Author: Rhys Gregory

Caerphilly Cabinet have approved amendments to the grass cutting regimes across the county borough to enhance and promote biodiversity. The report was presented to the Environment and Sustainability Scrutiny Committee on the 26th October to seek their views prior to being presented at Cabinet on the 8th of December.. A recommendation of the report was that Caerphilly Council continue with the approach adopted during the 2021 cutting season as the standard going forward in relation to our highway verges and by-pass routes where mowing is kept to a minimum. As a result, specific areas across the county borough and our…

Four thousand homes across Cardiff could take part in a pilot scheme to test ways in which recycling rates across the city might be improved. The scheme is part of a review of waste collections in Wales’ capital designed to hit Welsh Government recycling targets by 2025 and to make Cardiff one of the greenest and cleanest cities in the UK. Cardiff is currently the leading, major regional city in the UK for recycling. On average since 2018, 58% of waste produced in the city is recycled or composted. However, Welsh Government has tasked Cardiff with increasing this rate to…

Cardiff Council has revealed its plans to help bring Cardiff’s privately-owned, empty homes back into use. Right now there are 1,355 privately-owned, empty homes in the city and the council wants to see as many of them as possible back in use, offering much-needed housing. Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne said: “It is commonly accepted that long-term empty homes are a wasted resource. This is a matter which has been thrown into sharper focus by the pandemic and the housing crisis. “Empty properties can attract squatting, vandalism, drug abuse, anti-social behaviour, arson, rodents. They can cause…

The Welsh Government is launching a £1m fund to support up to 500 unemployed people and young people not in education, employment or training to start their own business, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has announced. This discretionary grant will provide financial assistance of up to £2,000 for 400 individuals who have faced barriers to starting up a business, and up to 100 young entrepreneurs. The grant will come as a part of a package of support that will include one-to-one advice and webinars to build confidence in business practices and develop plans for starting a business. The fund builds on…

Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt announced the opening of the Winter Fuel Support Scheme on Monday 13th December. Eligible people in Wales may be able to claim a one-off £100 payment from their local authority to provide support towards paying their winter fuel bills. Information on how to apply will be available via Local Authority webpages. Announcing the further funding package, Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt said: “Households in Wales are under unprecedented financial pressure, compounded by the cost-of-living crisis and the cruel decision by the UK Government to end the uplift to Universal Credit, which has plunged…

“Our vision is clear, we want Wales to generate renewable energy to at least fully meet our energy needs and utilise surplus generation to tackle the nature and climate emergencies.” Those were the words of Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters as he published the findings of an intensive deep dive review into renewable energy. The Deputy Minister promised the Welsh Government will prioritise actions to reduce energy demand and maximise local ownership retaining economic and social benefits in Wales. The deep dive, announced in October this year, involved a small core group of experts from both within the sector…

The Welsh property market is a hot topic these days, with the country flourishing and house prices rising. With this in mind, it makes perfect sense to invest now before the prices rise too much higher. Below you’ll find a list of things you need to know about investing in Welsh property so that you make an informed decision. Get to know the area before investing Investing in a new area can be exciting, but is also risky. You don’t want to purchase a property that’s located too far away from the amenities you need. For example, if you’re looking…

Personal finance is an important topic that should be taught to all young adults as they step into the real world. The majority of millennials in their 20s and 30s struggle to manage and save money when they start their career. Financial literacy should be taught in schools and colleges so teenagers are not left unprepared with basic survival skills when it comes to money. For many young adults saving money can be challenging and often make silly decisions that can lead to huge debts. If you are one of the 6 million children whose parents or guardians opened a…

If you’re an operator looking to legalise your online business with a proper gambling licence, you might be in a bind choosing the appropriate jurisdiction. And Curacao provides one of the most popular licences due to its many advantages and low cost. However, that might not be enough to persuade some operators to opt for a Curacao gaming licence. So, to see what else this licence offers, let’s dive deeper into the topic. Curacao Licence Characteristics and Cost Interestingly, Curacao was the first country to legalise online gambling. Situated just off the coast of Venezuela and part of the kingdom…

A Newport woman has been banned from keeping all animals for life, and handed a suspended jail term, after causing unnecessary mental suffering to a marmoset through her abusive behaviour – including flushing the monkey down the toilet, and offering the helpless animal cocaine. Vicki Holland, of Wordsworth Road, pleaded guilty to three Animal Welfare Act offences on November 18 – and was sentenced at Newport Magistrates’ Court today (10 December). She was banned from keeping all animals for life – and given a 12-week jail term, suspended for 12 months. Holland, 38, must also pay £420 in costs and…