Politics

Plaid leader outlines vision

Published

9 years ago

February 23, 2016

PLAID CYMRU Leader Leanne Wood AM has this evening (Monday) outlined her party’s plans for reviving Wales’ democracy and delivering an open and accountable Plaid Cymru government if elected in May.

Speaking at an Electoral Reform Society event in Aberystwyth University, Leanne Wood detailed how a Plaid Cymru government, within its first hundred days, would consult on the most significant democratic renewal Wales has seen since devolution, including the introduction of a new Welsh Representation of the People’s Act.

She added that a Plaid Cymru government would also extend the franchise so that 16 and 17 year olds have a right to vote, as well as establishing a Youth Parliament for Wales.

Criticising the current Labour Welsh Government’s “bunker mentality”, Leanne Wood said that a Plaid Cymru government “will open up the corridors of power to scrutiny and to discussion”, ensuring Wales’ status as a vibrant and youthful democracy.

Speaking this evening, Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood said: “Within the first one hundred days of a Plaid Cymru government we will consult on the most significant democratic renewal our country has seen since devolution and that will form the basis of our bill that will eventually become the Welsh Representation of the Peoples Act.

“As part of Plaid Cymru’s proposals for a New Welsh Representation of the People’s Act, we will seek to extend the franchise so that sixteen and seventeen year olds have a right to vote at all elections within the competence of the National Assembly for Wales.

“We believe that fostering democratic engagement at a young age should be promoted through the establishment of a National Youth Parliament. The National Youth Parliament we propose will input directly to our national life and our national government.

“We will also consult on digitalising Welsh democracy – learning from countries such as Estonia and trialling digital voting. Digital voting is not new in that country and there is much we can learn in terms of cyber security and election. For too long, engagement in and an awareness of Welsh political developments has been hampered due to the lack of a widely consumed Welsh media.

“It means we must take every possible step to widen access to our National Assembly and its work. Plaid Cymru will consult on the introduction of a new petitioning mechanism.

“The work of the Assembly’s petitions committee has been valuable and we want to build upon it. We will seek to create a mechanism to whereby a petition that gathers ten thousand signatures or more would automatically be debated in the National Assembly for Wales.

“I want people in Wales to have a clear sense of the nature of a Plaid Cymru government. A sense of how we will open up the corridors of power to scrutiny and to discussion.

“The steps I will instigate from the office of the First Minister will begin with publishing all ministerial decisions and holding public cabinet meetings across the nation. I have often spoken of my aim to deliver a devolution dividend for all Wales, economically, socially and politically. Ensuring access to the nation’s cabinet in all parts of the nation is central in all parts of the nation is central to this aim.

“We have endured the best part of two decades of a Labour bunker mentality government. Burying itself away from public view as best it can for fear of attracting scrutiny.

“The government I lead will be different. We will be open. We will be accessible. We will be answerable. We will do our best to make Wales the best it can be. We will doubtless get things wrong along the way. But we will not shy away from scrutiny or accountability.

“That kind of government, coupled with a renewed democracy that can be facilitated by our new Welsh Representation of the People’s Act, will be firm foundations for an old nation to emerge as a vibrant, youthful democracy.”

Steve Brooks, Director of Electoral Reform Society Cymru added:

“Electoral Reform Society Cymru are looking forward to raising the issues around our still developing democracy in Wales in the coming election campaign. We look forward to hearing from parties from across the political spectrum about their vision and ambitions for democracy in Wales. We also look forward to holding their feet to the fire to ensure all voices in Wales are heard, and that we have a National Assembly that represents and delivers for the people of Wales.

“Democracy is about more than just winning seats, or putting an X in the box in the election in May. It is about how we represent the diversity of Welsh communities properly, and how we ensure that the decisions of those in power are made accountable to ensure that we have the best possible policies to deliver for people in Wales. We look forward to ensuring that this remains a central part of all parties’ vision for the next Assembly term.”

Education

Pembrokeshire free school transport call to be heard at County Hall

Published

11 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to allow school pupils from Johnston and Tiers Cross access to free school transport to the nearby Haverfordwest high school is to be heard by councillors next week.

Due to a change in catchment areas the pupils are no longer able to access free transport to Haverfordwest, instead coming under the Milford Haven catchment area.

A petition calling for the reinstatement of the former catchment area to access free transport for pupils to Haverfordwest was recently started in the county.

The e-petition, which ran from September 18-November 1 on the council’s own website, attracted 351 signatures, meeting the threshold for a debate at the relevant Pembrokeshire County Council overview and scrutiny committee, in this case the Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28.

The petition, started by Kirsty Coaker, reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to change Johnston and Tiers Cross School Catchment back to Haverfordwest.

“Children of Johnston and Tiers Cross are now ineligible for free school transport to Haverfordwest High due to the areas no longer being in ‘catchment’.

“Both Johnston and Tiers Cross are Haverfordwest postal codes and are classed as Haverfordwest, yet the school catchment is Milford Haven.

“Please help our children access suitable transport to and from secondary school.”

The e-petition will now be considered at the November 28 meeting.

Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

Published

11 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.

Business

Call to end ‘fad’ of ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire

Published

17 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to end the ‘fad’ of permanent ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire for their benefit and the befit of the schools, instead using visiting ‘therapy dogs’ is to be heard next week.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28 will consider a public submission by Robert Thomas – who works with therapy dogs – on the subject of school dogs.

The submission reads: “My definition of a school dog is one that spends long periods in the school and is managed and owned by school employees not outside assessed and insured visiting therapy dogs who stay for an hour with a competent handler.

“The welfare of many dogs in schools in Pembrokeshire has been compromised over the last few years and we are concerned that the rise in the popularity of school-owned or teacher-owned dogs is an animal welfare issue.

“I can think of several school dogs in Pembrokeshire where it has gone wrong for the animal.”

He cites examples of ‘school dogs’ the county, where he says they have had to be removed, with the animals being unsettled, barking and even nipping on occasions, showing “a lack of understanding of animal welfare”.

His submission adds: “We have done some work with the Animal Welfare team at the Welsh Government around licensing this field, a consultation was completed in March 2023, currently awaiting the outcome.

“It has become a fad across the country and many dogs spend all day in schools supported by staff members who have another job to do. It feels like PCC does not have a policy overarching animal welfare policy in schools to protect dogs from being seen as staff members and there purely for human benefit, not the dogs.

“Dogs need to rest and sleep during the day and not in school. The visiting therapy dog model works best as the impact is greatest and the welfare of the dog is managed externally. If the dog is there all the time that can diminish the impact, and the novelty can wear off for the pupils.

“In my experience schools should concentrate on teaching and leave the therapy dog introduction to those that have the expertise in animal welfare.”

The submission will be considered by committee members at the November 28 meeting.