Press Releases - Rhondda Cynon Taf - Councillors' Groups

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• Latest News - 05/11/04 - Plaid Cymru Condemns Civil Service Job Cuts in Rhondda Cynon Taf

• 22/09/04 - Plaid Cymru Welcomes Start on New Porth Police Station

• 16/09/04 - Schools Need the Three New "R"s Warns Plaid Cymru

• 20/08/04 - Labour Leader Wrong About Council Budget

• 09/07/04 - New Labour Threatens European Regeneration Projects

• 17/03/04 - Plaid Cymru President Supports Plans to Improve the Parc & Dare Theatre

• 16/03/04 - And the most improved Council in Wales is...Plaid Cymru led Rhondda Cynon Taf

• 09/03/04 - RCT Lib Dems respond to challenge from Deputy Council Leader

• 08/03/04 - Plaid Cymru condems Lib Dems mad plans for Royal Mint

• 08/03/04 - Labour AM’s Council Tax Spin Will Not Wash

Commenting on the job cuts, Councillor Pauline Jarman, Leader of the Plaid Cymru Councillors Group, said: 

"The Rhondda Cynon Taf Plaid Cymru Councillors are supporting the PCS union in their fight to stop New Labour sacking thousands of Welsh civil servants. 

New Labour's cost cutting plans will have a terrible impact in Rhondda Cynon Taf. This area is heavily dependant on public sector jobs and the services that they provide. We have already seen public services slashed by the Labour Party, with post offices closing across the borough and Job Centres like Ferndale being shut. We could see another 500 jobs going over the next few years. 45 jobs are at immediate risk at the Aberdare Job Centre Plus, with another 145 benefit processing jobs to go in Pontypridd, Porth and Tonypandy.

Under New Labour we are seeing the steady loss of quality jobs in the valleys and the private sector is unable to plug the gap; closures like the Chubb and United Polymers factories in Rhondda Fach are only making matters worse. 

New Labour should listen to the union and stop this plan immediately. It should be made clear to Gordon Brown that he must not solve his spending problems by sacking civil servants and cutting services." 

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NOTE FOR EDITORS: 

The PCS union has been informed by the Dept of Work & Pensions that the following jobs are to go: 
Aberdare Job Centre Plus - 45 job losses
Pontypridd benefit processing - 50 job losses
Porth benefit processing - 25 job losses
Tonypandy benefit processing - 70 job losses

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For more information about this press release contact Councillor Pauline Jarman: 01443 473241

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Plaid Cymru Welcomes Start on New Porth Police Station - 22/09/04   back   return to top of page

Plaid Cymru Councillor Julie Williams is delighted to report that work has started on Porth’s new police station on Porth Street.   

Commenting on the good news, Councillor Julie Williams said: 

“I am delighted that work has started on the new police station. This is a very important development for Porth and I am proud that it was a Plaid Cymru run Council that saw this project get off the ground. 

Thanks to Plaid Cymru’s sensible polices and our willingness to work in partnership with other agencies, Porth is changing for the better. Plaid Cymru’s leadership of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council saw several vital projects get started; the Porth Lower Rhondda Fach Relief Road, the Porth Plaza training and business centre, the new nursing home on the old hospital site, the regeneration of the town centre and of course the new police station.

The return of a proper police station to Porth is long overdue. The residents of Porth want a strong police presence in the town and this new police station will do just that. This project means safer streets and new high quality jobs for our town centre.

I would particularly like to thank like to thank Police Superintendent Brian Greaves for all his hard work managing this project.” 

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For more information about this press release contact: Councillor Julie Williams on 01443 682428

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"A large number of teachers are coming up for retirement. At the same time, there is a chronic shortage of teaching posts for graduates in Wales. This year, 70% of our newly trained teachers had to take jobs outside Wales or switch careers because the New Labour Assembly Government can't manage teacher recruitment properly. The average age of a teacher is now 50. We need a balance in our schools between experienced teachers and newly qualified teachers. Teachers with long service who want to retire should be allowed to go. This will create vacancies for newly qualified teachers. It makes no sense for Welsh tax payers to pay for teachers to be trained if we don't then get the benefit of their skills." 

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For more information about this press release contact
Councillor Pauline Jarman: 01443 473241

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The District Auditor has confirmed that the Rhondda Cynon Taf Council budget for 2004/05 set by Plaid Cymru, is balanced and legal. In a letter to Councillor Pauline Jarman, the leader of the Plaid Cymru councillors group, Mr Chris Koehli says: 

“Based on my current understanding of the position I am content that, although the Council has set a challenging budget for 2004/2005, it is nonetheless a balanced one. I am also content that the Group Director – Corporate Services has put in place a proper arrangements for monitoring the achievement of the budget.”  

Councillor Jarman made a formal complaint to the District Auditor when the New Labour Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council incorrectly claimed that the 2004/05 budget set by Plaid Cymru was £15 million in the red.    

Commenting on District Auditor’s letter, Councillor Jarman said: 

“New Labour has been proved wrong yet again. There is no £15 million hole in the Council’s budget, there never was. Plaid Cymru handed the new administration a properly balanced and legal budget with £8 million left in the bank. 

I am very concerned that New Labour is now planning to break the budget. They made election promises that they cannot afford and they know that they are incapable of controlling council spending. You only have to look at their record before 1999 to see that. 

The future is bleak for Rhondda Cynon Taf residents. When New Labour blows a hole in the budget, it will be the residents who will have pay higher council taxes.” 

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NOTES:

1. At the Council meeting held on July 1^st the New Labour Leader repeated the incorrect claim that the 2004/05 budget set by Plaid Cymru was £15 million in the red. New Labour then voted down a proposal by Councillor Jarman that a Treasurer’s Report (151 Report) should be ordered to investigate his claims.  

2. The New Labour Leader of the Council, Russell Roberts, oversaw the financial collapse of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council when he was last in power in 1999.

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For more information about this press release contact Councillor Pauline Jarman: 01443 473241

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Plaid Cymru’s Rhondda Cynon Taf Opposition Leader, Councillor Pauline Jarman, has warned that vital European investment is being put at risk by New Labour. 

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has £3.5 million of Local Regeneration Funding (LRF) lined up for projects, but arbitrary changes to the funding rules made by the New Labour minister mean that the money would be lost for good.

Commenting on the crisis, Councillor Jarman said:

“Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has an excellent record at organising European investment, but new projects could now be cancelled.

These are complex projects, often involving several partners. They can take several years to get off the ground. Until recently, the Assembly sensibly allowed councils the flexibility to carry forward the funding from year to year to ensure that a successful project could get started.

The minister has suddenly decided to stop this arrangement and is trying to claw back the unspent funding. New Labour has moved the goal posts. What has changed? Rhodri Morgan’s Government has run out of funds and sees the LRF money as easy pickings.

New Labour must not be allowed to get away with this scam. Vital regeneration projects in Rhondda Cynon Taf must not be cancelled just to plug the hole in New Labour’s Assembly budget.”

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For more information about this press release contact Councillor Pauline Jarman: 01443 473241

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Plaid Cymru President Supports Plans to Improve the Parc & Dare Theatre - 17/03/04   back   return to top of page 

Dafydd Iwan, the President of Plaid Cymru is supporting plans new facilities at an enlarged Parc and Dare Theatre in Treorchy. 

Mr Iwan visited the Theatre during a tour of some of the Plaid Cymru led Council’s most successful projects. The Council has just received the commendation of “Highly Commended” at the prestigious Local Government Chronicle awards and is now regarded as the most improved council in Wales. 

Plaid Cymru led Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is proposing that extra facilities for the theatre should be built on an adjacent vacant plot of land. The £5 million project would make the Park and Dare Theatre the best-equipped arts centre in the Valleys. 

Photo: (left to right) Geoff Cripps - Artistic Director for Cultural Services, Enid Bowen - Theatre Manager, Councillor Rebecca Winter, Dafydd Iwan and Councillor Syd Morgan,

Commenting his visit to the Park & Dare Mr Iwan said: 

“The Park and Dare has a tremendous reputation throughout Wales but like a lot of old theatres, it now needs investment.  

I am very impressed by the plans that I have seen. When this project is complete the Park and Dare Theatre will have some of the best performance facilities in Wales and will be a centre of excellence for the Valleys. ”

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AND THE MOST IMPROVED COUNCIL IN WALES IS...PLAID CYMRU LED RHONDDA CYNON TAF! - 16/03/04  back   return to top of page 

Plaid Cymru led Rhondda Cynon Taf is now clearly the MOST IMPROVED COUNCIL IN WALES. 

The Council received the commendation of “HIGHLY COMMENDED” at last night’s prestigious Local Government Chronicle “Oscar” awards in London. 

Rhondda Cynon Taf is the only Welsh Council to have ever been nominated for the award of “Most Improved Council in the UK”. The Plaid Cymru led Valleys Council is the second largest in Wales and was short-listed with just four other English Councils. 

The nomination was made in recognition of the tremendous improvements that have been made to the county borough’s services since 1999, when Plaid Cymru won control of the Council from a discredited and inept Labour administration. 

Commenting on the commendation, Councillor Pauline Jarman, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council said: 

“The HIGHLY COMMENDED tribute from the judges, and the simple fact that we were the only Welsh Council to ever make the short list for this award shows that Plaid Cymru led Rhondda Cynon Taf is the MOST IMPROVED COUNCIL IN WALES. 

I am very proud of this council’s achievements and I would like to pay tribute to the hard work and commitment of Council staff. They have done wonders at turning this council around and delivering the high quality services that our residents expect and deserve. 

Plaid Cymru is good at local government. We are delivering service improvements and stable council taxes. Unlike the Labour Party, we believe in allowing staff to get on with job that they want to do and with provide them with the environment and tools to get the job done. The results are clear to see. 

In 1999, under Labour, Rhondda Cynon Taf wasn’t fit to win a wooden spoon. They weren’t even in the race. In 2004 with Plaid Cymru, Rhondda Cynon Taf has just scooped a medal and done Wales proud.”

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For more information about this press release contact Councillor Pauline Jarman: 01443 473 241 & 01443 424005

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RCT Liberal Democrats have responded to the challenge from Deputy Council Leader Jon Huish as to the manifesto proposals announced by Charles Kennedy to look at privatisation of some public assets including the Royal Mint at Llantrisant.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Karen Roberts said

" The proposals are far from 'crazy' and part of a much wider review of public sector assets.  Cllr Huish needs to take a closer look at the situation before he launches into knee - jerk reactions and petty political name-calling.

Far from providing the 'safest' jobs in the area The Royal Mint has over the past few years undergone huge and almost constant reorganisations that have led to whole scale shedding of jobs - I know, my father spent the best part of twenty years working there.  They are taking on a stream of workers on a casual basis, but there is certainly no job security there for anyone.

Any business - whether privately or publicly owned - needs to be run at a profit whilst providing decent working conditions. I would have thought the Cabinet Member for Economic Development would have understood this better than most.

This is a National issue, not merely a local one.  We all have a collective, corporate responsibility which should allow us to look at the bigger picture."

Councillor Mike Powell commented that he was pleased to see Liberal Democrat policies were the subject of such discussion locally. 

"It's nice to know that Cllr Huish is paying such close attention to a 'handful' of Liberal Democrats, and is so eager to have our views on the subject.  We are obviously making the desired impression in RCT.  If Cllr Huish wishes to discuss this or any other policies any further we would be more than pleased to do so."


In a press release Jon Huish stated that: 

"This crazy proposal confirms that the Liberal Democrats have lurched to the right in an attempt to steal votes from the Tories. They have obviously given up any hope of being taken seriously in the Valleys.

The Royal Mint is a flagship company in Rhondda Cynon Taf. It provides some of the safest and best paid jobs in the area.

Privatisation would be a disaster. Any new owner would immediately seek to increase profits by cutting jobs and slashing conditions of employment. Ultimately there is a very real risk that a new owner would cut costs by moving the operation overseas to a low wage economy like China.

The handful of remaining local Liberal Democrats need to answer some hard questions. Where they consulted about this crazy plan? Do they approve of it? And what are they going to do to stop it?"

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Plaid Cymru Condemns Lib Dems Mad Plans for Royal Mint - 08/03/04   back   return to top of page 

Councillor Jonathan Huish, Cabinet Member responsible for Economic Development for Rhondda Cynon Taf has condemned the Liberal Democrat manifesto proposal to privatise the Royal Mint at Llantrisant. 

The announcement was made by the Liberal Democrat Leader, Charles Kennedy, during a recent visit to Wales. 

Commenting of the plan, Councillor Huish said: 

“This crazy proposal confirms that the Liberal Democrats have lurched to the right in an attempt to steal votes from the Tories. They have obviously given up any hope of being taken seriously in the Valleys. 

The Royal Mint is a flagship company in Rhondda Cynon Taf. It provides some of the safest and best paid jobs in the area. 

Privatisation would be a disaster. Any new owner would immediately seek to increase profits by cutting jobs and slashing conditions of employment. Ultimately there is a very real risk that a new owner would cut costs by moving the operation overseas to a low wage economy like China. 

The handful of remaining local Liberal Democrats need to answer some hard questions. Where they consulted about this crazy plan? Do they approve of it? And what are they going to do to stop it?”

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For more information about this press release contact Councillor Jonathan Huish: 01443 224994.

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The Leader of Plaid Cymru-run Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has revealed that Rhondda’s Labour AM has lost confidence in local Labour Councillors. Commenting on the AM’s attempts to cover up the failings of the Labour Councillor Group she said: 

“Mr Andrews clearly has no confidence in the leadership of the Labour Councillors Group. Labour now prefers to use its AMs and MPs to regularly attack the Council in the run up to June’s elections. In fact Mr Andrews now spends most of his time in the chamber attacking the successes of Plaid Cymru led Rhondda Cynon Taf Council. The gossip at the Assembly is that he is becoming a bore on the subject. If Mr Andrews now sees himself as the spokesman for the Labour Councillors Group he should start by apologising for their infantile rejection of both the low council tax rise and the extra spending which Plaid Cymru has allocated for education in Rhondda Cynon Taf.” 

Councillor Jarman went on to slam Mr Andrews for deliberately misleading residents about Council Tax increases in this week’s Rhondda Leader. Councillor Pauline Jarman said: 

“Plaid Cymru has set yet another low council tax rise of under 5% for 2004/05.  This will be the 5^th successive year that Plaid Cymru will have successfully pegged increases at or below the 5% mark.   

Mr Andrews cannot stand the fact that Plaid Cymru has delivered consistently low Council Tax increases, continued investment in frontline services and maintained sound financial management. His own discredited Labour councillors could only deliver service cuts and financial chaos for long suffering residents.  

Plaid Cymru’s long term, year on year commitment to stable, low Council Tax increases for Rhonda Cynon Taf, contrasts starkly with the ‘boom or bust’ strategy of some Labour Council’s who have mercilessly increased Council Tax over recent years in order to set a low increase in election year. Plaid Cymru has refused to adopt such a reckless policy.  Unlike Labour, we know that valleys residents will not be hoodwinked by such under handed tactics.” 

Commenting on the comparisons Mr Andrews makes between Plaid Cymru run Rhondda Cynon Taf and Labour run Cardiff, Councillor Jarman said: 

 “I am more than happy to compare Plaid Cymru run Rhondda Cynon Taf to Russell Goodway’s Cardiff.  The hard facts speak for themselves. In the past 5 years, Council Tax for a Band D property in Labour controlled Cardiff has increased by or 34%.  During the same period Band D Council Tax in Plaid Cymru controlled Rhondda Cynon Taf has increased by 20%. When compared to Labour run Valleys Councils, band D Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Tax payers are saving £100 a year.”

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For more information about this press release contact Councillor Pauline Jarman: 01443 473 241. 

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