Businesses in county remain optimistic about 2019

Businesses in Denbighshire have given their verdict on the county’s economy.

Despite a difficult trading environment affecting town centres across the UK and uncertainty over Brexit, the county’s traders are remaining positive according to Denbighshire County Council’s 2018 Business Survey.

More than 430 respondents took part in the annual survey, conducted by the Economic and Business Development Team, which helps inform the council’s March for Business month.

It found almost three quarters of businesses (73 per cent) expected to increase customer numbers next year while 65 per cent expect to increase sales in 2019.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “We know it is a difficult time for high streets across the UK. That is why we have been supporting local traders with our #LoveLiveLocal campaign this Christmas, with free 1-2-1 sessions with business experts, as well as administering business rate relief in the county.

“The survey shows that despite uncertainty, Denbighshire businesses are working hard and planning for the future.

“It is also encouraging to see businesses talk about the positive interaction they have had with our planning and public protection team which supports businesses in a variety of ways as part of our Better Business for All scheme.

“Businesses have also told us about their training needs and we will make sure March for Business 2019 is tailored to meet those needs. During these difficult times we will continue to talk and listen to businesses and provide them with the support they need.”

Respondents also gave positive feedback on the improvements to mobile coverage, something Denbighshire County Council has been working with the Welsh Government and mobile providers on, while fewer businesses said they had issues collecting payment from debtors but more had issues securing loans.

Businesses also said training around social media, e-commerce, and improving the presentation of products were most important to them.

March for Business is four weeks of free workshops, networking events and advice sessions for businesses organised by Denbighshire County Council.

For full details of the 2018 Business Survey please visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/business-survey

Debut performances at Llangollen Pantomime

* The cast of Aladdin which opens tomorrow (Thursday) evening.

*  Sophie Preston in the title role. 

New faces will take to the stage in Llangollen as the town’s Pantomime Group prepares for Aladdin.

The production at Llangollen Pavilion from January 17-20 will feature a host of debut performances as Llangollen Pantomime Group offers a packed show full of traditional fun, well-known songs and West End-style technical effects.

Among the newcomers is Riah Andrews who plays Princess Jasmine opposite Sophie Preston in the title role. 

The director, Simon Orton-Jones, said: “We’re delighted to welcome new members to the Pantomime Group this year which is refreshing the feel of the show.  Everyone is working hard to make this show the best yet and we look forward to taking to the stage later this week.”

Llangollen Pantomime Group was started by St Collen’s Church more than 30 years ago.  Today it  draws cast and crew from across the town and beyond. 

Llangollen Pavilion opens on Thursday with evening performances until Saturday and matinees on Saturday and Sunday. 

* Tickets are available online atwww.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenpantoor in person from Gwyn Davies Butchers, Jade Hair & Beauty or by calling 01978 860297. 

Singer entertains at Methodist lunch

At their annual post-Christmas lunch at the White Waters yesterday (Sunday) members and friends of Lllangollen Methodist Church were entertained by Megan-Hollie Robertson from Wrexham (pictured) who successfully competed in last year's Eisteddfod.

Megan, who  studied musical theatre in Guildford, sang a selection from musicals as diverse as Avenue Q and Les Miserables to delight her audience.

* Church members listen to their guest singer.

MP fumes over treatment of disabled claimants

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones (pictured) has slammed Government figures showing three-quarters of her constituents who appealed about their Personal Independence Payment status in 

2017/18 were successful in overturning the original decision.

“It’s outrageous”, she said.

“The Government is admitting that in one year, 90 out of 120 people with major disabilities and conditions like terminal cancer had the wrong decisions made about them. 

“They only got the funding and support they were entitled to because they had to go through the additional stress of a complex appeals process.

“Every year, my staff team and I help around 800-1,000 local people. A good number of these have this sort of issue.

"While I’m glad to see bad decisions overturned, the number of mistakes made shows the system really needs to change. It’s time the UK Government introduced a fairer way of assessing and supporting disabled and seriously ill people.”

* See Government Department for Work & Pensions stats (link below) for Clwyd South:

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-01-08/206293/

Extra cash earmarked for sport across Wales

Sport Wales has been allocated an additional £5m to support the delivery of a range of sports facilities across the country.

Money will be allocated to Sport Wales so it can move quickly and contribute to projects across the country that are shovel ready right now.

Funding will be allocated to ensure a good geographical spread across Wales, across sports and support collaborative, multi-sport projects wherever possible.

The capital investment will seek to support the “Vision for Sport in Wales” with a focus on collaborative projects that:

• Improve and protect key existing sports facilities that support the needs of local communities.
• Invest in new and different places that meet the needs of local communities.
• Create a more resilient, sustainable sport sector.

This new funding is in addition to the £5 million announced in the summer for the new Healthy and Active Fund – a partnership between Sport Wales, Public Health Wales and the Welsh Government.
The new £5 million investment for sports facilities in Wales demonstrates a firm commitment to boost delivery on facilities that support an active Wales.

It is also the first phase of investment following recommendations that emerged from the review of sport facilities undertaken earlier this year.

Minister for Culture and Sport Lord Elis-Thomas said: “Whether it’s the hall you do classes in or the pitch you play on, having the right facilities in place has a big impact on a person’s experience – and likelihood of them participating on a regular basis.

"There is a clear need to increase the spread of top-class facilities across the country, but we must also consider how these would benefit local communities, as well as elite athletes.

"Geraint Thomas OBE’s Tour de France win cannot be understated and this is having a strong impact throughout Wales – we’ve already seen bike sales jump and the BBC Sport Personality of the year accolade will cause a further ripple effect – so we stand ready with Sport Wales to act quickly to build upon the momentum that has been gained and promote a cycling, and wider sporting, legacy.”

Sarah Powell, Sport Wales CEO, added: “We have several existing applications from key partners that could benefit from this exciting announcement and we will look to progress with these as a priority. Several 3G and ATP pitch projects across Wales (as part of the existing and successful collaboration scheme) will benefit immediately as will some cycling projects.

“Then, in early 2019, we will develop the criteria and application process for the remainder of the fund. Sport has an incredible ability to deliver wide ranging benefits to our society and we are delighted that the Welsh Government and the Minister have given us the opportunity to invest collaboratively in the development of facilities to further this work.”

AM challenges First Minister over affordable housing

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has questioned the new First Minister over what action he is taking to address the shortage of new homes in both the social and private sector.

With reports showing that Wales needs at least 12,000 new homes each year, including 5,000 annually in the social sector, and the Welsh Government’s target being only 20,000 ‘affordable’ homes over the full five year Assembly Term, inflated by adding new intermediate rent and low cost home ownership properties to new homes in the social rented sector, Mr Isherwood (pictured) challenged Mark Drakeford  over the shortage in the Assembly Chamber.    

He said: “The average number of new homes delivered by Housing Associations annually in England has risen by a third since 2010, compared to 25 per cent in Wales.

"The average number of new homes delivered by Local Authorities in England is up nearly sevenfold (since 2010) compared to a two-thirds fall, up to 2017-18, in Wales. You referred to removing the borrowing cap (by the UK Government) – and exit from the Housing Revenue Account system (enabled by the UK Government) does enable local authorities to retain income from tenants and invest that in new council housing.

"How will you ensure that that is invested, where practicable, in new housing for social rent, either delivered directly by Councils themselves or where they can get best value for the resource available in partnership with Housing Associations, including the 11 where Local Authorities have already transferred stock to them?”

The First Minister agreed that partnerships between local authorities and housing associations are going to be key to accelerating the availability of housing built for rent in all parts of Wales and stated that “the challenge is everywhere in the United Kingdom”.

He added: “The Member will have seen the report from Shelter today calling for major additional investment in housing for public rent in England. I welcome that report. If it were to be adopted it would lead to a significant Barnett consequential for us here in Wales, which we would be able to put to work.

"As it is, our 20,000 affordable homes target for this Assembly term is amongst the single largest capital investment that we will make as a Government. With the efforts that we are making with the new possibilities that Local Authorities have, we are determined to do everything we can to make sure that we have a building programme that better meets the needs we know are there for decent, affordable housing in all parts of Wales.”  

Mr Isherwood responded: “My figures for England contrasted with those during the previous 13 years of Labour UK Government. However, Labour-led Welsh Government has been responsible for housing in Wales since 1999 and Wales was already lagging behind England when Labour left UK Government in 2010.

"The new First Minister trumpets his Government’s target to deliver 20,000 affordable homes over this 5-year Assembly Term, but successive independent reports showing that Wales needs at least 12,000 new homes each year, including at least 5,000 in the social sector, make a mockery of this."

County council explains how it is spending £135 million

* County Cllr Hugh Evans, leader of the council, appears in an explanatory video about the Corporate Plan 2017-22.

A five-year plan to improve the lives of Denbighshire residents is already having an impact, says the county council.

The authority's Corporate Plan will see £135 million of investment in key areas aimed at benefiting the county.

Projects include building new council houses, investing in transport and digital infrastructure, protecting and enhancing the environment and supporting young people to achieve their potential.

The council says that so far more than 3,000 pupils have benefited from new school buildings, while thousands of trees have been planted as part of a plan to create green-havens in the county’s towns.

Cllr Julian Thompson-Hill, lead member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “Our plan is to deliver changes in our communities that will put foundations in place for them to thrive and prosper in the long term.

“The plan focuses on five key areas, the environment, young people, housing as well as resilient and connected communities.

“We’ve already started building new council homes – all of which will be energy efficient - and we’re committed to working with communities and providers to improve our digital infrastructure.

“So far things are developing at a good pace and to a good standard, and we’re embracing the challenging goals that have been set for us by our residents. This first 18 months of the plan have laid a strong foundation for the ongoing work of the Corporate Plan.

“We’ll also be working closely with our residents to make it easier for them to deal with challenges in their lives, both by improving support and by listening more closely to our communities and helping them achieve their goals.”

As part of the Corporate Plan, which will run until 2022, other projects underway include flood defence work in Rhyl and extra support for those looking to find work or progress their careers.

Earlier this year the Public Accountability Measures 2017-18 published by Data Cymru, on behalf of the Welsh Local Government Association, showed Denbighshire ranks sixth out of the 22 councils in Wales.

* A video explains the work the council is undertaking as part of its Corporate Plan.