In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer, Caerphilly Council leader Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
Plaid conference
I’m off to Aberystwyth later this week for the annual Plaid Cymru conference when party members from across Wales gather.
The next eight months promise to be extremely busy on all fronts. The council will continue to confront the impact of severely reduced funding, the proposed referendum question on further Welsh powers is due in March and then in May the elections to the Welsh Assembly and the voting system for the UK Parliament take place.
The conference provides an excellent opportunity to talk with fellow councillors from across Wales and see how they are tackling various issues in their areas. We always have some lively debates and one of the key discussions will be on developing a separate legal jurisdiction for Wales with a focus on policing.
There’ll be some heavyweight issues under discussion. Dr Eurfyl ap Gwilym will be staging a seminar on the budget – a session aptly entitled ‘Do your Homework’ after this well publicised clash with Jeremy Paxman and there will be a session focusing on the need to replace the Barnett formula to ensure fair funding for Wales.
My cabinet colleague Ron Davies, the former Secretary of State for Wales, will also be attending his first Plaid Cymru conference as a party member.
Don’t miss the chance to vote
As I mentioned earlier there are some important votes and elections ahead. Annual registration forms will now be falling onto doormats and it is important voters respond.
The registration service is available on 24 hours a day through to the end of November.
If your details are not on the electoral register you will not be able to vote. If you have any queries please contact Electoral Services on 01443 864405.
New hospital
I had the pleasure last week to tour the new Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital, in Ystrad Mynach, which is due to open next year. It was the fourth time I had the opportunity to do so and the progress has been fantastic.
What an amazing building and enormously exciting times ahead for the health service here in the borough.
Trecenydd Community Centre
I wanted to take the opportunity through the Observer to praise the community effort which has led to the refurbishment of the Trecenydd Community Centre after £160,000 was spent.
As the ward member it gave me enormous pleasure to perform the official reopening of the centre which has given a huge boost to the community I’m proud to represent.
It was all made possible thanks to hard work from many people and sources of funding came from several bodies including Caerphilly council and a Welsh Assembly Government programme.
Lindsay Whittle,
Plaid Cymru leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council