9 August 2022

Carl Cooper has been elected as the Chair of Powys Regional Partnership Board (RPB). Carl, who is Chief Executive of Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO), took up the role as Chair during a recent board meeting.

The RPB brings together a number of public service representatives including the Powys Teaching Health Board, Powys County Council and the Third Sector. It also includes members that represent the interests of citizens and unpaid carers.

The purpose of the RPB is to set strategy and establish plans for the delivery of health, care and wellbeing services. Importantly, these services are focused on achieving what matters to people and communities. They ensure a collaborative, multi-agency approach that improves efficiency and effectiveness, thereby delivering good outcomes for our Powys population.

The Board is also responsible for investing the county’s allocation of the Welsh Government’s Regional Integration Funding to support a wide range of initiatives such as Community Connectors, Powys Befriending Service and Young Carers.

Carl Cooper will serve as Chair for the year ahead. He is joined by two Vice Chairs, Cllr Sian Cox, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a Caring Powys and Kirsty Williams, Vice Chair of Powys Teaching Health Board.

Carl said: “I am delighted and honoured to be taking up this role at a time when working together for Powys is more important than ever. I take this opportunity to thank all partners for their diligence and dedication as we seek to work together to improve things for the people of Powys.”

For more information about the Powys Regional Partnership Board and the work it does, please visit https://www.powysrpb.org/

PICTURE: Powys RPB Vice Chair – Cllr Sian Cox, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a Caring Powys; Powys RPB Chair – Carl Cooper, Chief Executive of PAVO; Powys RPB Vice Chair – Kirsty Williams, Vice Chair of Powys Teaching Health Board.

9 August 2022

Powys County Council’s performance in the first quarter of 2022/23 has been largely positive, despite challenging circumstances, Cabinet has been told.

The council collects and reports a wide range of service information to gauge performance against the delivery of national and local priorities. The latest 2022/23 quarter one performance information was considered by Cabinet on Tuesday, July 26.

Overall, 69% of the 55 reportable Corporate Improvement Plan (CIP) objectives were on track and 64% of the 65 reportable CIP measures met their target.

During 2022-2023, the Council’s performance will be reported against the ‘Vision 2025: Corporate Improvement Plan’, which was lightly updated in April 2022 prior to the Local Government Elections.

A new Corporate Improvement Plan is under development for 2023 onwards to support the new Cabinet’s vision: To build a stronger, fairer, greener Powys.

Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Leader and Cabinet Member for an Open and Transparent Powys, said: “Despite challenging circumstances and the need to manage Council resources within the context of ‘business as usual’ activities and the COVID-19 and ‘cost of living’ response, performance against the Council’s usual monitoring framework has been largely positive.

“We are on target for 50 plus affordable housing completions by quarter 4 2022-2023, however, due to COVID related delays with materials and workforce, the intended completion of two sites in quarter one, has been revised for completion in quarter 2.

“A private sector investment strategy has been drafted within the Mid Wales Growth Deal proposals. The aim of this strategy is to outline the principles and approach to attracting investment in Growth Deal projects alongside the Growth Deal funding to provide a more comprehensive package of investment into the region.

“A further 15 individuals have been signed onto theCommunities for Work Plusprogramme funded by the Welsh Government, with 11 job entries.

“The Welshpool Transport Interchange work was progressed well and was fully operational by the end of May 2022.

“The Chweched Powys Sixth will be launched in September 2022 to the Post -16 transformation. The offer will continue to be developed to improve the educational offer to include vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, and work-based placements.

“The CLA (Children Looked After) virtual school has been launched this term to support our Children that are Looked After. Brynllwarch Hall School, Ysgol Cefnllys and Ysgol Golwg y Cwm achieved Trauma Informed Schools status. The Powys Inclusion Platform, as well as Powys Early Years ALN systems and joint working have been identified by Welsh Government as practice worth sharing.

“Welshpool hosted the finish of stage 4 the Women’s Cycling Tour of Britain on 09 June. Sport Powys were highly involved in the planning and delivery of cycling/sporting activities at the finish line. Working with Welsh Cycling and Hafren Cycling Club, over 60 Year 6 pupils from local primary schools were able to participate in a cycling coaching clinic and a finish line sprint.

“The county road network has 127 Roadside Verge Nature Reserves. The Council and its contractors work hard to conserve the wildlife inhabiting the roadsides of the county. A number of initiatives are underway to leave whole sections of verges uncut or with their own individual management plans to benefit the species present on that site.”

2022/2023 Quarter one performance highlights

• Foster carers in Powys have increased to 72
• 509 adults are receiving regular direct payments
• 3 new communities have begun their journey to receive superfast broadband
• 3 Powys towns have been installed with Free Wi-Fi routers and statistical capacity
• £5 million over 3 years has been approved for a Transforming Towns application
• 45 homeless households were successfully rehoused
• 39 households that were threatened with homelessness had their homelessness successfully prevented
• £10,220 was successfully awarded to 4 Powys clubs/organisations through the Sport Wales Be Active Wales Funding application
• 2,746 new My Powys accounts were created
• 4,067 residents now on Council Tax paperless billing

8 August 2022

A survey about the safety measures that were in place around Builth Wells during this year’s Royal Welsh Show has been launched.

Now residents of Builth Wells and visitors to the Royal Welsh Show last month are being urged to take part in the survey and give their views on the safety measures that were in place.

The safety measures were implemented by the Builth Wells Event Safety Group, which is carrying out the survey. The group was formed in 2017 and led by Powys County Council.

The measures that were in place this year included:

• Safe walking route known as the Green Route
• Welfare support provided by Street Pastors at night during Royal Welsh Show week
• Medical and wellbeing centre operated by St John Cymru from the Strand Hall.
• A campaign encouraging visitors to drink and behave responsibly.

Cllr Richard Church, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: “The Builth Wells Event Safety Group have used their experience and knowledge and implemented measures to keep visitors and residents safe throughout Royal Welsh Show week.

“We are keen to seek the views of residents of Builth Wells and visitors to last month’s Royal Welsh Show on these safety measures.

“The feedback from residents and visitors will be vital as the group reviews the measures and see if anything can be done differently for future shows.”

To take part in the survey visit https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/royal-welsh-show-week-safety-measures, which will close on Wednesday 31 August, 2022.

Builth Wells residents who are unable to complete the survey online at home will be able to visit the town’s library at Antur Gwy where library staff will help them with the online survey.

8 August 2022

Partnership working will be vital in Powys as the county recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the county’s Public Services Board has said.

Powys County Council Leader and Chair of the PSB, Councillor James Gibson-Watt said partnership working would be important in the county’s recovery from the global pandemic in the Board’s fourth annual report approved on July 29.

The board is a statutory strategic partnership established under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 including Powys County Council, Powys Teaching Health Board, Mid and West Wales Fire Service and Natural Resources Wales.

It requires the partners and key local organisation in Powys, including Police, Brecon Beacons National Park, the third sector and community councils, to work together and take a more co-ordinated and long-term approach to the issues that really matter to the people of the county.

“We ended the 2021-2022 year in a very different place to where we began, with public services, communities, the third sector and local businesses continuing to find new ways of doing things, being both innovative and resourceful as they emerged the pandemic to the “new normal”.

“The partnership response coordinated and carried out through relevant emergency planning frameworks has been commendable and I have no doubt that the effectiveness is in part due to the relationships and connections developed through the PSB.

“We have continued to progress some of our Well-being Plan objectives and steps. These are at the heart of what the PSB is trying to do, to improve the opportunities and experiences for residents and communities in Powys. Projects that began in 2018-19 have continued to grow, with new ideas and the continued ambition of partners.

“As we move forward, the PSB will have an important role to play in supporting Powys to continue to recover from the pandemic,” he added.

The full report can be accessed using the following link: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/7509/Powys-Public-Service-Board—Our-Annual-Progress-Report

5 August 2022

Powys residents living with, or caring for a loved one with cancer, are being reminded that they can borrow a selection of books recommended by Macmillan professionals from the county’s library service. 

Four sets of 50 books were purchased a year ago thanks to a grant from Powys Teaching Health Board’s Charitable Fund to the Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ) in Powys programme.

The list includes both factual books about cancer (diet, symptoms), plus some about people’s experience of living with cancer. Residents can search and request a book from the online library catalogue available at https://en.powys.gov.uk/libcat or by popping into their local branch and asking their librarian.

There is also a leaflet available which lists all the titles.

The Books About Cancer project forms part of the Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys (ICJ) programme which is a partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support, Powys County Council and Powys Teaching Health Board.

The aim is to better support Powys residents with a diagnosis by offering what’s called a holistic needs assessment.  This allows people to identify and discuss their key concerns in confidence with a trained link worker and get non-medical support closer to home.  The books about cancer are an additional resource that may be helpful for someone living with cancer including family, friends, or carers.  

Richard Pugh, Macmillan Head of Partnerships in Wales, said:  “It’s crucial that people living with cancer and their families can freely access accurate information at a time and place that works for them. Not everyone can, or is, comfortable accessing information and support about cancer online. In rural Powys, libraries play a crucial role in the communities they serve, and we’re really pleased that these sets of books funded by Powys Teaching Health Board’s Charitable Funds are available from libraries across the county.”

Councillor David Selby, Cabinet Member for a prosperous Powys said: “Our libraries are a much loved and valuable community asset which provide both relaxing reading and vital information for those who may need it. I’m pleased that they are now back open post the pandemic. Although the books about cancer have been in situ for about a year, we felt it was worth reminding people that they available. To date we’ve had positive feedback from residents who have borrowed a book and hope many more people living or supporting a loved one with cancer will find them equally helpful. Our staff in your local library are here to help.”

Two Welsh books were also sourced by the programme team and Library Service which have not been reviewed by Macmillan but might be welcomed by those who first language is Welsh.

More details about the ICJ in Powys programme and about how to access a holistic needs assessment following a cancer diagnosis can be found at: https://www.powysrpb.org/icjpowys

4 August 2022

Work on a new, low-carbon social housing development in north Powys has been completed, the county council has announced.

Powys County Council’s Affordable Housing Team has developed a three-storey building containing 26 one-bedroomed flats on land adjacent to Newtown Bowling Club.  The development was built by contractors Pave Aways.

The £3.4m development, which will be owned and managed by the council, will provide much needed low-carbon accommodation that will be available at an affordable rent and allocated to applications on the Powys Common Housing Register.

The Welsh Government provided a £2.2m through its Innovative Housing Programme towards the development of the flats.

Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: “I’m delighted that work has been completed and I would like to thank our construction partners Pave Aways for helping us deliver this social housing development in Newtown.

“We cannot build the stronger, fairer, greener Powys we want without tackling the housing emergency in the county.  The only way we can achieve this is by building high-quality council housing.

“Not only does this development and the two other social housing schemes we are building in Newtown meet the needs of the local community, but they are also important schemes that will help us tackle the housing emergency.”

Pave Aways’ Construction Director Jamie Evans said: “Not only has this scheme delivered high specification new homes that will be more economical for tenants to run, it has also had numerous other benefits for the community.

“As well as utilising businesses and suppliers within 20-miles of Newtown, bringing an important boost to the economy, we offered training and work experience opportunities on site, giving people the opportunity to explore a career in construction and learn new skills.

“We also supported other organisations in the area, for example, donating laptops to schools so students had access to online learning during lockdown and giving our time free of charge to not for profit groups and charities that needed work on their premises.”

Jamie added: “The innovative method of the build to ensure it met the low carbon standards has also been a learning experience for us and the sub contractors involved, leading to an improvement in the skills now available within the construction sector locally.”

2 August 2022

Motorcyclists are invited to sign up to a free enhanced riders training course to help improve their riding skills and the safety of Powys roads.

Powys County Council’s Road Safety team are providing these courses free of charge to any motorcyclists who live in Powys or use Powys’ roads, with funding from the Welsh Government.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Enhanced Rider Scheme is suitable for full motorbike licence holders who want to improve their riding skills, for those returning to riding after a break, riders who have just passed their test, people upgrading to a more powerful motorcycle and/or those who want to check their riding standard.

The course consists of a short online theory session and a half-day practical on-road session (on a weekend) with an experienced trainer. There is no test, but riding will be assessed, and appropriate training given to each participant who, all being well, will receive a DVSA certificate of competence on completion of the scheme.

Dates for up-coming courses are:

August 2022
Online theory – 18 August
On-road rides – 20 and 21 August

Spaces for these free courses are limited and fill up quickly. Please get in touch to reserve your places as soon as possible: 01597 826924 or [email protected]

Please see this video for more information on the DVSA Enhanced Rider Scheme: https://youtu.be/9OjLHO-ASmk

29 July 2022

Media claims that the new North Powys Bulking Facility in Powys has cost an additional £140,000 to build are inaccurate and misleading, Powys County Council has said.

The claims followed a meeting of Powys County Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday (July 26) when additional funding was agreed to develop two new business units on the Abermule Business Park, near Newtown.

Construction costs for the new business units, particularly steel and concrete, have risen sharply during the procurement and construction phase and the Cabinet agreed an additional £140,000 towards the construction costs.

News of the funding was confirmed as part of a planned update on the council’s £133.8m capital programme for 2022/23.

In a report to the Cabinet, Councillor David Thomas, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Transformation said; “During the procurement and construction periods of the Abermule Business Park, there have been significant material and resource price increases, especially steelwork and concrete, which are a significant element of the project, and these have impacted on the original scheme budget.

“Value engineering has been undertaken to minimise the effect of the cost increases, however, this has not fully mitigated the impact. The additional budget of £140k will assist in contributing towards these increases.”

Work on the North Powys Bulking Facility, which is on the same Abermule Business Park, was completed in 2021 and has not been affected by the recent increase in construction material prices.

“Claims that an extra £140k was needed for the purpose-built bulking facility are wholly inaccurate and totally misleading.”