County agrees to spend £15m on care home fees in 2025/26

Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet has unanimously agreed to accept the care fees recommendations at today’s meeting in County Hall. 

This means a total projected cost of £15.2 million which will be spent on older people’s residential and nursing care during 2025/26 protecting the most vulnerable in our society. 

Councillor Elen Heaton, Lead Member for Health and Social Care, who presented the recommendation said: “I am pleased that Cabinet has today accepted the care fees recommendations, as this reflects our continuous commitment to investing in our vital care and support services despite the financial pressures the council continues to face.

 

“Denbighshire currently funds approximately 382 placements across 85 care homes, with a projected cost of £14.1m this year, which forms a substantial amount of our Adult Social Care and Homelessness budget.

 

“With social care making up nearly a third of the average Council Tax bill in Denbighshire, it is vital that we take a fair and sustainable approach to funding care. To support this, we have invested in Care Cubed which is a credible, data-driven methodology that provides a consistent and evidence-based approach to fee setting.”

 

“This investment ensures that fees are set transparently and responsibly, helping us strike the right balance between supporting care providers with fair and sustainable fees, while ensuring value for money for Denbighshire’s taxpayers.

 

"Adopting Care Cubed also aligns with the regional commitment to fairness and consistency across North Wales. This approach will support a sustainable care sector in Denbighshire that can continue to meet the needs of our residents, both now and in the future."

Twenty Club make an earnestly good job of Oscar Wilde classic

* A scene from The Importance of Being Earnest.

It might date back all of 130 years but Llangollen Twenty Club are managing to breathe new life into Oscar Wilde's famous comedy of manners, The Importance of Being Earnest. 

First performed in 1895 at the St James Theatre in London, the play depicts the tangled affairs of two young men about town who lead double lives to evade unwanted social obligations, both assuming the name Ernest while wooing the two young women of their affections.

At Llangollen Town Hall this week Mat Oswald-Haggett plays Jack Worthing, bringing to bear the talented versatility that has made him a Twenty Club favourite over a number of years with solid performances such as the eponymous Blackadder back in 2019. 

Club newbie Tom Cutler wears the part of Jack's friend Algernon Moncrieff like a well-cut Saville Row suit while another debutante, Darcy Badwick, makes a perfectly balanced Gwendolen Fairfax, love interest of Jack.

Fresh from her portrayal of a rather naughty French waitress in the Club's 'Allo 'Allo last year Jessica Fidler does a great job as Cecily Cardew, Jack Worthing’s ward.

Emily Swindley, another stalwart of many Club productions, creates a formidable Lady Bracknell, aunt to Algernon, and delivers that famous line about a handbag in deliciously haughty style.

Hilary Woodward, who was in both 'Allo 'Allo and Bad Girls for Llangollen Operatic, transfers her obvious skills well to the role of Miss Prism, governess to Cecily. 

We last saw him on stage as an excellent Rene in 'Allo 'Allo and now Chris Williams is every bit as good as he returns as Lane, manservant to Algernon.   

No stranger to local productions himself, Mike Connolly is a suitably deferential Merriman, butler to Jack.  

Another Club first-timer, Malcolm Graham, plays the Rev Canon Chasuble, Rector of Woolton, with a pompously ecclesiastical touch.

Taking the helm as director is Ian Wright, assisted by Lizzie Clifford, and joint producers are Bev Maier and Helen Belton. 

They, along with a behind-the-scenes team comprising Steve Hughes, Malcolm Potter, Kevin Williams, Naomi Riley and others, are doing a fantastic job of welding together this stylish and highly enjoyable production.

* The Importance of Being Earnest is showing from this Thursday to Saturday, March 27- 29, at 7.30pm with the Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. 

* Tickets, priced £14 and £12 concessions, are available from Cwtch, Courtyard Bookshop and Llangollen Oggie Shop in the town centre as well as online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollentwentyclub

County's highways and environment will end up £2m in red, says story

* The story in Nation.Cymru.

A story in Nation.Cymru says Denbighshire County Council's highways and environment department is estimated to end the financial year more than £2m in the red. 

* For the full story, see: https://nation.cymru/news/councils-highways-and-environment-department-2m-in-the-red/?sfnsn=scwspmo

Local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council

Latest local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council is:

Hall St jct with A5 Berwyn St, Llangollen HALL STREET 27/01/2025 28/03/2025 Gwaith Ar Wal Gynnal/ Retaining Wall Works OBR CONSTRUCTION

Hall Street, Llangollen. HALL STREET 12/04/2025 17/04/2025 Gwaith Draenio / Drainage Works NMWTRA (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Verge ABBEY ROAD 31/01/2025 13/06/2025 Gwaith Ar Wal Gynnal/ Retaining Wall Works DCC HIGHWAYS

O/S NUMBER 20 CASTLE STREET 07/04/2025 09/04/2025 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

A539 28 MILL ST MILL STREET 10/04/2025 10/04/2025 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY

A539 Llandyn Hall Farm Culvert TRACK TO LLANDYN HALL FROM A539 28/04/2025 23/05/2025 Gwaith ar Gylfat/ Culvert Works, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OUTSIDE PROPERTY CALLED 'MAYTREE' FRON BACHE FRON BACHE 07/04/2025 09/04/2025 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OPP 10 Regent Street JNC QUEEN STREET AND CHURCH STREET Llangollen BROOK STREET 19/05/2025 06/06/2025 Gwaith BT/ BT Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Group lays on special tour to celebrate Llangollen's rich history

* Llangollen Railway.

Six prominent heritage sites in Llangollen are offering a series of short events to celebrate different aspects of the town's history, all free of charge and with no need to book.

A Tour Through Time on Saturday May 3, has been organised by the recently-formed Our historic Llangollen hanesyddol i bawb, which a collective of many historic sites and landscapes, heritage experiences and activities in Llangollen and the surrounding Dee Valley. 

The special event starts at the Royal International Pavilion at 10.30am and wends through Llangollen to end at St Collen's Church at 3.30pm.  

* International Eisteddfod.

Each site in turn will stage a 45-minute event, with 15 minutes between events to allow people to make their way to the next site.  

A spokesperson for the organisers said: "Join in or leave at any stage but the special display, talk or activity at each site will only take place during the time slot allotted.

"Please join us on this free exploratory and intriguing tour through Llangollen’s history.  All are welcome."

* Lock Up Heritage Centre.

The day's programme is:

* 10.30am Eisteddfod Story: Peace and Music across the Years at the Royal International Pavilion, Abbey Road, LL20 8SW.

* 11.30am Celebrating 50 Years of the Llangollen Railway: A look back at the preservation and development of Llangollen Railway at Llangollen Railway, Abbey Road, LL20 8SN.

* 12.30pm Hands on History: A journey through history and prehistory, viewing and experiencing items from the Stone Age to the present day at Llangollen Museum, Parade Street, LL20 8PW.

* 1.30pm Crime and Punishment in Early Victorian Llangollen: Explore Llangollen’s first magistrates’ courtroom, gaol and police station at Lock Up Heritage Centre, Victoria Square, LL20 8ET.

* 2.30pm Home to the Ladies of Llangollen: Visit the home of the Ladies and learn of their journey from Ireland in search of an idyllic way of life, settling in the picturesque landscape of Llangollen at Plas Newydd, Hill Street, LL20 8AW.

* 3.30pm St. Collen’s Through Time: Discover the rich history of St. Collen’s Church, from its origins and medieval past to today’s vision for a modern future at St Collen’s Church, Regent Street, LL20 8HU.

* Plas Newydd.

* St Collen's Church.

* Llangollen Museum.

Upper Dee Mill goes on market for £500,000

North Wales Live is reporting that Upper Dee Mill in Llangollen is on the market with a price tag of £500,000.

* For the full story, see: Imposing roadside building in one of North Wales' most beautiful towns up for sale - North Wales Live

Commissioner's plan to help older people have a voice

The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has issued new guidance to local authorities across Wales which sets out the action they should be taking to ensure older people have an opportunity to make their voices heard and influence the decisions affecting their lives.

The guidance is designed to support local authorities in their planning and delivery of engagement and consultation activities and help ensure they are meeting their statutory duties.

The Commissioner developed the guidance in response to concerns raised by older people that they often find it difficult to make their voices heard and influence decisions affecting their lives or communities, which can leave them feeling powerless and that their voices don’t matter.

The guidance reflects what older people have told the Commissioner about the ways they feel these activities could be improved, as well as drawing on wider principles that enable inclusive, person-centred approaches to engagement and consultation.

The Commissioner has issued the guidance using her legal powers, which means local authorities must have regard for it when discharging their functions.

The Commissioner, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said: “Since I took up post at the end of last year, older people have frequently raised concerns with me about being unable to make their voices heard when decisions are being made that affect their lives and communities, particularly in terms of changes to public services.

“These kinds of changes can create significant concerns for everyone affected, but older people may have particular concerns due to the impact of other barriers they can face – such as a lack of transport or digital exclusion. 

“So it’s hugely important that listening and responding effectively to older people’s voices is a key part of engagement, consultation and decision-making.

“That’s why I have issued this Guidance to local authorities using my legal powers, to support improvements in these crucial activities, as well as to help ensure greater consistency across Wales.

“Through my Guidance, I want to help ensure that people of all ages in all of their diversity have opportunities and are enabled to make their voices heard in a meaningful way, an ambition I know is shared by our public services across Wales.”