In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer, Caerphilly Council leader Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
AN APOLOGY
I’d like to issue an apology to Labour politicians, particularly the local AM and MP, for Caerphilly County Borough Council’s decision not to increase council tax.
They’ve been very critical of the Plaid-run authority for not asking the public to pay more over the next 12 months and planning to freeze bills next year.
Perhaps in hindsight they may be right – they clearly think people in the county borough should pay more on one of their biggest household bills. Perhaps, it doesn’t matter to them that many individuals and families are struggling to make ends meet. Jobs are being lost, pay is being frozen or cut and bills for food, fuel and energy are rising.
Of course, Labour has a proud record of increasing council tax bills when in control of Caerphilly council – they’ve put them up by an average of 5.68% since 1998 while the figure has been 3.59 per cent under Plaid.
In fact, on a Band D rate Labour increased bills by £136 over four years when they were last in control. While in the last three years when Plaid has sent bills out the rise has been just £45.34 – almost £100 less. And as mentioned earlier ,Plaid is also aiming to freeze council tax in 2012-13.
I’m certain we made the right decision at this difficult time. And, of course, unlike Labour-run Rhondda Cynon Taf council we’ve not cut workers’ pay and put up council tax by three per cent. The Caerphilly AM has been remarkably silent about the actions of RCT – can Caerphilly Observer readers imagine what he would have said if Plaid-run Caerphilly had done the same?
But the difficult economic situation, caused in part by Labour’s failure to regulate the banks properly, has not stopped the authority spearheading many initiatives.
Major regeneration is taking place at Bargoed and in Caerphilly Town, new schools are being built and we are creating 100 apprenticeships and training posts for young people over the next three years – a sign of our strong commitment to the future.
I’m proud of leading an authority that has imposed the lowest council tax increase in Wales for three years running – while also freezing councillors’ allowances. Incidentally, all Labour councils in England have agreed a voluntary freeze on council tax.
So perhaps residents deserve a belated apology from Labour politicians in Caerphilly for the level of council tax increases they’ve imposed in the past.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council
But let's not forget that all the schemes you name were already in the pipe line and had been allocated funding by the previous LABOUR led administration,you are merely following through what was already in place.
Let us not also forget the back handed way that both your self and Ron (which party do I belong to today) Davies were blatant in the misuse of public funds in promoting you both in a recent council publication in the run up to the Assembly elections. Let us also remind the public of money received from the Assembly that is being used to top up the councils spending, so in real terms there would have been a short fall and Plaid would have had to put up the council tax.
Jobs not being lost in CCBC is down to the re organisation of council staff, pay and conditions that was also brought in under the last Labour administration – another smoke screen by Plaid.
So Mr Whittle, can you answer one question, if you are successful in securing one of the top up seats in the assembly election will you be resigning as leader of Plaid in Caerffili and if so will Ron ( what party do I belong to today) Davies betaking over as leader of Plaid?
i whould like to point somthing out here you said "Labour increased bills by £136 over four years" yet plides plans to charge for the parck and ride that has bean yet anther u-tern by your councal thanks to labour standing up for the local peaple. could have cost some peaple almost £100 a mouth every mounth based on haveing to go to worck 5 times a week. kind of puts it in perspective dusent it
Plaid Cymru announce a council tax freeze for the next two years (Assembly elections and local government elections). What happens in 2013 if Plaid stay in control of the council. Oh yes, thats right, there will be an large increase to cover the cost of lost revenue in the last two years. This is blatant and cynical electioneering which the people of Caerphilly and Islwyn will recognise.
I was going to answer this trash from the labour hacks but frankly it's not worth wasting my time on, if you want to see how Labour really perform get yourself to some council meetings and watch their pathetic performance.
Mark is right, in part, get yourself down to any Council meeting, Town, community, or Borough Council Meetings, and witness for yourself how Councillors operate,and behave, you will be surprised. Sunday night at the London Paladium has nothing on it sometimes, including, evidenced Councillor behaviour AFTER meetings have ended, that is sometimes better than visiting a Zoo.
But lets not run away with the fact that Mark has only witnessed performances by Labour Councillors, Lets hear more from him about the good work Plaid do, forget the "trash from Labour Hacks" as he puts it, lets hear his positive spin on Plaids activities.
I’m not really sure why the Labour Party (see Sian’s comments above) are going on all the time about Ron joining Plaid.
There at at least four Labour Party ex Assembly Members who used to belong to different parties – Leighton Andrews, and Jane Davidson used to be Lib Dems, Alun Davies used to be a member of Plaid… and oh yes – didn’t Jeff Cuthbert used to belong to another party too??
Can someone from the Plaid Caerphilly Council leadership give some detail and information about "Major regeneration `taking place1 in Caerphilly Town" which Lyndsay mentions in his blog?????? What regeneration and where is it taking place?????
I am as puzzled as Trefor regarding regeneration in Caerffili town. It must be the best kept secret since the 'D Day' landings. I was walking around there today and could see no evidence of development.
I applaud schemes such as apprenticeships, we really do need this but let's not get carried away just because there is an election soon. There is no development currently going on in the town, so far as I am aware. If anyone knows different put a post on here and I will stroll down to see for myself.