Author: Rhys Gregory

In line with the sustainable aims of the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme, as well as other school investment schemes in Wales, one company has called for school leadership, architects and construction companies to also integrate the principles of the circular economy into the way they plan their interiors. Ministry of Furniture, one of the most forward-thinking suppliers of loose and fitted furniture for schools in Wales, has called on schools to consider a number of exciting techniques that align with the principles of a circular economy. Using such techniques can also help inform and educate pupils These include…

Small firms’ confidence in the final quarter of 2022 plunged to a depth almost on a par with that measured during the second Covid lockdown two years previously, new research from FSB has found. The Small Business Index (SBI)’s headline confidence figure in Q4 2022 fell to -46 points, down from -36 points in Q3 2022, and the lowest such finding since Q4 2020, when it was -49 points. In several individual industry sectors, the confidence reading was particularly low, with retail businesses registering a finding of -83 points, and hospitality firms coming in at -71 points. This is particularly…

Members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s cabinet have given the go ahead for five ‘anchor projects’ paid out of £28.4m of core funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The fund is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and across Britain provides £2.6bn of new funding for local investment by March 2025. The proposed anchor projects for Neath Port Talbot come under the headings of Place, Valleys and Villages, Sustainable Communities, Enhanced Business Support for Growth & Innovation and Employability. Place projects include the construction of 14 business units within three of our valleys…

Nearly 200 people took park in a family fun fitness day arranged by Milford Haven Secondary School in partnership with Sport Pembrokeshire recently. Families chased away the January blues at Milford Haven Leisure Centre on Saturday  (January 21st) where there was a chance to take part in numerous free activities including family swimming, bowling, football, netball, rugby, basketball, hockey, zorbing, family spin, rollerblading and rough and tumble for younger children. There were free breakfast items to start the day and free soup or hot dogs for lunch meaning many of those taking part had the perfect chance to stay and…

RCT’s Cabinet have considered and approved officer proposals to move to three-weekly black bag/wheelie bin collections. Back in November, Council officers outlined several key proposals to Cabinet that would help the Council reach the 70% Welsh Government Recycling target. Following that meeting, Cabinet agreed that a FIVE-week public consultation should take place to gain residents’ views on the proposals and a decision would then be made by Cabinet on how to proceed. The original proposals were: ALL households across Rhondda Cynon Taf move to a three-weekly black bag/wheelie bin collection. Moving to 3 weekly collections would be supported by continuing…

An annual appeal co-ordinated by Caerphilly County Borough Council has raised £10,820 for local foodbanks. The appeal saw residents, Council staff, contractors, and suppliers make online cash donations.  All donated funds were distributed directly to food banks in Blackwood, Nelson, Rhymney, Caerphilly and Risca. Companies who supported the appeal include Willis Construction, Pinnacle, Woosnam Diaries, Glanmor Developments, Cardiff Lift Company, K & B Taxi, Willmott Dixon, Creigiau Travel, Brighter Minds, Colin Laver, Cheka Safeguarding Services, Holdsworth, Getech, Roger Jones, Bradford’s Minibus, SD James, SERS, F I Walters, Millennium Building, Calibre Contracting, G Bridges, JS Lee, Gary Carpenter, Slice and Dice,…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet has today (25 January) approved match funding to undertake external wall insulation works at 86 properties in Bryn Carno, Rhymney. Cabinet members approved a funding contribution of £1.196m from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account, with Welsh Government providing additional funding of £1.903m to deliver works to privately owned homes. In 2012 the homes received works as part of the Welsh Government funded ARBED 1 scheme.  Between 2016 and 2018 it became apparent that the external wall insulation was defective and as a result was causing water ingress and penetrating damp. Welsh Government undertook an investigation…

From this week buying a property in Blaenau Gwent has become quicker and simpler for everyone. As part of the council’s digital transformation, they have worked with HM Land Registry to transfer local land charges (LLC) service to the national digital register. The LLC Register allows users to search information online instantly, enabling buying decisions to be made earlier in the conveyancing process. Most local land charges are restrictions or prohibitions on the use of property or land, such as planning permissions or listed building status. A search of the national register will reveal whether a property is subject to a…

First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced the Welsh Government will be funding up to 140 medical student placements each year at the new north Wales medical school. The new medical school in north Wales will train hundreds of medical students and ensure training opportunities and the provision of qualified doctors are spread across Wales. Training will begin in 2024 with student numbers increasing until reaching capacity from 2029. A gradual increase in students will allow time to assess and evaluate the quality of tuition and student experience at the new medical school. The First Minister will today meet students at…

Advanced Paramedics Practitioners (APP) across Wales are helping to treat more people in the community and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. Data from the Welsh Ambulance Service shows that up to 70% fewer people needed to be taken to emergency departments when responded to by an Advanced Paramedic Practitioner, compared to traditional crews. Providing a link between primary and secondary care, APPs are paramedics who also care for patients in a primary care setting through a rotational working model and are based in General Practitioner surgeries, Community care centres and on the road in Rapid Response Vehicles in the community. They…