Latest news with #CountyHall
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Annual Monmouthshire youth conference held in Usk
The annual youth conference, hosted by Monmouthshire County Council, took place on Friday, May 23, at County Hall in Usk. The event allowed young people to explore the three priority areas identified in the 2025 Make Your Mark survey. This survey received a record-breaking 3,509 responses. The top priorities were: cost of living, mental health matters, and employment and skills. Discussions and workshops around these topics were held to formulate recommendations for decision-makers, public services, and young people themselves to address over the coming year. The children's commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes, opened the conference and gave some perspective on the top three priority issues at a national level. Councillor Angela Sandles, cabinet member for equalities and engagement, said: "It is vital that we listen to the voices of young people across Monmouthshire and hear what is important to them. "Engaging with people of all ages will help us to form a balanced picture of what matters most to the people of Monmouthshire. "I hope that everyone who attended Friday's youth conference was able to take away an understanding of how we all have to support each other to thrive as a county. "This is always my favourite conference of the council year, listening to the voices of our young people inspires me and reminds us of all of the insight and innovation they bring." Councillor Laura Wright, cabinet member for education, said: "Learning how local government can function to support people from all aspects of society can be an extremely beneficial part of education. "It was great to see so many young people taking part in the youth conference." More information about the youth conference, the Make Your Mark survey and more can be found on the Youth Service's webpage on the Mon Life website.
Business News Wales
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business News Wales
Young People Make their Mark at Annual Youth Conference
Monmouthshire County Council held its annual youth conference at County Hall in Usk. The youth conference allows young people from schools across the county to unpack and dig deeper into the three priority areas identified in the 2025 Make Your Mark survey, which a record-breaking 3,509 young people took part in. The priority areas were: Cost of living (with 17.1% share of the total vote from all respondents) Mental health matters (with 17% share of the total vote from all respondents) Employment and skills (with 14% share of the total vote from all respondents) Discussions and workshops around those priority areas were conducted with a view to formulate recommendations for decision makers, public services and young people themselves to address over the coming year. The Children's Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes, opened this year's youth conference and gave some perspective of the top three priority issues at a national level. Cllr Angela Sandles, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Engagement, said: 'It is vital that we listen to the voices of young people across Monmouthshire and hear what is important to them. 'Engaging with people of all ages will help us to form a balanced picture of what matters most to the people of Monmouthshire. 'I hope that everyone who attended Friday's Youth Conference was able to take away an understanding of how we all have to support each other to thrive as a county. 'This is always my favourite conference of the council year, listening to the voices of our young people inspires me and reminds us of all of the insight and innovation they bring.' Cllr Laura Wright, Cabinet Member for Education, said: 'Learning how local government can function to support people from all aspects of society can be an extremely beneficial part of education. 'It was great to see so many young people taking part in the Youth Conference. 'I particularly enjoyed listening to them discussing mental health and wellbeing, reflecting on their experiences and sharing their ideas. 'They have given me a lot to think about and I look forward to working with young people across Monmouthshire to protect and improve mental health in our schools.'
South Wales Argus
22-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Attempt to remove Monmouthshire Labour leader fails
Labour took over at County Hall in Usk when the Conservatives lost their majority at the 2022 local government elections, and formed a minority administration led by Llanelly Hill councillor Mary Ann Brocklesby. Labour runs the council in a coalition with the single Green Party councillor but suffered a blow last October when the Conservatives took the Monmouth Town ward seat Catherine Fookes resigned following her election as Monmouthshire's Labour MP at the July 2024 general election. The Labour group has since had to rely on the council chairman's casting vote on a number of occasions in the chamber which the Tories tested at the annual general meeting when they nominated their leader, Mitchell Troy and Trellech councillor Richard John, as an alternative to Cllr Brocklesby. The bid failed by 23 votes to 22 with independent councillor for Wyesham, Emma Bryn abstaining, though the three other members of the Independent Group all backed Cllr John, who had led the council before his party's defeat at 2022 elections, to take over. Cllr John said he has 'enormous respect' for the Labour leader but said: 'We do have enormous concerns at the way the authority has been run for the last three years. 'Decisions have been made that have impacted residents and we think this county, this council can be better run than it is.' Following her confirmation as leader Cllr Brocklesby outlined what she considered a number of achievements made by the council, from increasing the numbers of affordable housing and reducing homelessness, to additional funding for schools and social care. She also said she would never take for granted her role and responsibilities but said local government has 'scant resources' though election of a UK Labour government has 'enabled the Welsh Government' to put more money towards local councils and said she had lobbied for additional funding for Monmouthshire. The normally non-contentious votes to elect the largely ceremonial roles of chair and vice chair had earlier given an indication of the political tension when the Conservatives put forward St Arvan's member Ann Webb for chairman and the independents nominated Crucorney member David Jones as vice chair. They lost to Labour nominees Peter Strong and Martyn Groucutt, respectively, but the decisions came down to the chair's casting vote. An attempt by Green Party councillor Ian Chandler to nominate Usk and Llanbadoc independent member Meirion Howells as chairman of the democratic services committee also prompted a row when the Conservatives, who'd put forward Lisa Dymock, pointed out legislation prevents members of groups represented in a council's executive, or cabinet, holding the post. Labour and Cllr Chandler had tried to argue Cllr Howells, whose vote the coalition often relies on, didn't have a relationship with the cabinet but council chief executive, Paul Matthews, ruled he was ineligible. He said it was a mistake by officers his nomination was allowed to go forward. Cllr Dymock was then confirmed as the chair of the committee. Cllr Brocklesby also confirmed Cllr Groucutt had resigned from his position as cabinet member for education, for personal reasons, and will be replaced by Abergavenny Grofield ward councillor Laura Wright.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
"Fantastic news": council abandons community pantries funding cut
County Hall has made a U-turn on a decision cutting funding for Isle of Wight community pantries, described as 'fantastic news" for those dependent on them. Household Support Fund 7 (HSF) investment worth £295,000 has been allocated for the support hubs in a revised decision by cabinet member Cllr Debbie Andre, following a call-in of a prior decision denounced as 'cruel and heartless'. HSF 7 is a £742 million government funding package to support vulnerable households, distributed through unitary and county councils. Cllr Geoff Brodie, with the support of eight other councillors, called-in Cllr Andre's previous April 24 decision – a delivery plan allocating £1,994,369.25 in Isle of Wight HSF. Read more: Community pantries funding cut branded "cruel and heartless" They asked why community pantries were facing a 46 per cent funding cut despite overall Whitehall funding 'only being reduced by 12 per cent'. The council's revised Isle of Wight HSF delivery plan supports a range of initiatives including £530,000 in community grants, £400,000 in supermarket vouchers and a utility, food and white goods support scheme worth £350,000. Cllr Brodie described the updated decision as 'fantastic news for all those dependent on support from community pantries and larders'. Read more: Isle of Wight community pantries funding could be slashed Monique Gallop, a coordinator for Cowes Community Pantry, welcomed the change of plan, adding that the cut would have 'taken people's dignity away'. She said: 'It (the cut) would be huge. Between all the pantries, I'd say we have at least 300 people visit a week. Out of that 300, that's going to be at least a minimum of probably 900 people a week that survive off the food from the pantries. 'It would have had a dramatic effect.' The Isle of Wight Council have been approached for comment.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Worcestershire council: Calls for hospital parking at County Hall
Fresh calls are being made to use Worcestershire's County Hall as overflow hospital parking.A new administration taking control of the council will face questions over the authority's Worcester headquarters, which has been closed since June last Party and Independent councillors have called for County Hall car parks to be opened up to staff, patients and visitors at nearby Worcestershire Royal Hospital for an initial nine motion is to be debated at a council meeting on Thursday – the first since elections earlier this month, when Reform UK became the largest party with 27 seats but remained two short of an overall majority. In the motion, councillors also called for more bays for Beryl Bikes, which is a bike-sharing scheme in the city, to be installed at the Spetchley Road end of the council motion said: "Worcestershire County Council's empty car parks at County Hall are just a few minutes' traffic-free walk away from the hospital."Allowing these car parks temporarily to be used for overspill hospital parking could reduce congestion on the hospital site immediately while the longer-term solutions are put in place." Plans to build a multi-storey car park next to the hospital were approved in March, but councillors behind the motion said: "This will take several months to be built."It is suggested the council could charge £3 a day for parking at County Hall to bring in revenue and that "a significant number of car parking spaces" should be opened said details would need to be worked through to prevent an adverse impact on county workers and visitors and to address residents' said a park-and-ride scheme for hospital staff, visitors and patients had been spoken about for months now, but still nothing was in place. In February, 50 parking spaces were temporarily made available for hospital staff while their usual parking was council offices have been shut since June last year, after potentially dangerous RAAC concrete and legionella bacteria were detected. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
