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Pembrokeshire ranked 2nd in Wales for local authority services

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County HallPEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has been ranked 2nd out of the 22 local authorities in Wales when it comes to providing local services, according to a report released today (Sep 7).

The report ‘Local Government Performance 2015-16’ looks at a range of local authority services throughout the whole of Wales. It is based on data gathered by the Local Government Data Unit Wales.

Cllr Jamie Adams, Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, said he was delighted and thanked members of Council staff for their dedication to delivering high-quality services to local people.

“We are very proud of this report,” he said. “It shows that, despite the budgetary pressures on the Council and the significant savings we have had to make, we are continuing to deliver exceptional services – overall, the second best in Wales – to the people of Pembrokeshire.

“Our aim is to further improve this high level of service while continuing to be sensitive of the need to keep Council Tax as low as possible for hardworking local people.

“I am mindful that the public we represent rightly challenge members, particularly myself as Leader. I can now demonstrate that we are delivering outstanding value for money for our residents.”

The report looks at 40 indicators which are part of the Performance Improvement Framework for local authorities in Wales. The indicators reflect key priorities identified by the Welsh Government and local government in Wales.

Pembrokeshire County Council rated especially highly in safeguarding children, where it was ranked 1st in Wales in two of the indicators, and 2nd in another indicator.

Pembrokeshire scored very highly when it came to the education of children in care, who, following a significant improvement on last year’s result, achieved better results than any in other authority in Wales.

The County was also the 2nd highest authority in Wales when it came to recycling waste, 4th highest in Wales for visits to Council-run sports and leisure facilities, and 5th highest for roads in a high or acceptable level of cleanliness.

Cllr Adams said Pembrokeshire’s performance built on last year’s success, when it was rated the most improved local authority and 4th in terms of overall performance.

He continued: “I’d also like to pay tribute to the efforts of my members, in particular cabinet members. To achieve further improvement against the backdrop of having to save more than £25 million over the last two years is testament to the determination and focus that they have given in very challenging circumstances.”

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Flash Bang

    September 7, 2016 at 3:22 pm

    Pigs are flying if you care to look out of your window.

  2. Tomos

    September 7, 2016 at 4:55 pm

    Based on figures supplied by PCC? LOL, including or excluding certain roofs or sacking a worker reporting a paedophile working for the council,or handing out illegal pay rises to chief execs or or or or or or………….

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Crime

Waste dumped at recycling centre leads police to drug factory near Cardigan

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Man jailed after drug discovery sparked by vigilant staff

A TIP-OFF from staff at an Aberystwyth recycling centre has led to the discovery of a large cannabis factory in a derelict property near Cardigan — and landed a 20-year-old man behind bars.

Manuel Nerguti was sentenced to six months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (July 11) after pleading guilty to producing a class B drug.

The court heard that on May 1 this year, workers at the Aberystwyth recycling centre reported a suspicious delivery: four to five bags of cannabis stalks, apparently dumped by men in a hired Ford Transit van.

Police acted quickly and intercepted the van later that afternoon on the road between Aberystwyth and Cardigan. Nerguti and two other men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, but were released without charge at the time, as no grow site had been located.

However, a month later, acting on new intelligence, Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at a derelict house in Bridell, near Cardigan. Inside, they discovered a sophisticated cannabis cultivation operation: 260 mature plants spread across five rooms and an attic, with the electricity supply illegally bypassed.

During the raid on June 7, Nerguti attempted to flee but was found hiding behind a washing machine in the garage.

He was charged and later pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.

Detective Constable Sam Garside, who led the investigation, praised the recycling centre staff for their quick thinking.

He said: “This result is thanks to the staff at the recycling centre for recognising that criminal activity was taking place and for alerting police quickly.

“We rely on the public to inform us of anything suspicious going on in their communities and we encourage people to get in touch if they suspect anything. We were able to use our local knowledge and police intelligence to execute a successful warrant and shut down an illegal cannabis factory.

“We are committed to continuing our drug operations across Dyfed-Powys and bringing offenders like Nerguti to justice.”

Police estimate the cannabis seized had a potential street value of up to £242,000.

More information on Operation Scotney — Dyfed-Powys Police’s campaign to tackle cannabis cultivation — including how to spot signs of a drug grow, can be found on their website.

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Pembrokeshire County Council group to review ‘climate emergency’

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A CALL for a group to review Pembrokeshire County Council’s decision to declare a climate emergency some six years ago has been backed by councillors.

In May 2019, the council declare a climate emergency following a notice of motion by Cllr Joshua Beynon calling on the authority to back the global consensus that climate change poses a risk to the well-being of future generations.

He had urged county councillors to back a motion to take “bold, decisive action” to fight “truly, catastrophic” climate change.

He called on the council to commit to becoming a zero-carbon local authority by 2030.

At the July meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, a notice of motion by Cllr Mike Stoddart called for the establishment of a working group to review the decision made by the council to declare a climate change emergency.

Cllr Stoddart’s motion said: “Given the turbulence on the global financial markets; the parlous state of the UK’s public finances; Pembrokeshire County Council’s projected funding gap; and the government’s softening of its policies on the switch to EV vehicles and heat pumps, this council establishes a seven person, politically balanced working group to review the authority’s decision to declare a climate emergency at its meeting on May 9, 2019.

“The working group will be asked to: (a) examine the effect of the emergency declaration on the level of council tax in Pembrokeshire and particularly the extent to which any such increases militate against the authority’s anti-poverty policies.

“(b) The cost of decarbonising the council’s housing stock and the effect this has had on the authority’s ability to finance the building of new housing.

“(c) The extent to which the council’s decarbonisation programme has contributed to a reduction of the risk of runaway global temperature increases, and (d) any other effects that the working group considers may have adversely impacted the wellbeing of the residents of Pembrokeshire.”

Cllr Stoddart’s notice of motion was previously supported at the June meeting of the council’s corporate overview and scrutiny committee, with a recommendation to full council in July meeting, to reinstate the Net Zero Working Group to review the contents of the notice of motion and, subject to the outcome of this review, review the future delivery of the Net Zero Action Plan.

Cllr Stoddart’s call was backed by Cllr Steve Alderman, and Cllr Rhys Jordan, who said: “I fully support this, it couldn’t come sooner; around England and Wales councils are looking at this, there’s been a huge push for a ‘net zero’ agenda at any cost, I don’t think we’re in a position to drive that.”

Cllr Aaron Carey said: “We’ve set ourselves some lofty goals, but we haven’t got the money to back it up.”

Members overwhelmingly agreed to back the June committee recommendations.

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Urgent appeal to save 1,000 hens in Pembrokeshire and beyond

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British Hen Welfare Trust seeks homes before Friday deadline

AN URGENT appeal has been launched to find homes for more than 1,000 hens due to be rehomed next weekend – including from a rescue centre in Boncath, Pembrokeshire.

The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) is coordinating the rehoming effort on Saturday (July 26), aiming to rescue ex-caged hens from slaughter and instead place them into loving homes. The appeal also covers rehoming centres in Locking, near Bristol, and Kineton in Warwickshire.

The charity says the hens have come to the end of their commercial egg-laying lives, but remain healthy and can thrive as pets. However, they must be rehomed by Friday (July 25) to avoid being needlessly killed.

“This is a time-sensitive and visual story that resonates locally,” said Andy Hill, Marketing & Communications Officer for the BHWT. “These hens have worked hard their whole lives and deserve a second chance.”

The organisation recently marked the rehoming of its one millionth hen – which was adopted by King Charles III – and the upcoming effort is part of its continued mission to improve hen welfare across the UK.

Local spokespeople are available for interview, and high-resolution images are available for media use.

For more information or to register interest in adopting hens, visit: www.bhwt.org.uk

Image for illustration purposes only

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