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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Sustainable Wales debate

I am really looking forward to the public debate on Monday 28^th February, at Evergreen Hall, Angel St, Bridgend. If you want to come along, the event is run by Sustainable Wales and will start at 8 pm till 10 pm.

Apart from my good self, other political representatives at the debate will include:

Carwyn Jones (First Minister, Labour)

Suzie Davies (South Wales West Regional Candidate, Conservative Party)

Veronica German (South Wales East Assembly Member, Liberal Democrats)

Keith Ross (Green Party)

Should prove to be an interesting day.

£2m announced for ASD support

I was delighted to learn that the One Wales coalition has announced a new funding package of £2million, which will be used to support adults and children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD.)

I am proud of the fact that, following on from the implementation of the ASD Strategic Action Plan for Wales, Wales is leading the world in raising awareness of Autism and providing improved opportunities for children and adults who have ASD.

This funding will be used to improve diagnosis and counselling for adults and children and will improve lifelong learning for people with autism.

On a personal note, this is particularly pleasing for me as I have a younger sister who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of Autism. However, I am equally delighted that this will raise awareness of a condition that has in the past lacked understanding.

In Bridgend, we are fortunate enough to have Heronsbridge School, which has done a fantastic job in catering for the needs of children with learning difficulties such as Autism across the County Borough.Depending on pupil’s needs, the school provides specialist support for children and has excelled in academic subjects as well as in sport.

I sincerely hope that some of this funding will find its way to Heronsbridge and that Wales’ continues to excel in Autism support and awareness.

No to Team GB

Those who know me well know that I am passionate about sport. I am delighted that Bridgend Ravens have made such a positive undefeated start to the league, and making their claim to the Principality Premiership increasingly strong.

Although a lover of rugby, as an Ambassador season ticket holder and regular away follower of Cardiff City, my main allegiance lies with the round ball. In one of the most competitively thought battles for automatic promotion, both rivals Cardiff City and Swansea City are still in the hunt for an automatic spot to the Premiership Promised Land. Unlike the Ravens, however, there are a pack of teams as far down as sixteenth in the league with similar realistic ambitions. In this battle for Premiership football, one thing that unites many Cardiff and Swansea fans is opposition against a Team GB playing in the London 2012 Olympics.

Lord Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic games, has been putting significant pressure on the four football associations, which includes the FAW, to field a unified Great Britain team for the Olympics. Like many football fans across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, I am concerned that a Team GB would end the independence of the said football associations.

Some people have pointed out that the British Lions rugby team have not had any effect on national sides. However, I think this fails to recognise the difference between rugby and football. Notwithstanding the fact that football is a more globalised game with a number of highly competitive teams across Europe, Six Nations games between Wales, Scotland, England and Ireland play an integral part in the rugby calendar. Thus, making any suggestion of the Lions jeopardising Wales’ independence insurmountable.

In addition, FIFA President, Slepp Blatter has said he would welcome a Team GB. He has even said that the individual representation of the Home Nations on the international FA board, which entitles special voting privileges, has caused resentment and was the main reason for England’s failed bid for holding the 2018 World Cup.

I remember the delirium from a packed Millennium Stadium when Simon Davies and Craig Bellamy stunned the famous Azzurri into a 2-1 defeat. Alternatively, I remember the sheer disbelief when Paul Bodin missed a penalty against Romania to end Welsh hopes of World Cup qualification.

What ever your memories of the Welsh national side, and even though their fortunes have not surpassed expectation, the independence of the FAW is worth fighting for and I hope you will join me in condemning a Team GB football team.

Fuel price madness

After a busy day canvassing, I decided to visit some friends and purchased some diesel in a service station just outside the Bridgend constituency. The price? A ridiculous £1.39 a litre.

This should be enough to get even the most car dependent family to consider rail use. However, Arriva Trains Wales have significantly increased their prices well above the rate of inflation. The ConDem coalition have increased the cost of season tickets across the UK by almost 6% (so much for David Cameron’s green credentials), but even more alarmingly, Arriva Trains Wales have increased rail travel in Bridgend by almost 10%

A season ticket for use between Bridgend and Cardiff has increased from £732 to £804, while the cost of a day ticket from Bridgend to Cardiff will increase from £5.40 to £5.90. Meanwhile, passengers have not seen any improvements to the quality of the service.

This is why I believe Plaid Cymru’s proposal to put the management of Welsh railways in the hands of a ‘not for profit’ company following the end of the ATW franchise would be extremely desirable to passengers and the Welsh economy.

Instead of extended profits for ATW, more money could be made available to invest in rail travel across Wales with additional services linking Bridgend with the nearby Valleys and major cities.

While this may reduce car dependency, some isolated communities in Wales, will always depend on the car. For some, fuel is a price elastic commodity. No matter what the cost in fuel duty, some people will reluctantly pay the cost.

With the UK governments increase in fuel duty and VAT, I am strongly in favour of a fuel regulator. This would ensure the price at the pump would reflect the fluctuation in crude oil. In essence, when the price of oil increases or the level of VAT increases, the level of fuel tax would decrease.

Bridgend policing must not suffer from Cardiff's growing demand

With central funding cuts to Welsh police constabularies totalling 5.1% over 2011-12 and 6.7% in 2012-13, difficult financial decisions will have to be made by all four police constabularies.

However, there was a very compelling argument from South Wales Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Nick Croft who argued that SWP’s Cardiff division should receive additional funding of £1.1m due to Cardiff’s economic and demographic growth.

As Capital City and most populated city in Wales, Cardiff has a number of additional challenges. For starters there is 6 Nations rugby, 11 Olympic football matches and hopefully Premier League football for Cardiff City. Both the Metropolitan Police and the Lothian and Borders Police receive additional funding in recognition for demands made on London and Edinburgh, but Cardiff receives no such support. This is not about going cap in hand, but about getting fair finance that are police require for the demands of the modern job.

If fair funding is not achieved SWP have acknowledged that further cuts to areas like Bridgend is possible in order to maintain the growing pressures of capital city policing. This news comes at a time when Bridgend County Borough Council are threatening to turn off streetlights across the County Borough and the local authority have sold their CCTV function to Valleys to Coast Housing Association in a bid to save money. This could potentially be a major blow to our communities such as Wildmill and the town centre area.

Ie i Gymru / Yes for Wales

The local ‘Yes for Wales’ campaign for Bridgend and Ogmore has gathered steam and we have gauged support from across the political divide, local community groups and from individuals not affiliated to any political party.

Despite the differences in political opinion on many issues from within the group, one thing that we can all certainly agree on is that on March 3^rd -in order to produce a stronger Wales- a yes vote must be achieved.

The current system in which the Assembly operates is cumbersome, and a yes vote will speed up decision-making and grant the Assembly the tools to get on with the job properly. It is simply unacceptable that Welsh policies, such as ensuring our new homes have fire sprinklers, are being held up by over three years while we wait for London’s approval.

This delay is wasting time and money and the independent Holtham Commission have calculated that a yes vote will save Wales £2m a year with a more streamlined relationship with Westminster. In addition, the UK government have said that fairer funding and Barnet reform will only be investigated should a yes vote be achieved.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 20th January, 7.30 pm at the Garth Senior Citizens' Hall, Bridgend Road, Garth, Maesteg. If you want to get involved, regardless of party affiliation or non affiliation, please contact me on this blog or tim_tom79@hotmail.com