People before profits

Nobody is in any doubt, that following Labour’s laissez faire attitude to financial regulation and an over reliance on the City of London, the economy inevitably overheated resulting in an eye watering national debt. However, the cuts imposed on Wales from the Tory led Government have been too savage and too deep, which has put essential Welsh frontline services in jeopardy such as care for our most elderly and needy.

Many Plaid run councils have showed innovative solutions to not only protecting public services against Welsh local government’s most challenging financial settlement, they have also kept Council tax low -and in the case of Caerphilly- council tax has been frozen. Compare this to the Labour run administrations that has used bullyboy tactics with cuts to hard working public sector workers pay, threats of redundancies and the ripping up of contracts for worse terms of conditions. Meanwhile, Bridgend County Borough Council remains steeped in bureaucracy and top heavy in senior management. Is there any surprise that this tired Labour administration is proposing the privatisation of three care homes and leisure services?

The administration also continue to employ seven officers on a salary in excess of £100k, while the tax payer forks out on a 3.5% increase in council tax. I am delighted to be working with Plaid Cymru Candidate for Ogmore, Danny Clark and South West Wales Regional AM, Bethan Jenkins in a campaign for the restoration of public services in Bridgend. The overwhelming number of residents I have spoken to are completely against privatisation. Even in these difficult times, we must ensure our most needy are put before profiteering.

At a packed public meeting in Tondu, my Plaid colleagues and I raised the concern of what assurances will the Council put forward to ensure private organisations are acting accordingly in their obligations to the elderly and how will the private sector maintain quality of care in these difficult economic times when their primary goal is to maximise profit.

We look forward to discussing the future of care homes and leisure facilities at our next public meeting on Wednesday 6th April from 6.30 pm at the Hi-Tide, Porthcawl.

Calling time on cheap supermarket alcohol

Saturday evening was spent at my local pub in Brackla where I settled down to watch Wales verses France, with the faint hope of Wales clinching the Six Nations Championship following Englands’ defeat to Ireland.

While the chances of Wales achieving glory grew fainter and fainter, I was pleased that my local pub was packed full of people. Although the pub is well frequented, the obvious attraction of the rugby drew a number of additional punters in.

Some time ago, the local media had reported that the Bridgend area had witnessed a number of pub closers, which is obviously as a direct consequence of not only the difficult financial climate, but also the difficult regulatory and taxation burden put on pub landlords. I am glad to say, that many of the closed pubs have since found new landlords and they continue to draw on custom.

Behind every thriving community, there is usually a responsible landlord running a well-run pub. The pub offers a safe environment where adults can chat, meet and discuss the day’s events over a pint. Not only do pubs have social benefits, but also they provide a significant amount of income to the local economy and they employ local people.

In these difficult times, many people are turning their back on pubs and drinking cheaper alcohol from supermarkets. The increase in unregulated drinking has created a significant increase in alcohol related health problems. With this in mind, I am strongly in favour of supporting a minimum price for alcohol. It is simply no surprise to me at all, that when a certain supermarket charges as little as 20p for a can of larger, many of our pubs are calling time on trade.

Labour extend privatisation agenda with Bridgend care homes

While I fully except that we are currently living in times of austerity with the ConDem coalition seemingly reluctant to tackle tax avoidance that would haul in £129bn to the UK Treasury, a number of cuts are becoming increasingly concerning to me, especially those that effect our most vulnerable.

The Plaid driven One Wales coalition delivered a budget that is an alternative to the slash and burn budget witnessed in England, and is further proof, if any was needed, that frontline services can remain publically owned.

With this in mind, I have become increasingly concerned by Labour controlled Bridgend County Brough Council’s growing privatisation agenda. Not only is Labour seeking a private sector firm to manage our leisure centres, at a time when they simply refuse to provide adequate leisure facilities for the people of Porthcawl, but they are seeking to privatise 3 care homes in the County Borough.

I am particularly concerned about the proposed privatisation of Brynycae care home in Brackla, which has served elderly people and the community well. I have been told that care in the private sector would cost £126 a week less per person than an in house service. However, this is simply not expectable if an inferior service is provided. In addition, a private sector firm would be seeking to make a profit, which given the current financial climate would be increasingly difficult.

BCBC must come clean and tell the public what measures are in place, should one of the private firms fail in their duty to care for our vulnerable and elderly.

I am delighted that I am being joined by Bethan Jenkins AM and Plaid Assembly Candidate for Ogmore, Danny Clark, in opposition to this obvious cost cutting measure when the generation that fought in the war and rebuilt our country deserve better.

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