Cardiff gets multi-million pound schools’ investment

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 13, 2011

Around £180m of approved investment has been committed to school buildings in Cardiff in recent years as part of the Council’s aspiration of developing viable and successful schools across the city.

A report detailing the past achievements and the existing financial model in the Schools Organisation Plan will be received by the Executive next week as it considers a future funding strategy in preparation for the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools investment programme.

In tackling issues such as surplus places, school building repair backlogs and the increase in demand for Welsh-medium provision the Council has committed significant investment as part of its vision to offer good quality learning opportunities in order to raise standards of achievement at fit for purpose, local schools for local children. This is illustrated by:

• £7m for 10 new nursery units (five granted and five being progressed) including investment in primary provision also
• £3.9m for three new Welsh-medium primary schools, including investment to Bryn Celyn Primary
• £7.9m for two existing Welsh-medium primary schools transferring to new build premises
• £14m for the award winning state-of-the-art new special school, Ty Gwyn, in Caerau
• £17m for amalgamations of 10 sets of infant and junior schools into all-through primaries (six complete and four underway)
• £6.5m for four new Integrated Children’s Centre facilities (two complete and two underway)
• £12.2m investment at the two existing Welsh-medium secondary schools,  Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr, including new Special Educational Needs (SEN) facilities, technology and teaching blocks as well as upgraded sports facilities
• Planning permission has been submitted for the construction of two new secondary schools – St Teilo’s (which is being relocated to new premises) and the new high school in the east of the city, while there are plans for the refurbishment of the existing St Teilo’s premises to create the city’s third Welsh-medium secondary school. The St Teilo’s plan also includes investment in Cardiff High School and Llanishen High School. The total amount of investment committed to these projects is £63.6m.

The report outlines how the Council has been the body driving investment in Cardiff’s school buildings with 70 per cent of funding to date being provided by the Council and 30 per cent being provided by the Welsh Government. However, for future schemes the majority of funding will need to be provided by the Welsh Government.

The Council is awaiting the outcome of its bid for 21st Century Schools Band A funding to continue its investment programme in schools in Cardiff where it is hoped that investment from the Welsh Government over the entire programme will at least match the investment delivered by the Council. The report also highlights a planned consultation with head-teacher representatives on Cardiff’s School Budget Forum which could enable some £6 million of investment in schools IT to transform the learning environment for the 21st century.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “We have accomplished a great deal over the last few years as part of our vision of creating 21st Century schools across the city. The level of investment in schools is evidence of this Council’s strong commitment to education in the city.

“We are keen to keep the ball rolling and ensure that the excellent progress we have made is continued. 21st Century Schools funding from the Welsh Government will be key to ensuring we can make further progress with our plans to provide all children and young people in the city with the best opportunities to achieve their potential.”

Cardiff Council partner with the Welsh Government and the WLGA to improve Secondary Education

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 24, 2011

A groundbreaking tripartite partnership between Cardiff Council, the Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Government Association has been created to establish a Secondary Achievement Improvement Programme to continue to improve standards of education in the city’s secondary schools.

A recent Estyn report noted that standards of achievement have improved and that elected members and education officers show strong leadership and consistent support for schools. However, the report also highlighted that further improvements were needed, particularly in the secondary phase.

To oversee these improvements, the Council has established an implementation board that will be chaired by the Council’s Chief Executive, Jon House, and include other senior officers as well as representatives from the Welsh Local Government Association, the Welsh Government Department for Education and Skills and headteachers.

Part of the action plan will focus specifically on this partnership initiative to drive-up standards in KS4 and the model could be used as a blueprint for school improvement not only across South East Wales but the rest of the country as well.

Initially, additional support will be provided to secondary schools where there is more challenge and improvement needed to ensure all pupils throughout the city are given the best chances to succeed.  Tailored plans for individual schools will help them further develop strategies to raise aspirations, increase literacy and numeracy and improve attendance and behaviour.

Extra funding will be jointly provided by Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government in the first year to resource the programme which will begin this autumn. Future years of the programme will be funded via the Council and the South East Wales Consortium.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning Cllr Freda Salway said: “Education is a key priority for Cardiff which is why we are determined to ensure that where there is room for improvement that improvement shall be made.

“The establishment of this partnership shows the seriousness with which the Council takes raising standards as this not only increases the educational attainments of our pupils but their life chances as well.”

Leader of Cardiff Council, Cllr Rodney Berman, said: “I am pleased that we have established this groundbreaking partnership which I believe will act as a trailblazer for the rest of the Wales in driving up standards in our schools.

“It is imperative that we do all that we can to ensure that our pupils have the best possible chances to succeed as it is not only in our interest but in the wider interest of Wales that everyone in the education system achieves their full potential.

“By investing in this improvement programme now we will be reaping dividends for the future.”

Cardiff Conference of Secondary Head teachers (CCSH) said that “CCSH members value the additional resources which will be provided by this tripartite initiative to support headteachers and their schools in the continued desire and drive to further raise standards and better the life chances of each individual child.”

Education Minister Leighton Andrews said: “I have been open and honest when discussing the challenges which face education in Wales and have outlined the positive actions I want to see implemented to raise standards and performance across the board.

“Following Estyn’s Inspection of Cardiff it is encouraging that the Local Authority recognises the need for change and they are taking affirmative action to benefit our young people which we fully support.”

Cllr Peter Fox (Monmouthshire), WLGA Education Spokesperson said: “This is an excellent initiative and proves that Cardiff council is serious about raising standards and outcomes for children and young people. Local government in Wales has said that education is its number one priority and in this instance Cardiff is proving that it means to deliver on that promise.”

Berman welcomes action taken by Sergeant over Boundary Commission failures

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 23, 2011

The Leader of Cardiff Council Rodney Berman has welcomed the action taken today by the Welsh Government Minister for Local Government and Communities, Carl Sergeant in response to the independent review, led by Glyn Mathias, into the programme and process of electoral reviews of unitary council areas in Wales that has been underway since 2008.

When giving oral evidence to the Mathias Review, Councillor Berman made clear his view that the only way to restore confidence in the electoral review process was to install new Commissioners to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales. He has therefore welcomed today’s announcement by Carl Sargeant AM that he is terminating the appointment of the three existing Commissioners.

In response to today’s statement in the Senedd by Carl Sargeant AM, Councillor Berman said:

“The Mathias Review paints a picture I recognise that amounts to nothing less than a catalogue of disaster since 2008.  Clearly, fault lies in the first instance with the Welsh Government for not starting the review process quickly enough and for setting the Boundary Commission an impossible timetable to work within. But there was also a failure on behalf of the current Commissioners for accepting that timetable in the first place.

He went on to say that:  “The Mathias Review also shows that the Welsh Government did not give sufficient resources to the Boundary Commission to enable it to carry out this work effectively within the required timeframe.  However, much of the criticism does, I think, need to be directed towards the Commissioners themselves. As the report recognises, they decided on a more radical approach to the local government boundary reviews than their predecessors without first establishing whether such an approach had the support of Welsh Ministers or the Welsh local government community.

“I have also had my own concerns, which I raised at the time, that the Commissioners had completely misunderstood the mathematics that had been set out in the Directions that were provided to them by the former Minister, Brian Gibbons, at the outset of the process. I believe this contributed to mistakes being made and reviews then being delayed, leading to innumerable complaints from councils right across Wales.

“One of the biggest concerns I now have is how much public money has been wasted during the past three years, given that new Commissioners will be appointed by the Welsh Government and, once in place, will effectively have to start the whole boundary review process again from square one.

“The initial deadline for the completion of these electoral reviews in time for the 2012 local elections has clearly been missed, but I am alarmed to also read that the Mathias Review recognises there is now a risk that they might even now not all be completed to the relevant standard in time for the 2016 local elections either.”

Welsh Assembly discount pensioners’ Council Tax by £110 pa

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 22, 2011

Over 3,000 households in Cardiff are set to benefit from an additional reduction in council tax this year.

Up to £110 will automatically be credited to the accounts of pensioners who qualify for the discount.

Cardiff Council’s Pensioner Reduction Scheme is funded by the Welsh Government. There is no need to apply for the reduction or contact the council as the money will be allocated to council tax accounts which meet the correct criteria.

To be eligible for the scheme, the person concerned must be:

*       liable to pay council tax in respect of a chargeable dwelling which was their sole or main residence on June 1, 2011

*       one of the persons liable must have reached the age of 60 or over by June       1, 2011

*       he or she must be in receipt of partial council tax benefit as at June 1, 2011

Where two or more people are jointly liable for council tax, they will be eligible for the reduction if one or all of them meet the criteria.

Following implementation of the scheme, any money remaining from the Welsh Assembly Government’s allocation to Cardiff will be used in conjunction with Age Concern. Both the council and the charity are proactively encouraging take-up of benefits in pensioner households and these funds will contribute to that scheme.

Executive Member for Finance Councillor Mark Stephens said: “I am delighted Cardiff is once again able to work with the Welsh Government to adopt the Pensioner Reduction Scheme. We are committed to giving extra help to the households most in need and the council has worked hard to ensure this is the best and most appropriate discount plan to offer.”

Loan shark who preyed on a vulnerable woman jailed for 18 months

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jun 20, 2011

A loan shark who preyed on a vulnerable woman has been sentenced to 18 months in jail today at Merthyr Crown Court.  He was convicted earlier this month after a week-long trial for 3 counts of unlicensed debt collecting and money lending.

Michael Rees charged the woman extortionate rates of interest on an initial loan of £500, taking up to a £1000 pounds a month including the victim’s benefit payments for the month which he collected by using her post office card.  The initial loan was £500 and she had to pay back £3000.

Rees exploited his victim by encouraging her to take out further loans including one for £1300 where the interest charged was £4800.

Police and Illegal Money Lending Unit (IMLU) officers raided his house in Tonteg and discovered the woman’s post office card as well as £48000 in cash under his bed.  The cash was thought to be profits from his illegal money lending operation and working capital.

Deputy Leader and Portfoilio member for Customer Services of Merthyr Tydfil CBC, Councillor Tony Rogers commented: ““The Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit has again shown their expertise in protecting Merthyr Tydfil residents from the threat of illegal loan sharks preying on the vulnerable. In today’s tough economic climate I would urge consumers to take expert advice from a Credit Union or the Citizens Advice Bureau instead of turning to a loan shark. Those who are currently victims of a loan shark please come forward and seek help and advice.”

Steven Hay, Operational Manager of Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit said: ‘Michael Rees’ actions were despicable and caused great upset and harm to a number of people.  Loan sharks prey on the vulnerable, if anyone needs help or knows anyone who needs help with a loan shark contact the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit on 0300 123 3311 .’

 

Illegal money lenders can range from small time loan sharks to violent and organised criminals operating in Welsh communities. The Unit works throughout Wales investigating and prosecuting illegal money lenders, raising awareness off the problems associated with loan sharks and supporting victims to come forward without fear of reprisals. Since 2007, the unit has supported 113 victims and their work has led to the arrest and prosecution of 41 loans sharks.

Carl Sargeant expressed his concern at the dangers posed by loan sharks and said that he was determined to do all he could to help their victims.

“Loan sharks prey on people in desperate need of financial help” said the Minister. “They offer seemingly helpful solutions to money worries in return for unrealistic and unaffordable repayments. Victims often find they are unable to repay the extortionate interest rates and can face threats of violence unless they pay up. This Unit is doing a fantastic job of cracking down on illegal money lenders. Loan sharks should be warned that we are on their tail. The Welsh Assembly Government fully supports this drive to investigate and prosecute illegal money lenders across Wales.”

The Unit has undertaken a number of investigations leading to arrests, prosecution and often jail.  In 2009, investigations in Cardiff lead to two brothers working as loan sharks in the south Wales area being jailed. The brothers had blackmailed and kidnapped their victim over an outstanding loan payment.

In Rhondda Cynon Taf, a couple who targeted mothers at a school gate were jailed for providing illegal loans to 27 people and using threats and intimidation to extort the repayments.

Carl Sargeant had this message for anyone facing financial troubles.

“Loan sharks are dangerous people to get involved with and I urge anyone thinking of borrowing money from them to stay clear. There are realistic alternatives out there, such as credit unions, and I would encourage anyone in need of financial assistance to use these reliable sources.”

The Welsh Assembly Government supports a number of schemes that help people facing financial difficulties and also assist them in accessing affordable credit. The Housing Debt Helpline provides free telephone based counselling to anyone at risk of losing their home and helps them find long term solutions to their problems. Credit Unions offer affordable, safe and reliable saving accounts and loans and with a credit union in every part of Wales it is easier than ever to become a member.

The Unit has received over £62,000 funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.