002 for £38,000  from a former owner of Glascoed * source HM Land Registry;

2. In late 2001 the Council had received a report from Nicholas Pearson Associates, Landscape Consultants, describing the property as "part of the essential setting which if protected from future unsympathetic development(at that time it had outline planning consent for three dwellings) would enhance the heritage assets of the Council and add to the attraction of Plas Newydd for future visitors”.

The consultant’s report had led to the provision of a 65% grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. * source Report to Cabinet of Denbighshire CC dated 4th December 2001;

3. Plas Newydd (the house, stables, various other buildings and gardens including the Glen) has been in Public Ownership since 1933 when it was acquired by the Former Llangollen Urban District Council and subsequently transferred to Denbighshire CC through Local Government Reorganisation. I has been Grade  II Listed since the 24th April, 1951. * source history of Plas Newydd;

4. In 1999 Denbighshire CC received a grant of £599,000 from the Heritage Memorial Fund for approved purposes and usage. Source Agreement dated 4th August, 1999 between The Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Denbighshire CC;

5. In 2012 Denbighshire CC granted a Licence to Llangollen and District Friends of the Earth described as “Land at Mill Cottage, Bache Mill Road" for use as a garden area * Source Agreement made on the 19th May, 2012;

6. On the 24th October, 2017  Denbighshire CC’s Asset Group received a report recommending that the Weaver’s Cottage and Garden be “gifted” to the present owner of Glascoed in exchange for a number of unspecified improvements to Plas Newydd, this report spoke of a proposal to construct four or five residential properties. *Source report to the Asset Management Group 24th October, 2017:

It is understood that Denbighshire CC have recently reconsidered this decision which could lead to a more satisfactory conclusion from the Community Garden’s point of view and most importantly continue to protect Plas Newydd against unsympathetic development."   

Snow White has some cool fresh touches

* Pictures by Barrie Potter

* The chat show sequence from Snow White.

While it still contains all the favourite ingredients Llangollen Pantomime Group’s latest offering at the Pavilion, Snow White, has a few novel touches.

Yes, the crowd-pleasing “he’s behind you” and “oh yes he is, oh no he isn’t” routines as well as the traditional booing and hissing at the baddie and the sweets distribution to the audience are all firmly in place – but look out for one or two fresh twists.

Without issuing a spoiler alert beforehand I can tell you that right at the end there’s a hilarious, pre-filmed chat show sequence in the style of Jeremy Kyle in which the wicked queen swaps insults with the heroine about the small mtter of attempted murder.

But I shall only hint at the other clever innovations introduced by director Justine Bradey and her team. All I can say is watch out for the entrance of the Mirror on the Wall early on in the action and also make a careful head-count of the Seven Dwarves.

All the usual hard work and attention to detail has clearly gone into this colourful production which is brought stylishly to life by a very talented cast of key characters and an enormous chorus of cute kids.    

Playing it for laughs in a big way is old panto hand Nico Decourt as the dame, Nurse Knick-Knack. The make-up and costume departments have worked wonders on him – particularly the assortment of wigs – and his line in patter is pretty smart, and scrupulously family-friendly, too.

Another natural deliverer of mirth whenever he appears on stage is another of the group’s stalwarts Neil Barrett as Chamberlain Potts. If ever anyone had the perfect face for comedy it’s this guy!

Talent obviously runs in the family as Neil’s son Harvey makes a rather good King Archibald while daughter Eve plays The Mirror – she of the crazy way of appearing on stage I mentioned earlier.

Deliciously loathsome in the role of the awful Queen Evelyn, the villain of the piece who tries to do in Snow White, is Joanna Potts and taking the title role with just the right amount of syrupy sweetness is Celyn Orton-Jones.

Shea Ferron, already something of a star of other local productions, plays Snow’s love interest Prince Rupert with aplomb and Jo Pearson, again magnificently bewigged, does a nice turn as the queen’s bumbling henchman Humphrey.

The diminutive bunch playing the dwarves – well, not all of them – are another hit with the audience and the whole show is bound together well by the bubbly Simon Orton-Jones as the ringmaster-attired Narrator.

The other elements which shine out here are the brilliant costumes, minimalist but effective stage settings and props, zingy script and well-chosen songs which are wonderfully backed by a six-piece band led by musical director Helen Belton.

If you fancy something to warm you up a miserable winter’s day there are two more performances of Snow White left, today and tomorrow.