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I became the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council just six weeks ago. In my 13 years as a ward councillor, I’ve spent every week on the doorstep listening to the concerns of residents and having routine conversations with the public about the issues that matter to them.

As leader of the council, I see no reason to change my approach, so in that vein, I’ve run two question and answer sessions with the public. I’ve asked for residents to write in with key questions that apply to people living in the borough.

When I said make them challenging, residents haven’t disappointed – whether it’s grilling me on funding disparities across the borough, the reliability of waste collections, the lack of care and consideration over keeping the borough clean and tidy, or the suitability of leisure services. It doesn’t matter whether I agree with every question that comes in. It’s about answering those difficult questions, and that I will do.

As leader of the council, I relish the opportunity to reason with the public and answer their questions. But it also an opportunity to do what I’ve always tried to do, and that’s to tell it straight. Residents don’t want spin, party lines, and constant squabbling with opposition parties. My job is to talk to people in normal language and get things done. This is what I will continue to do going into 2026.

When it comes to getting things done, my first key priority was to secure the funding needed to address the long-standing issues with the A469 at Troedrhiwfuwch and as promised, we now have a decision on the books to allocate £20million to progress this much-needed improvement scheme. 

We’ve also identified three key areas in the Upper Rhymney Valley to benefit from £20million of funding as part of the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme. We are proposing that Bargoed, Aberbargoed, and New Tredegar will benefit from this major investment fund, and an independent board will now be set up to decide how the money will be spent. I’ve made a commitment to support communities across the whole county borough, and I hope residents can see that I am clearly delivering on this promise in the short time since becoming leader of the council.

Looking ahead to 2026, one of the first challenges early in the new year will be to deliver our draft budget proposals for 2026/27. Cabinet will meet early in January to discuss the budget and then there will be a period of public consultation before the final budget is agreed by full council at the end of February.

One of the major things I have picked up from residents in my local ward, and across the county borough, is people want to see a higher focus on investment to make our towns and villages cleaner and nicer places to live. As with any investment to services, this will have to be paid for, but this firmly in my mind as we head into the budget discussions.

Until then, I would like to wish all our residents a very happy Christmas and I hope that everyone can relax and unwind over the festive period.

Nadolig llawen pawb.