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Council prosecutes Ammanford building and landscaping business owner

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Council prosecutes Ammanford building and landscaping business owner

The Director of Sibley’s Solutions Ltd in Ammanford has been given a suspended prison sentence following an investigation by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards team.  

James Sibley pleaded guilty to offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 at Swansea Crown Court for five separate instances where he agreed to carry out building/landscaping work, for which he received a total of £34,290.77 from his victims.  

Where work was carried out it was of very poor quality and in some cases very little or no work was carried out despite the victims paying for these services. 

The Court sentenced Sibley to: 

  • 16 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months  
  • 100 hours un-paid work  
  • £12,000 compensation to be distributed between the five victims.  
  • Disqualified from being a Company Director for 4 years 

Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards said:

James Sibley falsely claimed to be a professional tradesman and I’m pleased that our Trading Standards team have achieved a positive result for his victims.When hiring someone to do work in your home always  be vigilant, do research before entering into any agreement and to be cautious when paying money upfront.I would encourage anyone looking for a tradesperson to do work in their home to use The Buy With Confidence scheme to find a Trading Standards approved trader. All businesses listed with Buy With Confidence have passed a number of checks so you can be reassured that you are appointing a trustworthy business to carry out the work”.  

When choosing a trader to do work on your home follow these tips: 

  • Obtain at least three quotes to compare prices  
  • Don’t pay in full until the work is completed and you are happy with the standard of finish  
  • Obtain the details of the work in writing  
  • Check with the Council if you are unsure whether the work will need planning permission/building regulations 
  • Take your time. Don’t let anyone rush you into making a decision 
  • If you agree to a contract in your home you may be entitled to a 14 day cooling off period  

Visit the Council’s website to view Trading Standards approved traders.

Applications now open for Council’s graduate programme

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Applications now open for Council’s graduate programme

Carmarthenshire County Council is looking for motivated university leavers to join the successful graduate programme in 2023.  

Building on the huge success of our previous graduate programme, this two-year scheme offers a range of exciting opportunities which combine on-the-job experience, in-house development, and a post graduate qualification to provide an excellent first step towards a successful career.  

The opportunities available include: 

  • Graduate Software Developer  
  • Graduate Trainee Performance and Business 
  • Graduate Building Surveyor x 2 
  • Graduate Performance & Information Officer 
  • Graduate Trainee (Waste Strategy and Policy) 
  • Graduate Trainee Forward Planning Officer 
  • Graduate Civil Engineer / Transportation Planner 
  • Graduate Trainee Service Development & Improvement 

Visit our Hwbs in Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford on Wednesday 15th February from 10am-3pm for information on our graduate vacancies. 

Cllr Philip Hughes, Cabinet Member for Organisation and Workforce commented:

Our successful graduate programme offers exciting opportunities for university leavers to gain valuable experience and continue their education within an ever-changing, dynamic, and forward-thinking organisation. Open to all ages, we are looking for motivated individuals to join our programme and help us to shape and deliver better public services in Carmarthenshire”.  

Cabinet to consider Ysgol y Cribarth language consultation report

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Cabinet to consider Ysgol y Cribarth language consultation report

1 March 2023

Image of Ysgol y Cribarth

Welsh-medium education could be introduced at a south Powys primary school if a recommendation to Cabinet is approved, the county council has said.

Powys County Council is proposing to move Ysgol y Cribarth in Abercraf along the language continuum by establishing a Welsh-medium stream at the school.

The school is currently an English-medium school providing education for pupils aged 4 to 11.

Since September 2021, Ysgol y Cribarth has operated a Welsh-medium Foundation Phase class on a pilot basis as part of a scheme that has been supported by the council.

The proposed change would see a Welsh-medium stream introduced at Ysgol y Cribarth from September 2023, operating alongside the school’s English-medium stream.

The proposal will help the council deliver one of the aims in its Strategy for Transforming Education, which is to improve access to Welsh-medium provision across all key stages. The strategy was updated in July 2022.

The council carried out a seven-week consultation between December 2022 and February 2023 and the findings of the consultation report will be considered by Cabinet on Tuesday, March 7.

Cabinet will also be asked to continue with the process to move Ysgol y Cribarth along the language continuum by establishing a Welsh-medium stream at the school.

If given the go-ahead, the council will publish a statutory notice formally proposing the change. It would then be required to consider another report to conclude the process.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “I would like to thank all those who took part in the consultation exercise for this proposal. After considering all the consultation responses, the recommendation that I will be putting forward to Cabinet is to continue with the proposal by publishing the statutory notice formally proposing the change.

“This change would ensure that all pupils in the area would have the opportunity to choose this provision, which would give them the opportunity to become fluent in Welsh and English and therefore contributing to the Welsh Government’s aspiration to achieve a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

“It would also support the council’s aims and aspirations as outlined in the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) for 2022-32 and the Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys.”

To find out more about Welsh-medium education in Powys, visit Destination bilingual.

New members needed for the Powys Local Access Forum

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New members needed for the Powys Local Access Forum

28 February 2023

Image of local access forum members enjoying a walk

Powys County Council is inviting residents to put themselves forward to become a member of the Powys Local Access Forum (LAF) and play an important role in influencing the councils work looking after public rights of way and greenspace in the county.

If you have an interest in countryside access – whether that’s in getting out and about, land management or nature conservation – your experience and understanding can help the council to shape its countryside access work. Powys has an important network of footpaths and rights of way which everyone should be able to access easily.

Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys explains what is involved. “The Local Access Forum is a statutory group that advises Powys County Council, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government and other partners and organisations, in matters related to open-air recreation in the county’s countryside.

“There are up to 15 members of the forum at any one time, made up from all walks of life, and the whole group is reappointed every three years. The current members are nearing the end of their term and the council is looking for enthusiastic people who would like to make a difference and be a part of the Local Access Forum for the next three years, starting in April 2023. It is important to have a diverse group of interested citizens who are able to capture the needs of everyone wanting to access the countryside.”

The forum meets between two and four times a year and attendance can be in person or virtual Over the last three years, the Local Access Forum has helped the council shape its annual work programme, supported by a variety of grants and taken an advisory role in a number of countryside access projects, including:

  • The Canals, Communities and Wellbeing project, due for completion in summer 2023 and funded through the Welsh Government Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being (ENRaW) grant.
  • A Shared Prosperity funded project, to enhance signage on public rights of way with volunteer support, running until March 2025.

Current Local Access Forum member, Kath Shaw, would encourage interested individuals to volunteer to become a member from April 2023. “As a keen hill walker and farmer, I felt it was important to have a voice on the Powys Local Access Forum. Over the last three years I have gained a good insight into the work Powys County Council does to maintain our footpaths and byways.

“I feel that Local Access Forums are a good way for interested parties to share their views and concerns about access to the countryside.”

If you would like to receive an application pack, please contact the Secretary to the Local Access Forum:

Sian Barnes
Powys County Council
Gwalia Offices, Ithon Road, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. LD1 6AA
01597 827500
[email protected]

More information can also be found online: Local Access Forum

The deadline for applications is 30 March 2023.

Cradoc C.P. School and Judicial Review

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Cradoc C.P. School and Judicial Review

28 February 2023

Image of a primary school classroom

A legal challenge over a decision to close a small school has been unsuccessful, Powys County Council has said.

The High Court considered a Judicial Review application to challenge the decision to close Cradoc C.P. School, which was made on Friday, 11 March, 2022.

The permission to apply for judicial review was refused by Mr Justice Lane.

The decision to close Cradoc C.P. School is part of the council’s Transforming Education plans for the Brecon catchment area, which would see a new primary school created by merging Cradoc with Mount Streets Infants School, Mount Street Junior School.

At the time of the decision, the target date for establishing the new primary school, which would operate on the three existing school sites was September 2023. However, a 12-month delay was agreed last December as the courts had still not considered the application for judicial review.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: Although this will be disappointing news for the Cradoc school community, the judgement shows that the Council followed the correct procedures that were in line with the Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code when the original decision was reached.

“The council will now continue the implementation work to ensure that the new school on the three existing school sites is open from September 2024.”

Social Worker Recruitment Events – Powys County Council

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Social Worker Recruitment Events – Powys County Council

28 February 2023

Powys County Council are hosting a series of recruitment events for qualified social workers to find out about the job opportunities across children and adult services.

The recruitment events will take place from 4pm until 7pm at:

  • The Holiday Inn, Shrewsbury on Tuesday 21st March (SY2 6LG)
  • Lion Quays, Oswestry on Monday 27th March (SY11 3EN)
  • The Bear, Crickhowell on Tuesday 28th March (NP8 1BW)
  • Nant Ddu Lodge, Cwm Taf on Wednesday 29th March (CF48 2HY)

It will be a great opportunity to meet some of our senior and team managers to find out about our current social work job opportunities.

There are some great benefits of working for Powys County Council, including manageable caseloads, flexible working, dedicated business support, relocation package of up to £8,000, and a market supplement for some specific roles.

We offer flexible working opportunities, so you will be able to work from a location that suits you and your business needs. This could be from home, our offices, or community buildings near where you live. Find out more at a recruitment event near you!

For more information contact: [email protected]

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Powys positive parenting roadshow marks a year since the landmark children’s rights legislation in Wales

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Powys positive parenting roadshow marks a year since the landmark children’s rights legislation in Wales

27 February 2023

Parents spending time with their children

It is almost a year since physical punishment, like smacking, became illegal in Wales. It was a historic moment for children’s rights as children received the same legal protection from common assault as adults for the first time.

As part of the ongoing support for parents, three Parenting. Give it time roadshows will take place across Wales in March. The second roadshow in the series will visit Tesco Newtown on Thursday 9 March from 9.30am to 12.30pm. 

Parenting isn’t always easy; the Welsh Government’s Parenting. Give it time campaign wants to help by providing positive parenting information, advice and support for parents with children up to the age of 18. The roadshows will offer informal public drop-in sessions at supermarkets, providing practical advice on positive parenting techniques and an opportunity to find out more about the new law on physical punishment. 

Reresentatives from local authority parenting and family support services and Parenting: Give it time will be on hand to talk all things parenting.

Sue Layton, Chair of the National Parenting and Family Support Strategic Leads Network, which supports practitioners to deliver quality family/parenting support services, said, “Now the law is in force in Wales there has never been a better time to find out about positive ways to manage children’s behaviour.  Raising children is incredibly rewarding but can also be challenging at times!

“For those who are unable to attend, the Parenting. Give it time website has lots of information and resources to help and support parents or contact your local authority direct to find out what parenting support is available locally.”

Cllr Susan McNicholas, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Future Generations said, “We’re delighted the roadshow will be visiting Powys. We look forward to talking to families about Parenting. Give it time and what it has to offer. We want to help share our knowledge and look forward to attending the roadshow in Newtown to meet parents and children face-to-face and answer any questions they may have.”

Wiggle & Giggle sessions – Powys County Council

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Wiggle & Giggle sessions – Powys County Council

27 February 2023

Toddler with music

Sessions are being held at two Powys libraries to help boost child communication skills, the county council has said.

Funded by a grant from the Child Development Fund, Newtown and Ystradgynlais libraries are hosting free Wiggle & Giggle sessions for parents, grandparents or carers to attend with their babies & toddlers, filled with rhymes, stories and songs.

The sessions in Newtown library are held every Friday from 2-3pm and the sessions in Ystradgynlais library are held every Monday from 10:30 – 11:30am and will both run until the end of March.

Cllr David Selby, Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said, “These sessions are a perfect opportunity for families to bond with their babies and toddlers and to help boost their skills.

“By using rhythmic language and repetition, children can learn how words are formed, supporting the early stages of language development. These sessions can also be of value to families who’s second language is English.

“I would like to encourage families in Newtown, Ystradgynlais and further afield, to come along and join us for these sessions, or alternatively, to take a listen to our podcasts when they are available. They will no doubt be fun for all.”

Powys Library Service will also be creating podcasts for individual rhymes. Many parents and families are no longer familiar with nursery rhymes and songs, so being able to go back to the podcasts at any time will help to boost confidence among parents.

Booking is not required. For more information, please contact Newtown or Ystradgynlais library.

Newsroom

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Newsroom

Specialist help, support and advice to help with the cost of living and other matters is available at each of our customer service Hwbs in Ammanford, Llanelli and Carmarthen. Hwb advisers will be available every day, along with housing officers and employability advisers, to provide tailored packages of support to residents. Visitors to the Hwbs can also access information on the services available to support them as the cost of living increases. For further help, support and information visit our Cost of Living Advice page.

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