Author: Rhys Gregory

Council tenants in the Caerphilly county borough are being asked to give their views on the rent that they pay. Last year Caerphilly County Borough Council asked its tenants whether average household income should be taken into account when setting rents.  Of those who replied, 54% stated that it should. In response to this, the Council is now asking tenants to complete a short survey to give their views.  The results will be used as part of the Council’s rents and affordability review, which will help it consider how rents will be set in the future. The survey can be…

Monmouthshire County Council has chosen a new Chair to serve for the next twelve months. Councillor Laura Wright was elected at the council’s annual general meeting on Tuesday 17th May following nomination by the Leader of the Labour group, Cllr. Mary Ann Brocklesby. Councillor Wright said: “Friends, colleagues, thank you so much for electing me to the position of Chair and putting your trust in me. I will do my very best to repay this honour as Chair of Monmouthshire County Council. I am grateful to colleagues, and to the residents of the Grofield ward in Abergavenny, who have supported…

The groups that run Powys’ many meeting spaces are being invited to apply for a grant that could help them offer digital as well as face-to-face events. Funding of up to £4,000 is available to the county’s community centres, village halls and town halls, to be spent on equipment that could be used to run hybrid meetings, or otherwise extend their use. And this support just needs to be matched by the operators meeting 20 per cent of the full cost of the equipment or service purchased. The grants are being offered through Arwain, the county’s LEADER programme, which aims…

Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, has visited Museum of Cardiff on International Museum Day to announce just over £750,000 of Welsh Government funding to help local libraries, museums to develop their facilities and services.  The funding, which will be delivered as part of the Transformation Capital Grant Scheme, will support Wales’ local libraries, museums, to develop and revitalise their facilities, with a particular focus on widening access, partnership working, decarbonisation, and developing sustainable services. The fund will be used to refurbish and modernise six libraries, including the development of a VR Hub at Penygroes Library and a…

Professor Keith Ridgway CBE has been appointed as the new Chair of Industry Wales, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, has announced. Industry Wales, an arm’s length Welsh Government body, is responsible for providing specialist advice and working directly with industry to support technology and manufacturing businesses in Wales to thrive on a global stage. The new Chair will ensure Industry Wales continues to deliver against its remit letter and business plan in support of the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government, and drive its activities in relation to manufacturing, skills, decarbonisation, automation, and localising supply chain opportunities to improve local economic activity,…

“A decent and affordable home is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of everybody.” Those were the words of Climate Change Minister Julie James as she announced a new £182m fund to provide specialist housing and accommodation across Wales. The Minister said the Housing with Care Fund will provide Regional Partnership Boards access to the new funding over the next three years to deliver ‘healthy homes that provide individuals and families a stable and secure base that meets their needs’. It also aims to increase the total stock of extra care housing in Wales by up to a third over…

An independent review of flooding events across Wales during the winter of 2020-21 has been launched, the Welsh Government has announced. Led by one of the UK’s leading barristers, the review will help ensure Wales learns from previous flooding events and embeds good practice for the future. The review, which is part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, will consider evidence from investigations carried out by local authorities and Natural Resources Wales, as well as other relevant reports. Since Storm Dennis wreaked havoc across the country in February 2020, Wales has experienced a rapid increase…

Things are constantly changing and companies approach it with a reactive mindset when it comes to new technology. They could take advantage of the latest technological advances while remaining competitive. Emerging trends and how they might lead to corporate innovation are now critical for organizations to gain an edge. Staying up to date on the latest technological developments is the best way to keep up with the times. Original industry research reports and monitoring influential magazines and blogs may reveal what thought leaders concentrate on. Likewise, attend conferences and pay attention to what the keynote speakers say about the future.…

Fireworks have helped make celebrations memorable for thousands of years. But what should you know about them? Here are three things that might interest you: There are laws to deal with when buying, selling, and using fireworks. Consumers and businesses alike benefit from laws which protect from the risk of injury, or worse, caused by counterfeit or sub-standard fireworks. The rules mean that fireworks sold in the UK must meet strict legal standards. For example, The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations make it illegal to sell fireworks here without a CE mark. And they must meet British Safety Standard BS 7114.  …

For less-established organisations, establishing your workplace’s HR department can be tasking for all parties involved. Although human resources might not be at the top of your priority list at the outset of your organisation’s life, it plays a vital part in your business. With the responsibility of looking after your business’s recruitment, benefits, welfare, and other needs, the workers within your business’s HR department have a lot on their plate. These daily responsibilities can quickly add up and create a taxing work environment for the individuals working within your HR department. To avoid this, most workplaces make a conscious effort…