Latest news with #HuwThomas
Wales Online
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Wales Online
Welsh council leader 'concerned' about impact immigration plan could have on care
Welsh council leader 'concerned' about impact immigration plan could have on care Cllr Huw Thomas said the UK Government's plans to restrict oversees recruitment of care workers is "certainly a matter of concern" Cllr Huw Thomas said he is concerned about the UK Government's immigration plans (Image: Cardiff Council ) The Labour leader of Cardiff Council said he is concerned about UK Government immigration plans that could affect social care in the city. Cllr Huw Thomas spoke about plans to restrict oversees recruitment of care workers at a building topping out ceremony in Grangetown on Friday, June 6. The UK Government said its plan, which is part of the recently published immigration white paper, is aimed at stopping carers from oversees being subject to "shameful levels of abuse and exploitation". However, unions, care agencies and councils have come out in criticism of the move which they say will exacerbate the pressure the care sector is already under. Never miss a Cardiff story and sign up to our newsletter here. When asked how concerned he was about the plans, Cllr Thomas said: "I think it is certainly a matter of concern. "There are migrant workers in the care sector in Cardiff doing incredibly important work in very difficult circumstances. "We want to support them and as a council we are working with trade unions to support that work force. Article continues below "What that's meant over the last couple of years is that the marketplace for domiciliary care... is actually quite resilient in Cardiff. "I think if there would be changes... that are proposed to be introduced, that would weaken the resilience of the delivery of domiciliary care. The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, was speaking at an event in Grangetown (Image: Ted Peskett ) "It is a concern. We are feeding that concern into Government for their consideration." A Cardiff Council official told councillors at a scrutiny committee meeting in February 2023 that the local authority was having issues with recruiting social care staff. An advert posted on the council's Facebook page in May 2025 said it currently has "vacancies in a number of care roles". In a statement published on May 11, the UK Government said some carers seeking work in the UK arrived to find themselves "saddled with debt", being treated unfairly and discovering the jobs they were promised didn't exist. The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has also come out in criticism of the plans. WLGA spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, said: "Councils have long struggled to recruit social care workers, especially in rural and coastal areas. "The Welsh Government's Real Living Wage has helped, but international recruitment has been an important part of keeping services going. "These proposals risk shutting off a vital source of social care workers at the very moment local services are under extreme pressure. "Councils are working hard to support people to live with dignity and independence – but this depends on having a workforce in place. "Removing this option without a fully funded plan to grow the domestic workforce is a significant risk. "It will take time and investment to build a resilient, sustainable care workforce. "In the meantime, we fear the consequences will be felt by the people who rely most on support – older people, people with disabilities, and unpaid carers. Article continues below "Workforce planning must reflect the reality on the ground. "Local authorities are uniquely placed to understand the needs of their communities, and their insights must shape national decisions."
Wales Online
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Council leader defends Stevie Wonder and Alanis Morissette gigs in Cardiff park
Council leader defends Stevie Wonder and Alanis Morissette gigs in Cardiff park Cllr Huw Thomas argued that allowing events like Blackweir Live at Bute Park will help it protect other services Blackweir Live will see artists like Stevie Wonder perform at Blackweir Fields (Image: Getty Images ) Allowing more live music events to take place at Bute Park helped Cardiff Council avoid difficult budget decisions, the leader of the city council has said. Blackweir Live, which will see a number of world famous artists like Stevie Wonder and Alanis Morissette play at Blackweir Fields, will be taking place over select days in June and July. Key decision makers at Cardiff Council and the leader of the local authority, Cllr Huw Thomas, argued that funds from the events will help protect grassroots music venues and the city's parks. However, there are others who worry it is another example of councils in deficit having to make quick money making decisions at the expense of public spaces. Never miss a Cardiff story and sign up to our newsletter here. Residents, volunteers and sports teams were angered about plans for events on Blackweir Fields, fearing it will wreck the land and make more parts of Bute Park inaccessible during the summer. Allowing events at Balckweir Fields will help Cardiff Council avoid tricky budget decisions, according to its leader Cllr Huw Thomas (Image: Ian Fernando ) Cllr Thomas said: "There is a financial upside to the council of hosting live music events in Blackweir. Article continues below "That makes an important contribution to allowing us to set that balanced budget. "One of the ways that we've avoided making really difficult facility closures in recent years is by generating income and that's where Blackweir Live comes in from a financial perspective." Cardiff Council was initially facing the prospect of having to save more than £60m in 2025/26. The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas (Image: Ted Peskett ) Following a better than expected budget settlement from the Welsh Government, this figure was reduced to £27.7m. The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) welcomed the additional funding that councils received this year. However, some councillors on the local government association said it still fell short of what was needed. Cllr Thomas added: "We are also proud of our credentials as a music city. "We want to see the biggest and best artists from all over the world perform in Cardiff, in the likes of Stevie Wonder [and] Alanis Morissett. "That is what you are seeing. Ticket sales are strong. Of course we recognise how loved the city's parks are. "There are safeguards in place to ensure that the parks are maintained. If they are not maintained, there is provision to claw back the money to make them good. "This is about music making. The last few summers in Cardiff have been exemplified by a litany of the biggest names in music coming here to perform. "That is what we are seeing again and expanded this summer. "Whilst I recognise the concern, and hopefully people objectively will see that we've safeguarded to mitigate those concerns, this is also about getting some fantastic music happening in the city." There is already a licence covering Blackweir Fields for events of up to 25,000 people and the land has been used for a firework display in the past. In order for the events to run as planned, a licence to allow events of up to 35,000 people was needed. At a licensing sub committee meeting in April, the council was asked whether event organisers had done things the "wrong way round" by advertising and selling tickets before a new event licence was granted for Blackweir Fields. When faced with this question, a lawyer representing the council at the meeting said the the organisers acted quickly to secure globally renowned artists. Jeremy Phillips KC said at the time: "The leading time has just necessitated them taking that risk." The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Cllr Huw Thomas whether he felt the council had been rushed into making a decision on Blackweir Fields. He said: "I don't think so. I think we've had to move quickly, but we are working with a promoter who is a local promoter. "It is bigger companies involved in delivering the artist, but this is a local promoter who is taking a risk on this project. "That needs to be acknowledged. "We will be working closely with the promoter to make sure things go well because... we want it to be a success and potentially [in] future years we will have a longer lead in time to get the right artists lined up, but I don't think it was a case of being rushed." The licence that's now been approved for Blackweir Fields has 46 conditions attached to it to manage future events correctly and to try and mitigate any potential negative impacts. Under the licence, there can only be six main event days during the year. Kings of Leon, who were supposed to play at Blackweir Live on Sunday, June 29, pulled out of their UK tour after frontman Caleb Followill sustained an injury. Article continues below Courteeners are still scheduled to play on that same day and Noah Kahan will kick things off for the summer music event on Friday, June 27. In the following month, the park will welcome Alanis Morisette, Slayer and Stevie Wonder who will play on Wednesday, July 2; Thursday, July 3 and Wednesday, July 9 respectively.
Wales Online
a day ago
- General
- Wales Online
Frustrated residents have four years for new flats and now they are nearly ready
Frustrated residents have four years for new flats and now they are nearly ready Councillors and council officials celebrated the topping out of a block of flats in Grangetown that residents have been waiting years to move into The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, said he understood the frustration of residents (Image: Ted Peskett ) Key decision makers at Cardiff Council said they understand the frustrations of tenants in a council housing estate who have been waiting years for their new flats to be built. Cardiff Council's cabinet member for housing and communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, and the leader of the council, Cllr Huw Thomas, made their comments at the topping out ceremony of a block of independent living flats at Channel View. The flats are part of the first phase of a wider scheme to completely redevelop the Grangetown estate. Residents living in the 13-storey block opposite were first told in 2016 that their flats would be demolished and that they would be rehoused, with many claiming they have been living in poor conditions since then. Never miss a Cardiff story and sign up to our newsletter here. Cllr Thorne, who is also a ward councillor for Grangetown, said: "I was doing monthly surgeries and I felt as frustrated as they did. "I guess we forget that we had Covid in between which delayed it all and then unfortunately we had issues with the... regulations, particularly to do with fire safety which delayed it further. "Yes, I understand their frustration and I felt [it] too because I want to see it [the new building] coming out of the ground as well." Article continues below Residents living in the old block claimed they experienced issues with mould, damp and leaks as they waited to see progress on the new flats. It was reported in March 2024 that some residents had experienced plumbing issues that saw sewage appear in their toilets and baths. Cardiff Council's cabinet member for housing, Cllr Lynda Thorne (Image: Cardiff Council ) Cllr Thorne said she was "over the moon" to see the new building, block B, at its highest point in the construction process. She added: "This is actually a replacement for the high rise and of course, since we took the cladding off they have been a bit colder and sometimes [there has been] a little bit of condensation in the flats which means they are all keen to move into their new flats. "Although it doesn't address the housing crisis, it does address getting... particularly older people, in really good accommodation." Cardiff Council has partnered with Wates Residential on the Channel View project. Residents living in the 13-storey building opposite the new structure have been waiting years for progress on the Channel View project (Image: Ted Peskett ) Block B will deliver 24 new energy efficient council homes for older people and the apartments in the six storey building are expected to be ready for residents next year. The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, was also present at the topping out ceremony. The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas (left) at the topping out ceremony with regional managing director of Wates Residential, Edwards Rees (Image: Ted Peskett ) When asked about delays to the project, he said: "Rome wasn't built in a day and I am really concious of how long it's taken to make a reality of this project. "We first started talking about it and the need for it shortly after I became leader eight years ago, so it's a frustrating thing for everyone how long these things take to come to fruition. "You've obviously in that period had issues like Covid, you had the disastrous mini budget that in turn affected interest rates and that has had a knock on impact on costs as well. Block b of the Channel View redevelopment scheme is nearing completion (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) "There are good reasons why it has taken so long, but I absolutely understand the frustration from residents. "The council has tried to do what it can to support them... during that period and obviously for the residents living across there will be payments in terms of a relocation payment as well and disruption. "We all acknowledge that it has not happened as quick as we would like, but it has also delivered some really good learning of how we take these processes through quicker and the irony is, and this is a UK challenge, the actual building bit doesn't take as long as the financial assembly and the planning process." A second block of flats that's also part of the first phase of development at Channel View is scheduled for completion in 2027. This building, called block A, will consist of 102 community living apartments, community facilities, a rooftop terrace and a cafe. The whole Channel View scheme will eventually see the 180 existing properties there, originally built in the 1970s, replaced with 400 new homes. Article continues below It will also seek to deliver improved connectivity for the estate, improvements to the public open space at The Marl, and the creation of a new public realm using green infrastructure and sustainable drainage systems (SUDS).
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Politics
- Wales Online
Cardiff Council leader confirms he will seek to run in the 2026 Senedd elections
Cardiff Council leader confirms he will seek to run in the 2026 Senedd elections The leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Huw Thomas, has previously refused to say whether or not he will run in the 2026 Senedd elections Huw Thomas has confirmed his plans (Image: Cardiff Council ) The leader of Cardiff Council has confirmed that he will be putting his name forward for consideration as a Labour candidate in the next Senedd election. Cllr Huw Thomas refused to say whether or not he would stand in the 2026 Senedd election when asked in September 2024. All four Labour constituency members of the Senedd in Cardiff have ruled themselves out of the running. The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Cllr Thomas what his plans were for next year's elections Cllr Thomas, who was attending a topping out ceremony for a new block of council flats in Grangetown, said: "I will be putting my name forward for consideration, yes." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Cllr Thomas became the youngest leader of Cardiff Council in May 2017 at the age of 31. Originally from Aberystwyth, the ward councillor for Splott was first elected to the local authority in 2012. The current constituency member of the Senedd for Cardiff West, Mark Drakeford, is best known for leading Wales as the First Minister during the Covid-19 pandemic. Article continues below Mr Drakeford, who currently serves as the Welsh Government's cabinet secretary for finance and Welsh language, has said he will not be running for re-election. Vaughan Gething's time as First Minister was short lived. The current constituency member of the Senedd for Cardiff South and Penarth quit four months into the job following pressure over donations he received in the Welsh Labour leadership contest. Mr Gething then announced in September 2024 that he will not seek re-election in 2026. The other two constituency members of the Senedd in Cardiff, Jenny Rathbone for Cardiff Central and Julie Morgan for Cardiff North have also announced that they won't seek re-election. Ms Rathbone, who has served as an MS since 2011, sits on the climate change, environment and rural affairs committee and the public accounts committee. Ms Morgan has also been an MS since 2011. Over the years, she has been on a number of committees and served as the deputy health minister at one point. Before her time in Cardiff Bay, she also served as a politician in Westminster for 13 years after being elected as the MP for Cardiff North in 1997. The Senedd will undergo a number of major changes next year. Article continues below When people go to the polls in May 2026, they will be using a new voting system and there will be 16 new constituencies. On top of this, the Senedd will be expanded to 96 members instead of the 60 that currently sit and anyone standing for election must live in Wales.
Business News Wales
6 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Local Authorities Commit to Collaboration as Western Gateway Partnership Ends
The leaders of the cities which founded the Western Gateway Partnership have committed to continuing collaboration as the official pan-regional arrangement comes to an end. The partnership started as a collaboration between the cities of Cardiff, Newport and Bristol in 2016. It officially became recognised as a Pan-Regional Partnership in 2019 when the UK Government began to offer core funding alongside local support from councils and businesses. Since then, the partnership, which brought together local leaders with business and universities to champion growth and attract investment, grew to cover 28 local authorities. In March the UK Government decided not to continue funding Pan-Regional Partnerships, instead looking to English Combined Authorities to drive cross-region collaboration. Despite strong buy in from business and local authorities, without core funding the Pan-Regional Partnership is ceasing to operate on June 6. The Western Gateway has attracted more than £100 million investment to create the next generation of nuclear technology in the South West at the Severn Edge Low Carbon Energy Park and brought in more than £10 million to support the area's growing hydrogen supercluster. It was responsible for delivering the first locally supported cross border plan for better rail transport and holding three national conventions, bringing together industry, business and politicians with Welsh and UK ministers to put the area on the national stage. It also provided a platform for the area at some of the largest investment conferences in the UK and Europe, hosting the Western Gateway Pavilion at the UK's Real Estate, investment and infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) for the last four years in a row. Cllr Huw Thomas, Leader of Cardiff Council, said: 'It's been great to be a board member of the Western Gateway as we've developed and changed as a partnership. 'As a founding member of the Great Western Cities initiative in 2016 that formed the basis for the Western Gateway, I know our leaders recognise that we need to work together to make decisions which can benefit all of our communities. I look forward to developing how we build on this work to continue delivering on our combined potential.' Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, Leader of Newport Council, said: 'Our area's potential for growth is unmatched. South Wales and Western England are forecast to grow faster than any UK region outside London and strengthen the Union and as local leaders, we are committed to making sure we can deliver on that potential. 'We know business sees no borders and with over 100,000 car journeys across the M4 bridge every day, cross border working will be essential for our area to ensure we can make decisions which capitalise on our potential.' Cllr Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: 'Bristol has been a key member of the Western Gateway Partnership since it's inception and continues to see a huge benefit in working across borders to ensure we capitalise on our combined potential. With world leading expertise in creatives, green energy, high value manufacturing, AI and engineering, we have the potential to be world leading. 'I am confident that the relationships we've built up through our time in the Western Gateway won't stop here. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues across the Severn and in the West of England to ensure we are delivering for the communities we represent.' Most recently, the Western Gateway's independent Severn Estuary Commission revealed its recommendations to a packed room of industry and politicians in Westminster. Their proposals showed that a tidal lagoon scheme in the estuary could deliver up to 2-3% of the UK's total energy supply, adding £12 billion to the UK Economy during the construction phase alone. Their recommendations have backing from Welsh Government, the Crown Estate, the Institution for Civil Engineers alongside environmental groups and local businesses. Recent reports suggest that this work will be taken forward by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and Cardiff Capital Region working together. Sarah Williams-Gardener, Chair of the Western Gateway, said: 'It has been an absolute privilege to chair such a bold and visionary partnership. This collaboration has shown the extraordinary potential of our region when business, industry, and political leaders unite behind a shared ambition. Thanks to the dedication of a truly outstanding team — and the vital support of our board — we've made a real, lasting impact. 'What we've achieved together demonstrates that transformative growth is possible when we look beyond traditional boundaries. I've been genuinely inspired by the readiness of our board members to come together, rising above political lines to focus on what truly matters. To see representatives from five political parties, 28 local authorities and two Governments working side by side — with shared purpose and a deep commitment to the region's future — has been nothing short of remarkable. 'While national support for pan-regional partnerships may be waning, I'm confident the momentum we've built will endure — because the need for collaboration, innovation, and ambition has never been greater.'
