Politics

Standing ovation for Mark Drakeford as outgoing FM gives resignation speech

Published

8 months ago

March 20, 2024

SENEDD members from across the political divide paid tribute to Mark Drakeford as he officially resigned after five years as Wales’ first minister.

Fighting back tears, Mark Drakeford said the past 12 months since the loss of his wife Clare have been the hardest and saddest of his life.

He said: “People will not see … those small acts of kindness that happen every day from people in every part of this chamber to help someone to get through very difficult times.

“We debate vigorously and with a conviction of our own beliefs. But as human beings in this chamber we are always, I believe, among friends.”

The outgoing first minister received a standing ovation from all sides of the chamber following his resignation statement on March 19.

He said he took over while Wales was still in the grip of austerity, with a “bad deal” Brexit, devastating storms, the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis to follow.

Mr Drakeford, who will today submit his resignation to the King, pointed out he has worked with four different prime ministers and five chancellors during his time as first minister.

He told the chamber: “The turbulence we have seen abroad has been matched by the political turbulence closer to home.

“There have been changes here too – I’ve answered questions from six party leaders over the last five years and my term has spanned both a Senedd election and the development of a cooperation agreement.

“My aim throughout my time as first minister has been to use the mandate my party and my government secured to keep the promises we made to people across Wales.”

Mr Drakeford told the chamber change is always challenging but he has strived to do things which are difficult today to benefit generations to come.

The former university lecturer said: “If you set out to be a radical, reforming government then you have to be prepared for opposition.

“No ground was ever gained without a struggle for a progressive cause.

“Even when the case for change is so clear or the object of change so apparently innocuous, there will always be vested interests – some of them benign, others determined not to surrender their own positions of power and privilege.

“This has been a feature of my time as first minister.”

Mr Drakeford, who has been on the frontline of Welsh politics since the dawn of devolution, said the first major decision he faced was whether to proceed with an M4 relief road.

He told MSs: “The easy decision would have been to say ‘go ahead’.

“Powerful voices were lined up in support of it. My decision – having spent many, many days reading and thinking about it – was that that was not in the long-term interests of Wales.

“Even in these past couple of weeks the debates we have been having about reforming council tax, the school year, eliminating profit from the care of looked-after children – every one of those will be opposed.

“But if you are in the business of progressive politics and using the opportunity that comes your way, your job is to stick to the things you believe will make the greatest difference.”

Andrew RT Davies praised the outgoing first minister’s ability to empathise with communities the length and breadth of Wales.

The leader of the Conservative group in the Senedd thanked Mr Drakeford for his leadership during the darkest hours of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: “You have brought such dedication and professionalism.”

Rhun ap Iorwerth hailed Mr Drakeford’s willingness to engage constructively.

The Plaid Cymru leader said: “We all have come to appreciate that he has been without doubt, a dedicated public servant and a serious first minister for serious times.”

Jane Dodds quoted Kirsty Williams, the former Lib-Dem education minister, as describing Mr Drakeford as a “tough opponent but the very best of colleagues”.

Ms Dodds, the Lib Dems’ leader in Wales, said: “You have raised the bar in terms of your intellect, in terms of challenge and I wish you well for the future.”

Mr Drakeford, who has confirmed he plans to stand down as Cardiff West MS at the 2026 election, told members he will continue to play his part from the backbenches.

He said he will work with his successor to safeguard the “beliefs and values of the great Welsh radical tradition” to ensure it remains relevant to the nature of today’s Wales.

Closing the statement, he said: “I’m grateful to all those people who help, I’m grateful to all colleagues here but I’m most grateful of all to the people who we are lucky enough to serve.”

Education

Pembrokeshire free school transport call to be heard at County Hall

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.