Penyrheol by-election
Through the Observer, I’d like to thank the voters of Penyrheol ward for their support for the Plaid Cymru candidates in last week’s county borough and community council elections.
Both Plaid candidates put in a tremendous amount of work in talking to people on the doorsteps and were aided by a brilliant team of workers who pounded the streets. The campaign organisation was also first class.
The dedicated and positive work of late Plaid ward councillor Anne Collins, whose passing caused the by-elections, was clearly appreciated by residents across the ward.
Of course, I was not surprised that the performance of Labour-run Caerphilly council was a major topic among residents.
The unlawful decision to award huge rises to 21 highly paid officers clearly still rankles with ordinary people and I fully understand their annoyance. As I’ve stated before, these rises would not have been approved by Plaid Cymru if we had still been in control of the council.
It is not just the pay rises but the aftermath it has created. There was a highly critical report by the Wales Audit Office, the police have been involved and council taxpayers’ will be picking up the hefty bill for this fiasco for a very long time.
An interim chief executive has been appointed to cover the absence of the chief executive and the acting chief executive plus there are the costs of engaging lawyers and auditors as well as paying existing staff who are acting up in new roles.
Last week was excellent one for Plaid with the party’s landslide win in the Ynys Môn Assembly by-election.
Bedroom Tax
A Plaid motion on the bedroom tax did not get the support of the ruling Labour group in council.
While they handed in a large petition collected by campaigners, Labour failed to back a Plaid motion which suggested ways of helping those impacted by the tax.
Of course, Labour in Westminster have said they won’t commit to reversing the bedroom tax if they win the 2015 UK Generation Election, so perhaps their refusal to support was not that surprising.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru AM South Wales East
Perhaps Cllr Whittle would like to confirm whether the Plaid representative on the renumeration panel voted for or against the pay rises back in September? If so, then Plaid Cymru's position would seem genuine. We have NEVER been given an answer on this. I'm looking forward to seeing the response.
Congratulations to Steve for winning in Penyrheol. I had a very nice chat with him the day before the election. I hope he keeps to his word of looking into the layout of the road by St Cenydd school roundabout.
Cllr James Pritchard, accept that your party has stabbed you in the back. You disagree with the bedroom tax yet your party indirectly approves it. The sabre rattling Labour do is nothing more than a political tool to win support. The bedroom tax or the salary scandal? I know which one I find more serious.
In response to Jill, I will not change my views on the Bedroom Tax. I'm saying loudly and clearly, that this should be abolished immediately. I went around the estates in the Caerphilly constituency campaigning against it earlier this year and I speak to residents in my ward about its effects regularly. Its a cruel policy that should never ever have been introduced.
The point I'm making about the salary increases is a valid one that no Plaid member has responded to. If Plaid were so against the rises they would have, through their representative on the panel, voted it down??
Congratulations on retaining the vacant position held by the late Cllr Collins. If you hadn't I think it would've been more of an embarrassment for you to loose this seat than Labour, as it hasn't made any difference to the council as Labour still hold far more seats than Plaid Cymru.
May I ask why Plaid Cymru didn't look into the pay rises when they had control of the council? Also as Cllr Pritchard has stated how did the Plaid representative vote?
Jill E, the layout of the road by the St Cenydd school roundabout is ridiculous, however, I think this was approved before May 2012, if so I think it would've been approved by Plaid Cymru, therefore will Cllr Skivens really do anything about it?
Also what did Plaid Cymru do regarding the 'bedroom tax'? Labour handed in a position from the ward, I haven't read anything that Plaid has done regarding this tax. Just because Labour hasn't said they will definitely reverse the bedroom tax does not mean that Labour indirectly supports it. I suspect that next time we have a Labour government they will look at different things not just this tax, as it may not be possible to change things instantly in government, for all we know they may bring in a different benefit for those affected by this bedroom tax, so they are no worse off!
We must also remember that local councillors cannot do anything about what happens within the national government, they can only deal with LOCAL issues.
Lou are you serious. If you won't undo something you can't exactly be against it. If you're not against something you're usually for it.
Who cares when it was approved. I bet you're Labour. It's ridiculous, you accept it's a problem and so do many other people. We should now be looking to resolve it and not looking to point the finger. My two other Plaid councillors didn't do anything and neither did my Labour councillor. Complaining to Steve is worth a try.
"local councillors cannot do anything about what happens within the national government" Quite agree but it's unfortunate than Labour don't see it that way as their election campaign leading up to the recent by-election was centred around the Tories in London. It's all Labour talked about when they came knocking on my door.
No Jill, I am not Labour. However I stand by what I said. As when Labour get into government there may be something far more pressing then the council tax that needs attention first! I can't comment on what was discussed on the doorstep at this by election as though I live within the ward, I didn't have anybody knock my door from any party! Pretty silly of any party to go on about Westminster when as local councillor they haven't got the powers to do anything.
Have you spoken to the two other Plaid Cymru and the Labour councillor regarding the roundabout by St Cenydd School? If so may I ask what they said? Yes, I do agree complaining to Steve is worth a try, I was just saying do you really think he will do anything about it? I would love it if he did.
Oops, having a blonde moment there, Jill, I mean bedroom tax not council tax. Sorry!
I took your comment the wrong way then as it sounded like you were Pro-Labour criticising me for trying to get something done with Steve. I spoke to Margaret and Lindsay and they agreed it was bad and that they would look into it. I spoke to Hugh months ago and he gave me some waffle about how Plaid approved it when there were no local Labour councillors and that he thinks it's bad too. That's all well and good but I wish he would do something to fix the problem rather than blame it on Plaid and do nothing at all. Instead of following the channels set down all the councillors should be on the phones and sending emails to the roads department asking for it to be redone and pestering top brass to have the council reformed so something is done. They all seem to accept the problems but do nothing to fix them. The only times they do something proactive is election time when they want votes. I feel ripped off as we pay for that service too.
The only thing more pressing would be the EU and how we need a vote on it. Labour have ignored that issue so far.
The discussion is becoming far ranging indeed; I agree with the previous commentator that it is vital we have a vote on the EU, though. The problem is that we will not get one, not from the Tories, not from Labour and certainly not from Plaid who long for an 'independent' Wales which is run from Strasbourg.
This is the problem, all the mainstream parties know that if the people were given the vote they would vote the “wrong way”, which is against a European Federal state. It is a worrying sign that all the political parties are so out of touch with what the majority of the population want. This is proven by the low turnouts at any election; people can’t be bothered to vote because nobody seems to speak for them. The whole strategy of parties these days is to get their core voters out and capture a few floaters and young voters at the ballot for the first time. Their leaders are content with this and proceed to crow about the mandate they have been given by the voters.
To close I wish Steve all the best and hope he enjoys being a Borough councillor. The Skivens family of Thomasville were known as a good family, I grew up nearby and knew them all. I am sure he will do well in his new role.
Will James Pritchard be resigning from Labour and joining Plaid? He can`t have it both ways. Whats he going to say at the next UK election? "Vote Labour … but I do not agree with them"? Pritchard is showing the usual hypocritical attitude of Labour to ordinary people
May I remind Huw that the Labour Party in Caerphilly Borough stomped the streets campaigning against the bedroom tax and the three Caerphilly Borough Labour MP's delivered a petition to Downing Street calling for its abolition.
I think Labour representatives in Caerphilly have demonstrated their hostility to the changes and it should be for opponents of the bedroom tax to unite against it. The Tories are the real enemy here so why doesn't the Plaid opposition concentrate on them for a change.
I didn't expect any Plaid supporters on here to confirm whether their representative voted for or against the pay rises. They just won't answer that very simple question.
James Pritchard is right to ask pertinent questions about the pay rise, we know how the Labour councillors voted. Anybody from Plaid Cymru going to answer his question? It has been asked before on these pages and silence is always the response from the Nationalists.
But James, why stomp the streets when your Leader in London is happy to keep the tax? The answer is simple…. to say one thing to the people on the door step to get their vote and then let your leaders kick them in face. Penyrheol saw through you as the voters on Anglesey did.
Huw has hit the nail on the head. Labour top brass give out a different message than local level Labour who, when on the streets, criticise the bedroom tax knowing that top level Labour will do nothing to revers it. The local Labour Party use it as a political tool.
Knock on as many doors as you want, but your leader and party are not going to reverse the bedroom tax. Plaid have given the ruling Labour Party a choice on how to resolve or try to lessen the impact in Caerffili, but they are not listening. Believe it or not, but the council has got the powers to do something about this, but like their leader, they choose not to.
In regards to the pay rises, we will have to wait to see what the Ombusman states as only 1 Plaid councillor was present and obviously Labour will try to smear, so leave it to the experts. Well done for a hard-working campaign for Steve and Michelle in memory of a much loved hard-grafting Cllr Collins. Two great local representatives who are known throughout their ward.