News
National Assembly approval of Final Budget 2015-16
FINANCE and Government Business Minister Jane Hutt has welcomed the National Assembly’s approval of the Welsh Government’s ‘Priorities for Wales’ Final Budget 2015-16.
The Final Budget 2015-16 will safeguard key public services and boost the economy via investment in infrastructure despite year on year cuts to the Welsh Government Budget by the UK Government. It includes:
• £425m of extra funding over two years to the Welsh NHS in order to deliver high quality, sustainable health services. Together with the £70m revenue funding allocated to health as a result of the Autumn Statement, this means:
• Increased investment in our Welsh NHS by more than half a billion pounds over two years; • Protecting schools funding by 1% above changes to the Welsh budget overall, meaning an additional £106m will have been provided to schools over this Spending Review period;
• Supporting children, families and deprived communities, including protecting funding for Flying Start, doubling the number of children benefi tting to 36,000; • Continued investment in a range of employment programmes, including funding through Jobs Growth Wales. Jobs Growth Wales is exceeding its targets. The programme has now created almost 16,500 job opportunities with almost 13,500 young people fi lling these jobs.
• Signifi cant capital investment for infrastructure with over £100m to support the priorities in the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan, including £11m for immediate investment in 2014-15.
• A focus on preventive measures and early intervention – directing resources to measures that help avoid problems occurring in the fi rst place, interventions which will address the pressures on public services and achieving a better quality of life for current and future generations. Faced with reducing budgets the Welsh Government has also used innovative approaches to support vital infrastructure investment across Wales, including the recently announced £500m fund for the next stage of the 21st Century Schools Programme and £150m for fl ood and coastal risk management.
Welcoming the vote, Jane Hutt told The Herald:“Our Final Budget has been shaped by our Priorities for Wales and refl ects the increasingly tough decisions we have had to take due to reducing budgets. Despite a real terms reduction in our budget of about 9% over this Assembly term, we have done everything we can to mitigate the impact on public services and communities and to provide a ‘safety net’ for the most vulnerable and hardest hit and to boost investment in our infrastructure vital for a balanced economic recovery.
“We are confi dent that our spending plans will support us to deliver our priorities within the funding available and have published a responsible and sustainable budget, which is also underpinned by our principles of social justice and fairness. It supports key investment in health and young people, protecting services that people the length and breadth of Wales rely on.”
Crime
Lamphey man stole £1,300 from train passengers’ bags
A LAMPHEY man has been sentenced for stealing £1,300 in cash and bank cards from passengers’ bags on the Tenby-Pembroke Dock train.
The court heard that on August 11, Luke Brummit, 46, removed two rucksacks from the luggage rack and searched them.
“The defendant took the bags into another carriage, searched them, and removed a purse and wallet before leaving the bags beneath the seat,” Crown Prosecutor Derek Davies told magistrates.
Brummit also admitted stealing £86.06 worth of items, including two legs of lamb and bottles of beer, from Sainsbury’s in Tenby on September 19.
Defence solicitor Tom Lloyd said Brummit has since taken steps to address his behaviour: “He’s doing better than he’s ever done and is working to improve his conduct.”
Magistrates imposed an 18-month community order, including 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a 120-day alcohol monitoring programme. Brummit must pay £1,300 compensation to the victim, £86.06 to Sainsbury’s, a £114 court surcharge, and £85 in costs.
Crime
Ex-refinery worker sentenced for harassment and stalking in Milford Haven
A FORMER refinery worker has been sentenced after harassing his ex-partner by dumping rubbish in her garden and shouting through her letterbox.
Haverfordwest magistrates heard that on June 14, at around 6:20am, Kyle Allerton, 29, arrived at Leah Jenkins’ property in Milford Haven after attempting to call and text her earlier that morning.
“He rang her at around 6:00am, then turned up at her property at 6:22am,” Crown Prosecutor Derek Davies said.
“He shouted through the letterbox, demanding she come to the door or window to talk to him. He then emptied bins over her garden before driving off in a white van.”
Jenkins said in her victim impact statement: “I feel harassed by his actions and worried about what he might have done.”
Probation officer Courtney Colman explained that Allerton had struggled to cope with the end of their seven-year relationship, turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism.
“He was drinking up to ten cans a day, which contributed to his losing his job at the refinery,” she said.
Allerton pleaded guilty to harassment. Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order, including 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 10 hours of unpaid work. He must pay a £114 court surcharge and £85 in costs.
Crime
Goodwick driver fined for crashing into van and outbuilding
A 21-YEAR-OLD motorist has been sentenced for driving on a Pembrokeshire B road and colliding with a parked van and an outbuilding.
Luke Harvey was driving a blue Ford Fiesta along the B4313 at Llanychaer, near Fishguard, at around 11:30pm on May 16, with a male passenger in the car.
“A call was made to the police, reporting that he had hit a van as well as an outbuilding,” Crown Prosecutor Derek Davies told magistrates.
“The people living at the property advised him to stay at the scene, but he insisted on going home. He managed to free his vehicle and drove off towards Fishguard.”
Police traced the car to an address in Fishguard and located Harvey. He pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident, using a vehicle without third-party insurance, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
Magistrates fined Harvey £120 and ordered him to pay £85 in costs and a £48 surcharge. His licence was endorsed with eight penalty points.
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