Politics

Incoming commissioner Rhian Bowen-Davies quizzed in Senedd

Published

5 months ago

July 9, 2024

THE INCOMING older people’s commissioner for Wales vowed to uphold older people’s rights amid concerns about the watchdog’s independence.

Rhian Bowen-Davies, the Welsh Government’s preferred candidate to be the next older people’s commissioner, appeared before Senedd members for a pre-appointment hearing.

Ms Bowen-Davies recognised concerns that the watchdog for older people’s rights is funded by, and ultimately accountable to, the Welsh Government.

She said: “People are going to see that and think, ‘how can the commissioner be independent if the money is coming from the government?’”

But Ms Bowen-Davies stressed she would take an objective, evidence-led approach that is guided by the seven Nolan principles of public life.

She said: “The role is independent and my purpose is to safeguard and promote the rights of older people in Wales – and that’s what will drive every decision that I make.”

Outlining her CV, she told the equality committee she has more than 20 years’ experience in the public and voluntary sectors, making her well placed for the £90,000-a-year role.

Ms Bowen-Davies was Wales’ first national adviser on domestic abuse in 2015 and, in recent years, chaired domestic homicide reviews with some cases involving older victims.

“In undertaking those reviews, I have started to understand what matters to older people in their day-to-day lives,” she said.

“And some of the challenges and issues they experience in terms of having their voices heard, in terms of being able to access services, the social isolation and loneliness that they experience – but also the discrimination and prejudice that they face.”

A fluent Welsh speaker and a former police officer, Ms Bowen-Davies described herself as an effective communicator who is resilient, determined, brave and bold.

Ms Bowen-Davies stressed the need to promote awareness of rights, warning: “I don’t think our older population as a whole understand and are aware of the rights that they have.”

The would-be commissioner raised concerns about “self-imposed ageism”, saying people sometimes wrongly think their rights diminish as they get older.

She said an early priority would be older people who have additional protected characteristics such as a disability or those who identify as LGBT.

Ms Bowen-Davies warned that this intersectionality of needs can lead to multiple additional barriers in terms of accessing services or people having their voices heard.

In response to Conservative concerns about politically motivated appointments, Ms Bowen-Davies assured the committee she has no party political background

Asked if she has any conflicts of interests, she replied: “I don’t believe so, no.”

Ministers received 12 applications, with six candidates interviewed by a panel including social justice secretary Lesley Griffiths and equality committee chair Jenny Rathbone.

Julie Morgan was elected temporary committee chair for the meeting on July 8 as her Labour colleague recused herself from the pre-appointment scrutiny session.

The first minister – rather than the Senedd as with some other public appointments – will now make the final decision on appointing the next older people’s commissioner.

In an information pack for candidates, the Welsh Government expected a new commissioner to take up post by August 2024 or soon after for a fixed seven-year term.

If rubber stamped as expected, Ms Bowen-Davies will replace Helena Herklots who has been older people’s commissioner since 2018.

Education

Pembrokeshire free school transport call to be heard at County Hall

Published

13 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

13 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

19 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.