Plaid warning over changes to disability allowances
AROUND 7,000 disabled people.........

Fears Treforest could miss out on cycling route investment
WELSH Liberal Democrat councillors..........

Campaigners lose showdown with council over wind farm
CONTROVERSIAL plans for wind farms..........

Shopping centre budget cut from £50m to £6m
PLANS to replace the run-down.........

Other News

CD-Rom to help tackle environmental concerns

ADVICE on how to successfully tackle a range of environmental concerns is contained on a new CD-Rom produced by campaigners Keep Wales Tidy.

Funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, the CD-Rom explains in detail how issues ranging from dog fouling to identity theft can be tackled successfully by individuals and community involvement.
The information and advice provided is based on experience gained from more than 30 years of environmental campaigning.

But to ensure that the advice contained is relevant for the 21st century, officers from Keep Wales Tidy have been working with local authorities across Wales.
The CD-Rom contains information on how to run a successful local campaign, a best practice guide and a successful case study.

Concern over 'roll call' plan for councillors at meetings

COUNCILLORS worry a new system for recording this attendance at meetings might fail to distinguish between with good reasons for absence and those who are just "bunking off".

RCT members were concerned such a "roll call" might misrepresent them to voters, if published without explanation.
Councillors met to discuss the Independent Remuneration Panel's call for "streamlining" members' rates of pay across Wales, which included a potential annual report of councillors' pay and attendance rates.
Independent councillor Stuart Gregory, who represents Abercynon, was concerned the plans would "professionalise" members' role without providing safeguards.

He said: "I remember, a couple of years ago, we had a particular member who attended nearly every meeting but stayed by the door and, come 5.30pm, would be nowhere to be seen.
"Yet, under this system, his attendance record would be spotless.
"Or what if a councillor is ill? How is that going to show?

"If they are going to make this more of a professional-style job, there need to be some form of employee rights too."
Merfyn Rea, the Plaid Cymru member for Pontyclun, said such a system would unfairly punish those who retain outside commitments while in office.

He said: "The council changes meeting dates, sometimes at very late notice, and other times we get a special meeting called, like this one.
"It's not always possible to change your diary at a moment's notice, or even, sometimes, a week in advance."
RCT's chief legal officer Paul Lucas assured members any new system would distinguish between legitimate and unacceptable absences.

Mayor Robert Smith said: "People have various reasons for not attending a meeting, and some of those are acceptable.
"But, I think, 'I wanted to watch Eastenders' is not one of them."
Council leader Coun Russell Roberts proposed that RCT does not submit a formal response to the IRP's report, as a group.

"I would suggest we don't need to make any comment about it, at this stage," he said.
"I think we should leave it to individual councillors. I haven't, myself, but I know many have.
"But we seem to have all groups in agreement that we should accept the findings of the independent panel. It's pleasing to see unanimity like that in the chamber."
Coun Roberts' motion was passed without dissent

Taffs Well park and ride gets extra spaces

A MAJOR investment programme to extend a busy car park for 54 more vehicles has been completed.
The popular Park and Ride facility at Taffs Well train station has been extended thanks to £250,000 from the Welsh Assembly.

Change system to end rip-offs'

A LANDLADY owed £1,750 in unpaid rent from her tenants thinks the benefits system should be changed to stop more people from being ripped off.

Nia Davies, a nurse at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, was left distraught and in debt when she realised that the tenants who had been living in her Manor Chase house, in Beddau, had absconded.
Andrew New, 32, and Tina Anderson, 22, who had been living in the property with their one year-old daughter, Katelynn, since February, had only paid rent for two and half months during the six months they lived there.
The Observer managed to contact the pair and put all the complaints to Mr New including the unpaid rent, broken washbasin and holes in walls which he admitted.

He said that Miss Davies would have to take them to a small claims court to get her rent money and he claimed: "We didn't pay our rent purely because of the fact that she wouldn't do anything to the house.

"I want her to admit that the house wasn't up to standard."
Landlady Nia, 26, says she felt sick when she visited her house on Saturday to discover that her tenants - who appeared in the Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer in May after they claimed they found a screw in a packet of mince meat from Tesco - had damaged her property and moved out.
"Because of them I'm up to my eyeballs in debt. They always had excuses for not paying their rent, but one time I visited the house I saw they had ordered Domino's pizzas. They're just slobs," she said.
Nia, of Llantwit Fardre, feels that the unemployed couple will be able to do the same thing to someone else, because they are entitled to housing benefit.

In April 2008 the Government changed the way landlords got their rent from tenants claiming housing benefit. Rather than paying the landlords money directly, local authorities introduced the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), which gives tenants the responsibility of paying their rent.

But Nia believes that this new system is leaving landlords out of pocket because some tenants are abusing the responsibility they have been given by spending their rent money on themselves.
"I have had texts from them saying they are laughing about what they have done to me," she said.
"What makes me sick is that now they will now get further benefits, which means they'll be allowed to rip someone else off."

A police spokeswoman confirmed police are investigating complaints of criminal damage and non-payment of rent at a property in Manor Chase.

Outsourcing plan sparks job fears at RCT Homes stores

JOBS could be in the balance at a housing association, with workers being asked to re-train or take voluntary redundancy.

RCT Homes is transferring its stores business to a private company, Jasonic - who have bases in Taffs Well, Merthyr Tydfil and a new location soon to be opened in the Rhondda.
The not-for-profit housing association took control of the council's housing stock after a referendum in late 2006, where 58 percent of tenants who voted favoured the transfer.

One RCT Homes employee, who contacted the Observer but asked not to be identified, said he and his colleagues had received letters about the up-coming changes, adding that he felt the association was breaking a promise by potentially letting them go.
"A year and a half ago, when it went over from the council to RCT Homes, they promised us our jobs were secure, and asked us to go round to tenants and help persuade them to vote for the new system," he said, adding that the workforce felt "terrible" about the possible redundancies.

"What makes it worse is that, in January, they had this big jamboree down in Cardiff.
"That cost £30,000, and they called it Going Forward Together, which sounds bad now.
"At the moment we just want to understand how they can employ hundreds of contractors and do things like that while they're doing this to their workforce."

A spokesman for RCT Homes said the association carried out more than 600 repairs in tenants' homes every week, and the materials needed for this used to be kept in stores in Aberaman.
But, to cut down travelling time, repairs staff have been issued with hand-held computers enabling them to order materials from Jasonic so the materials will be ready when the staff arrive.

"Staff in RCT Homes's stores in Aberaman were told of the proposed changes more than six months ago and managers and trade union officials have had extensive meetings with the 18 staff affected to discuss their preferences from the options available," the spokesman added.
"Fifteen alternative posts have already been identified and stores staff have been offered the opportunity to express interest in retraining for these.

"In addition, negotiations with Jasonic may create new posts to service their contract with RCT Homes, which would further increase the options available to staff.

"Only once individuals have stated their preferences will we know the impact of the change, but we are hopeful we can accommodate everyone's preferences."

The police force 'must pull together during recession', says chairman

CRIME may rise during the recession, chairman of South Wales Police Authority Russell Roberts has warned.
In its annual report he said in the last year there were 6,771 fewer crimes - a drop of 5.5%.
"This is down to the tremendous effort put in by all police staff and officers," said Coun Roberts. "They are all to be thanked and congratulated for their impressive work.
"However, we cannot be complacent and during difficult financial times, some types of crimes might increase.
"It is during these times that the force must pull together to ensure crime does not increase and we can maintain our vision of Keeping South Wales Safe."
Barbara Wilding retires as chief constable at the end of the year.

Jobs under threat at aircraft plant

JOBS are under threat at an aviation plant after British Airways announced they may axe 32 employees.
British Airways Avionics Engineering - which employs 260 people at Gwaun Elai, Talbot Green - said harsh trading conditions have forced them to look at cost saving measures.

A British Airways statement said: "We have reduced capacity and grounded aircraft, which has led to a reduced workload at our avionics plant in Wales.

"We are facing the harshest trading conditions our industry has ever known and we are looking at every part of our business to identify where we can make cost savings.
"As a result, British Airways Avionics Engineering has informed the necessary authorities of the potential for up to 32 redundancies.

"A 30-day consultation process has now begun.
"We remain committed to providing good quality, skilled jobs in Wales, and employ more than 1,000 people at our three Welsh facilities."
The other South Wales plants are at Cardiff International Airport and in Blackwood.

One employee at Talbot Green contacted the Observer but didn't wish to be named.
He said: "They told us they plan to cut around 12-15% of the workforce.
"They just said that due to the fact there's less work coming in 32 people will lose their jobs.
"The mood at the moment isn't very good at all.
"Everybody's dreading the worst and doesn't know what's going to happen.
"We are just waiting for some news now and have been told there should be some in the next couple of weeks."

Groundwork's supporting clients

GROUNDWORK Wales, the environmental regeneration organisation, has confirmed that it is the only body in Wales able to accredit the Green Dragon Environmental Standard.

The Green Dragon Environmental Standard recognises effective environmental management and is available to companies across organisations across Wales.

Since its previous partner in Green Dragon, Arena Network, went into administration, Groundwork has continued to support clients right across Wales with Green Dragon appraisals, audits and certification.
Ian McIntosh, Groundwork Wales Director, said: "Groundwork has successfully worked across Wales supporting companies and organisations including local authorities, community groups and private sector businesses to achieve Green Dragon certification.

"After a period of change, Green Dragon is now solely owned by Groundwork. We want to ensure that the needs of all Welsh companies are met, by providing the Standard to current and new clients."
The Green Dragon Standard offers an environmental management system relevant to the specific and individual needs of companies and organisations, providing financial savings, compliance with legislation, and increased competitiveness.

Home Heat Helpline offers free advice on staying warm this winter

VULNERABLE people who want advice on how they can save money by reducing their energy bills this winter, are being urged to take advantage of a free telephone helpline.

Latest figures from National Energy Action Cymru suggest that about 320,000 Welsh households presently suffer from fuel poverty.

This is why the freephone Home Heat Helpline is launching its Winter Starts Now initiative, which enables people who are worried about their energy bills to take advantage of the free grants for home insulation, reduced or social tariffs and other help available from their energy supplier.
Pensioners, low income families and disabled people can get free, practical help to make sure they're prepared for the winter.

The service also allows worried householders or their relatives, friends and carers to make enquiries online at www.homeheathelpline.org.uk

The helpline, which has received more than 100,000 calls since launching in 2005, is supported by Age Concern Cymru/Help the Aged in Wales, Consumer Focus Wales, Care and Repair Cymru, and Community Housing Cymru.
Contact the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 336699 to take advantage of the free advice on office.




One muddy leap for mankind

MORE than £2,000 was raised for charity in Ynysybwl when competitors tackled a Gladiators style assault course.
Six teams braved the wet conditions to take on the course and raise money for the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust and Ynysybwl's youth rugby team, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary.

And organiser Rachel Bedgood is now hoping to attract more people to the course which she has set up at Mynachdy Farm.
She said: "We want local people to be involved in the facilities and utilise what we've got up here.
"Other than the weather the day was a major success and we are very pleased with how it went.
The day consisted of six teams competing in several army-style commando tasks.
Home favourites Ynysybwl Rugby Club were crowned overall champions, with Llantrisant Motocross Club claming second place.

Ministers visit Rhondda Breast Friends

A CANCER support group covering Rhondda Cynon Taff has been given the seal of approval by the Assembly Government.

Health Minister Edwina Hart and Leighton Andrews, the Deputy Minister for Regeneration, visited Rhondda Breast Friends to get an overview of the work being carried out and the projects being promoted.
Chairwoman Diane Raybould explained the group was launched following the tragic death of her daughter, Helen, from breast cancer, and that the once-small group had expanded to help many others.

The women have campaigned to make cancer a greater priority and improve local support services. They felt patients and carers needed a greater voice in the county.

In less than three-and-a-half years, the RCT Cancer Focus Group was formed, bringing local groups, charities and statutory bodies together to improve patient and carer-centred cancer care.
During the visit, Ms Hart was treated to a sneak peak of an upcoming project - a fun 2010 calendar promoting Cancer Awareness.

As she previewed a photo of member Barbara Powell sitting in a bath full of pink ducks with the caption, "Don't duck out of screening". Diane explained the team wanted to convey a serious message in a light-hearted way.

The health minister also heard from group members, who explained how they had channelled their own experiences into making the group a success, creating an official website and pink T-shirts that are now synonymous with the group.
A spokesman from Macmillan Cancer Support also spoke about RBF's pioneering Library Project, which will spread their message at 29 libraries and four mobile libraries after its launch in September.

Mrs Raybould said: "We hope the minister's visit and recognition of our work will raise the profile of patients, carers, groups, and charities to become equal partners with the statutory sector in improving cancer care. We hope we can work together to attain the excellent cancer standards promoted by our Welsh Assembly Government."

Brynnau primary school awarded second green flag

WHEN it comes to green issues, Brynnau Primary children are at the top of their game.
And just to show how good the pupils are at supporting environmental initiatives, they've just been awarded their second Eco Schools Green Flag.

The news comes just weeks after headteacher Vanessa McCarthy won the Community Recycling Champion at Rhondda Cynon Taf council's first Love Where You Live Awards.
The school has been working hard to improve its eco-credentials for many years now and began its eco-schools journey in 2006.

Brynnau is now one of 10 schools to achieve a second Green Flag in the Rhondda Cynon Taff area.
To gain this award the school had to show the progress it had made at reducing its impact on the environment.
This involved the whole school and wider community in its activities and understanding about the global issues affecting our world today.

Eco-schools assessors noted the excellent development of the school grounds for both wildlife and people, which included a community garden.
The school has worked hard to develop close links with the local community and has come up with inventive projects such as the plastic bottle greenhouse.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council's cabinet member for education Eudine Hanagan said: "The work undertaken by Brynnau Primary School over the years is exemplary.
"They are certainly fully deserving of being awarded their second Eco Schools Green Flag.
"Congratulations to all of the children, staff and supporters for ensuring that such a prestigious title is bestowed upon them.
"Their commitment to tackling local environmental issues help to make a global impact and I'm sure they will continue on this path of success."

The range of environmental issues which the scheme covers includes energy efficiency, water use, school grounds, litter, healthy lifestyles, transport and waste minimisation.
For more information about eco-schools contact 01443 494700 or e-mail SustainableDevelopment@rctcbc.gov.uk

Rhondda Cynon Taff libraries launch reading quest for children

YOUNG bookworms who explore the power of their imaginations this summer will be awarded with a prize.
Quest Seekers, the 11th annual reading challenge run by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's libraries service, was launched with a fun-filled day of games and crafts at Pontypridd Library.

This included children completing four tasks to become knights or princesses of the Library Realm before they joined the Quest Seeker Challenge.

The tasks including knocking down skittles, planting a kiss on the princess or prince by pinning cardboard lips to a portrait, a treasure hunt and finally, by taking a gold coin from the sleeping giant's treasure chest.
The 40 children who are taking part in the challenge have the opportunity to discover the joy of reading and nurture a lifelong love of books. They can also find out about the invaluable advice and guidance offered by librarians.
To take part in this reading challenge RCT library members have to register as a Quest Seeker. Their task is to read six books throughout the summer holidays. A free gift will be awarded every time they borrow a book.
Quest Seekers who complete the challenge get a certificate, medal and a model of Drax the Dragon, as well as the chance to win a prize draw.

The council's cabinet member for culture and recreation, Councillor Robert Bevan, said: "Last year more than 1,000 children in Rhondda Cynon Taff took part in the reading challenge, enjoying the chance to discover new books and authors, while also discovering more about what the library has to offer them.

"This year promises to be bigger and better than ever and I hope even more children throughout the county borough will take advantage of this excellent opportunity to enjoy a series of fantastic books throughout the summer holidays.
"No matter what the weather, they can still enjoy a good book."

For more information on Rhondda Cynon Taf Library Service log on to www.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk/libraries.
Membership of all Rhondda Cynon Taff's libraries is free and everyone living or working within the county borough is welcome to join.

Cinderella' jobs are vital

ONE of Wales's leading academics says the loss of jobs for manual workers is a devastating blow to communities.
Professor Kevin Morgan, of Cardiff University, said without a role in the economy for those at the lower end of the jobs market, Wales could forget climbing up the UK prosperity league.
Rhigos-born Professor Morgan said: "It is vital for the survival of working-class communities that there are job opportunities for unskilled and semi-skilled manual workers.
"Wales, and the valleys, have high levels of economic inactivity as it is.
"The removal of job opportunities in what are sometimes referred to as 'Cinderella' industries can have a devastating impact.
"From the point of view of local authorities with tighter and tighter budgets, it maybe makes some kind of sense to make caretakers and park keepers redundant.
"But I am very concerned about the disappearance of these kind of jobs - they are absolutely vital."



End child poverty - report

HOMEGROWN ideas to reduce child poverty in Rhondda Cynon Taff are being considered by councillors after a special investigation.
The Child Poverty Scrutiny Working Group, chaired by councillor Roger Turner from Brynna, has been working for the past two years on ways the problem can be tackled.
And 20 recommendations have now been made to the council's cabinet, as well as two further recommendations to Central Government.
The report pointed out statistics showed RCT has high levels of child poverty outstripped only by Merthyr and Blaenau Gwent.
In December 2008 there were 12,900 children living in workless households in RCT which also has a high percentage on low wages and a high level of debt.
The report recommends that child poverty should be at the core of all decision making.
It calls for secondary schools to teach financial competence and urges the council to appoint a child poverty coordinator.
And youngsters and parents should be consulted on school meals and the cost of school uniforms, it suggested.
He pointed out the average £395 weekly wage locally was well below the Welsh and English averages with many communities blighted by deprivation.
Coun Turner said: "We have a duty to do our utmost to assist in the fight against poverty in all its forms."

Group calls for council to quit

DISGRUNTLED neighbours have called for the resignation of most of their community council in a row over a riverside walk.

The Pontyclun Action Group say seven of the 10 members of Pontyclun Community Council should go for repeatedly failing to represent public interests.
Group chairman Brendan O'Reilly said the council was not representing and protecting the views of the people.
Dr O'Reilly told the Observer: "This land would make a very attractive walkway alongside the River Ely and has two points at which it could be accessed from the main road and from Millfield if the council did minimal works.
"It's a nature and conservation area with brown trout, salmon and otters, 15 species of bird and two types of bats."

With seven neighbours, he set up PAG to fight local issues and the group has collected a petition of more than 400 names protesting against the council's plan to sell the land in Brynsadler.
But PCC say the land - bought for £15,000 three-and-a-half years ago by the previous Labour-run council - cannot be accessed.

Councillor Merfyn Rea said: "We've been to three solicitors and they have all told us the same, the land can't be used unless it's for agricultural purposes.
"It's just a strip 500 yards long and about three foot wide.
"There's no way anyone can ever get on it so we may as well sell it and use the money for something more beneficial.

"It's not even in the County Borough Council's local development plan.
"The land was bought by the Labour council without being properly investigated and now we can't do anything with it."
"The land is a strip running down the River Ely at Millfield, Riverside Meadow."

However, PAG member Cecil Walker, of Fairview Close, said: "They are planning to sell it to a developer who owns the land adjacent on either side.
"If this goes ahead we think more houses will be built, just extending the village further.
"They said the original idea was to make a riverside walk but that's never been done."
"We've set this group up mainly because of that but, once it's resolved, we also want to bring up parking problems."

The group tabled a motion of no confidence in the community council at a meeting last week.
The motion was handed to council clerk Greg Lewis. It stated: "The land at Brynsadler Mill is an important environmental asset.
"This has been repeatedly made known to the community council.
"This appears to have been repeatedly ignored by the councillors.
"We want and expect that in view of this expression of no confidence that these councillors will resign forthwith."