In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
21st Century Schools
I cannot emphasise enough my disappointment at the announcement by the Welsh Government of reduced financial support under the 21st Century Schools building programme.
They are cutting financial support from 70% to 50%. Whatever spin Labour’s Education Minister Leighton Andrews tries to put on it, the facts are that schemes to replace schools will not be able to go ahead or be delayed because of reduced funding.
I know the Minister is blaming the Tories and Liberal Democrats in Westminster but didn’t Labour campaign during the Assembly elections on shielding Wales from spending cuts? Well, they’re not.
Of course, they held this announcement back until after the Assembly elections because they knew how voters across Wales would react.
This means that pupils will continue to be taught in inadequate accommodation across the county borough. Hardly conducive to a good education and it follows historic underfunding of education in Wales by many of the present Minister’s predecessors
Labour and Leighton Andrews built up the hopes of local authorities that new schools could be built and now he has dashed them. He may claim that the programme has not been scrapped but with the massive funding cut that us effectively what he has been done.
The Media
I am concerned about the future of our local media. I joined an National Union of Journalists picket line at BBC Wales in Cardiff where journalists were striking over proposed compulsory redundancies.
Then there was the announcement of 22 job cuts at Media Wales, which publishes the Western Mail, South Wales Echo and the Rhymney Valley Express.
I know regional and local newspapers are having tough times but the changes proposed in the Valleys is bound to impact on the quality of local newspapers, resulting in more readers deserting them.
A thriving and properly resourced local media is vital to hold public bodies to account. I’m concerned that job cuts will make that more difficult.
I do hope that the Caerphilly Observer thrives despite the tough economic climate because people are increasingly getting their news from the internet.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru South Wales East AM
Is this a cynical electioneering attempt by Paid to hold onto CCBC at next year elections? The figures were not known before the elections so could not have been divulged. Mr Whittle seeks to put the blame upon the Labour Welsh Government, even though he is fully aware of the of the funding arrangements. The Welsh Government has had its capital budget cut by more than 40% by the UK Con Dem Government.
It was very clear to the Plaid led CCBC that cuts were likely, yet they decided to freeze council tax – that line of additional revenue was cut off by them. Not forgetting the many millions they still have in Icelandic banks!!!
Just over a week ago Plaid in CCBC made a great play that the new Cwm Ifor primary school in Penyrheol is going ahead -which is good news (no surprise there as this is Mr Whittles seat)But they should have pointed out more clearly that the BULK of this funding is provided by the Welsh Government
The usual Plaid V Labour cat fight will gain momentum over the coming months as the election approaches. I personally agree with the freeze on council tax, it would be unfair to tax the people of this borough more after he imbecilic decision to place our finacial reserves in the Icelandic black hole.
It was particlarly galling to have seen the then council leader display a faux cheque in the councils Newsline propaganda sheet, some months ago, crowing that we have recovered much of the money. Not true, we have not recovered any money. I wonder when a prominent retraction will be published in this rag. Not any time soon, that's for sure.