County approves 3.8% council tax rise

Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet has approved its budget for the 2021/2022 financial year, with an increase of 3.8% in council tax for the county’s residents. 

The draft settlement announced by Welsh Government in December showed an increase of 3.6% in the budget for Denbighshire and in cash terms this means an increase of £5.4 million.

The budget still has to go to Full Council for approval on January 26.

In setting the budget, councillors considered the fact that there are £10.6 million budget pressures facing the authority, including continued pressure on social services, education, schools and waste service.

In light of the better settlement, the Council says it has been able to keep the increase in council tax as low as possible, with this year’s increase of 3.8% lower than last year’s increase of 4.3%.

The budget for the 2021/22 financial year is £216.8 million.  This includes a £750,000 increase for education and children’s services; £3.3 million for schools; £2.4 million for adult social care; £250,000 for waste services; £276,000 for flood defences and £389,000 for the Council’s Carbon Zero target.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance, said: “The Council has a legal duty to set a balanced budget for the forthcoming financial year and I must commend councillors and staff who have worked tirelessly to get us to this position today where we can officially set the budget. 

“They have come up with proposals to balance the books and have scrutinised and deliberated over the figures before coming up with the budget.

“The past year has seen a number of increased pressures due to the coronavirus pandemic and the Council will continue to work with Welsh Government to ensure that the Council plays its full part in the response and recovery to the pandemic.

“A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to identify more efficient and effective ways of working within the Council and the savings we have identified, together with the better settlement than expected, means that we have been able to keep the council tax levels low. 

“The public has told us that they did not want to see large increases and we have listened to their concerns and worked to find alternative ways of finding savings.

“The other good news is that we have been able to protect essential frontline services that people want and expect from the Council.   

"The savings we are taking forward this year will have little impact on the level of services that the public receive and that has been a crucial part of our thinking from the beginning. 

"The Council has a strong track record of doing this and we have tried to lead by example by being as efficient and effective as possible, reducing our budgets and making savings through not replacing some posts and identifying better ways of working or stopping some things altogether.”

 

Wales's chief medic sends out message on vaccination programme

In response to media claims that the country is lagging behind, Dr Gillian Richardson, senior professional adviser to Wales’ chief medical officer and SRO on the country's covid-19 vaccination programme has sent out this message to the public this afternoon:

The biggest vaccination programme Wales has ever seen is currently underway, as the covid-19 vaccine is rolled out across all parts of the country.

The NHS is working incredibly hard to get the vaccine out to as many people as possible, and as quickly and safely as possible. 

More than 162,000 people have already been vaccinated – equivalent to around 5% of the Welsh population – with thousands more receiving the vaccine every day. 

We are continuing to speed up vaccination as more supplies become available. The first pharmacies in Wales began administering the vaccine last week as part of a pilot in North West Wales. 

A mix of vaccination sites and centres have been selected to ensure everyone across the country has equal access to the vaccine. People will be asked to attend either a mass or community centre, hospital, GP practice, pharmacy or mobile unit.

Every eligible adult will be invited to a site by their Health Board/GP. 

We can’t underestimate the sheer scale of this effort.  We are at the early stages of a huge undertaking, and a lot has already been achieved – equivalent to five months of childhood programme vaccinations in just five weeks.

You will be contacted when it is time to receive your vaccine. Your vaccination will take place at a centre or clinic or, if you live in a care home or can’t leave your house, a mobile team will come to you.

I know everyone is really keen to receive the vaccine but please wait until you are contacted for your turn. 

The rollout of the vaccine is very positive news and offers us real hope for the future.  But we continue to face a serious situation with the spread of the virus. 

For now it is vitally important we all follow the rules to protect each other.  We must stay at home except for the activities allowed, work from home if we can, maintain social distancing and wear a face covering when required.

Residents encouraged to contact Citizens Advice Denbighshire

Denbighshire residents are being encouraged to contact a charity if they are struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic.

Citizens Advice Denbighshire provides free, confidential and impartial advice and campaigns on big issues affecting people's lives.

During 2020 Citizens Advice Denbighshire secured more than £10.95m of benefit and tax credit gain for residents, raised 276 people out of fuel poverty and dealt with more than 8,400 enquiries.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “As we know covid-19 has bought many challenges to individuals within our communities as well as to public service organisations who support residents on a regular basis.

“There has been a tremendous effort made by charities, third sector organisations and volunteers across Denbighshire during the past year, and I would like to thank everyone who has played a role in helping our communities during this time.

“Citizens Advice Denbighshire provides a key role in supporting our residents and this has been particularly important in the last 12 months. 

“The Council is delighted to work in partnership with Citizens Advice Denbighshire on a wide range of projects including the School Uniform Recycle scheme, the Eat Well, Cook Slow project which has helped provide 160 families with slow cookers, while our Homelessness Prevention Team also works closely with them.

“I would encourage all those in the county who are in need of the support from Citizens Advice Denbighshire to contact them.”

Lesley Powell, Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Advice Denbighshire, said: "We have worked closely with the Council and our network of partner agencies to ensure the maximum amount of support is accessible and available for the citizens of Denbighshire.  Working together enables us to provide an holistic service which leads to the best outcome for individuals.

“Our staff and volunteers have pulled together during this pandemic to provide a completely remote service which gives our full support to everyone, in addition to our normal advice service we have answered more than 1,500 Covid-19 related enquiries. We're here for everyone, our help is only a phone call or a click away."

* You can contact Citizens Advice Denbighshire on 0300 3302 124 or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/local/denbighshire/

Government cash helps railway travel through lockdown

llanblogger exclusive

Llangollen Railway has received a sizeable cash grant from the Welsh Government to help it keep ticking over during lockdown. 

Like many other local businesses the heritage attraction had to close its doors to paying customers at the start of the latest national lockdown.

This meant the cancellation of many of its key money-spinning events such as the Santa Special trains while its overheads still have to be covered.

 

But now its public limited company chair Pete Edwards says: “Llangollen Railway has been successful in securing a £147,000 grant from the Welsh Government Cultural Fund. 

“The purpose of the grant is to support ongoing running costs, including staff wages, between December 2020 and April 2021.” 

He added: “Despite being closed to visitors we cannot shut down completely, and there are still significant monthly costs we have to meet. 

“Essential maintenance and planning work need to continue during lockdown, and this assistance allows our volunteers to keep these key activities running while we look forward to welcoming passengers later in 2021." 

The area’s Senedd Member Ken Skates said: “It’s very pleasing to see another vital community organisation in Clwyd South being awarded vital Welsh Government funding. 

“Many businesses in Llangollen have been given grants to help them through what has been an incredibly difficult period for them, and with the vaccine roll-out increasing every day local businesses can now begin to be cautiously optimistic about 2021.  

“Obviously we do not know what the next crucial couple of months will hold, but the Welsh Government has provided the most comprehensive support package for businesses in the UK - with £1.67bn reaching our businesses since April - and we will continue to do everything within our power to help them through this crisis.”  

Coronavirus update from the Welsh Government

Latest coronavirus update from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) is:

• The Welsh Government announced an additional £40m for universities to support students facing financial hardship, helping the students most affected by the pandemic with expenses such as accommodation costs.
• Universities will be asked to prioritise funding towards the most vulnerable students, as well as strengthening advice and support services for students.
• With most students currently being asked to study at home, the funding will also be used to address ‘digital poverty’ among students, to enable better access to online learning, and costs incurred due to the need to self-isolate. 
• The funding is in addition to over £40 million the Welsh Government has already provided to help universities this financial year, which has included £10m towards student hardship, mental health support and student unions.
• https://gov.wales/40-million-extra-support-students-facing-financial-hardship
• Watch Education Minister Kirsty Williams’ press conference: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1351141108169003015 

• Deputy Minister for Health and Social Care Julie Morgan has published a written statement about the continued operation of childcare and play provision in Wales: https://gov.wales/written-statement-continued-operation-childcare-and-play-provision-wales
• Technical Advisory Group report: SARS-CoV-2 infection risks at indoor exercise facilities https://gov.wales/technical-advisory-group-sars-cov-2-infection-risks-indoor-exercise-facilities
• Coronavirus vaccination centres (information correct as of January 15) https://gov.wales/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-centres
• Coronavirus vaccination centres map: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-centres-map
• Updated: Financial support to help pay your rent, mortgage or bills if you are currently working, self-employed, ill and cannot work, been made redundant or on furlough https://gov.wales/get-financial-help-pay-your-bills-during-coronavirus-pandemic

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,332 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 181,493 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Very sadly, there were 20 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 4,294.
• These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

• The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is being published every weekday by Public Health Wales.
• The latest figures show 151,737 people have received their first dose
• And 201 people have receive two doses of the vaccine
• https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

 

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

• The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.
• If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days from when your symptoms started.
• Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus once you are self-isolating. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test
• You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.
• Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
   

Where to find the latest information

• Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4

• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/
• Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.

o   Education Minister Kirsty Williams held today’s Welsh Government briefing. You can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1351141108169003015

County says it will repair any urgent safety defects in Castle Street roadway

* The roadworks on the bridge are thought to be unconnected with the potholes in Castle Street.

The county council says it will repair any "urgent" safety defects found in the roadway of Castle Street.

The promise comes after llanlogger highlighted the crop of potholes which have appeared in Llangollen's main street.

Last week llanblogger described how the holes - at least one of which on the bridge is very deep - have become worse as the winter has progressed.

We sent pictures of a collection of the holes to Denbighshire County Council asking when they are likely to be dealt with.

A council spokesperson replied that an officer would be sent out to look at the road to see if any safety defects required immediate action.

Today, a county council spokesperson said: “An inspection of Castle Street has taken place, and any necessary work to repair any urgent safety defects will be undertaken by the council.”

When asked by llanblogger last week when general remedial work on the potholes was likely to be undertaken, the county said in a statement: "Regarding a longer-term solution we have set aside money in our capital budget for resurfacing works on Castle Street.

“However, we have been holding off from delivering this work because as a council we are currently developing proposals for Castle Street as part of the Llangollen 2020 project, which we are working on in conjunction with Llangollen Town Council and the local county councillors. 

"Should this scheme get the necessary approvals, it would enable us to deliver a much wider improvement scheme in that area which will incorporate the resurfacing work. If those approvals are not forthcoming, we will proceed with the resurfacing work alone.”

* Meanwhile, last Friday morning contractors for what is believed to be the water company Hafren Dyfrdwy began an excavation on the bridge thought to be unrelated to the pothole problem.

llanblogger has tried to confirm with Hafren Dyfrdwy whether these are their works and, if so, what is being done but has so far been unable to obtain any answer from its press office.  

Latest coronavirus update from Welsh Government

Latest coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) are:

·       North Wales GP Dr Helen Alefounder has been sharing her experiences of rolling out the Covid vaccination programme in Wales on a special call with the Duke of Cambridge and other healthcare professionals from across the UK.

o   Watch the call: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1350795399662022656

·         The First Minister has confirmed travel corridors will be suspended in Wales to help prevent new mutated strains of coronavirus entering the UK.

o   Travel corridors will be suspended from Monday until at least 15 February – and possibly longer – as all four nations of the UK act together.

o   The changes, which come into effect across the UK from 4am on Monday 18 January, will mean most people travelling abroad will need to complete a pre-departure test and quarantine for 10 days on their return home to Wales.

o   https://gov.wales/travel-corridors-be-suspended-new-virus-strains-emerge

o   https://gov.wales/travellers-exempt-self-isolation-coronavirus-covid-19

·         More than 35,000 laptops and tablets will be provided to learners over the next few weeks bringing the total provided by the Welsh Government since the start of the coronavirus pandemic to more than 133,000.

o   At the very beginning of the pandemic education Minister Kirsty Williams made a pledge that ‘no child or family would be left behind during this crisis’ and that ‘all children will have the opportunity to continue learning’.

o   https://gov.wales/50-online-learning-logins-second-and-other-ways-show-how-wales-leading-way-digital-services-support

 

·         Updated – Alert level four lockdown: frequently asked questions https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions

 

Coronavirus in numbers

·         The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,172 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 180,161 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.

o   Very sadly, there were 48 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 4,274.

o   These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

·         The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is being published every weekday by Public Health Wales.

o   The next update to the figures will be on Monday 18 January

 

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

·         The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.

·         If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days from when your symptoms started.

·         Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus

o   Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

o   You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus once you are self-isolating. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test

o   You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.

·         Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
 

Where to find the latest information

·         Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4

·         Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/

·         Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws

·         Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/

·         Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/

·         The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.