Council writes off more than £500,000 in unpaid debts

MERTHYR Tydfil Council has written off more than half a million pounds in business rate debts and unpaid council tax.
The figures, revealed through a Freedom of Information request by Assembly Member for South East Wales Lindsay Whittle, show that in the last three years, the authority has forked out £514,609.
More than £350,000 has been paid to cover business rates debts and £161,592 for unpaid council tax.“These are significant figures and, sadly, they are a reflection of the tough economic times many businesses in the Merthyr borough and other areas are living through,” the Plaid Cymru AM said.
“I know from travelling around my region that many independent retailers, in particular, are struggling against a background of a reduction in people’s spending power and competition from the big national chains.
“So it is inevitable, unfortunately, that some businesses will fail and be unable to meet their bills.
“I know from my experience on a local authority that councils only write off debts which are deemed to be unrecoverable and it is necessary to do so to meet financial regulations.”
Mr Whittle found that the £161,592 council tax payout by the authority covered more than 600 taxpayers in the borough and that 87 businesses had their debts written off.
“Writing off debts, of course, does not preclude local authorities from chasing all debts owing if they are aware of changes in circumstances,” Mr Whittle said.
In November, Coffee Grandee, in Beacons Place, became the latest business to shut up shop – citing high business rates as a “major factor” in their decision.
Richard Phillips, owner of A2 clothing in Merthyr, has branded the town centre rates “disgraceful” and believes a lot of businesses have closed as a result.
“We have been to a solicitor to try to see if we can lower the rates,” the 37-year-old said.
“The rates are disgraceful.”
A spokeswoman for Merthyr Tydfil Council, said: “Prior to write off, every effort is made to recover all debts in full
.“Only after exhausting all recovery procedures will any debt be considered for write off.”

Wreckedlastnight.com launched to answer teenagers’ alcohol concerns

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to ensure teenagers have the confidence and information they need to make safe decisions about alcohol consumption.
Wreckedlastnight.com is the first initiative of its kind as it is based on the alcohol-related concerns of hundreds of 14 to 16year-olds, who were asked to say honestly why they chose to drink alcohol, or not, and the reasons behind their decisions.Most of the teenagers who chose not to drink alcohol did so because of a risk of harm to their health or personal safety and for fear of causing embarrassment to themselves or others, as they had heard stories about drunken nights from others.
Using this information, partner agencies across Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent joined forces with Ethos Creative to help launch the project.
Wreckedlastnight.com includes messages delivered via 3D cinema adverts, with free 3D glasses being handed out to young people across the region.
There will also be bus and billboard adverts to raise awareness and generate interest.
Local Government and Communities Minister, Carl Sargeant, said: “This campaign spells out the dangers of underage drinking and reinforces the Welsh Government’s substance misuse strategy.
“Preventing harm is a key action in our strategy and this includes helping children, young people and adults.”
Merthyr Rocks festival secured for two years after First Minister approves funding
A MUSICAL extravaganza in Merthyr Tydfil has been handed a financial boost which has secured its future for the next two years.
First Minister Carwyn Jones has agreed to provide up to £85,000 to support Merthyr Rock, which takes place in the grounds of Cyfarthfa Park.

The Express reported how the festival was once again set to return to the borough on Friday, August 31, to Sunday, September 2, following the success of last year’s event.
And music lovers across the country will be delighted at the latest news, which organisers believe will turn the festival into an annual occasion.
Last year’s inaugural event saw thousands of people turn out as The Blackout took to the stage to headline the festival and were later joined by the likes of Ocean Colour Scene, Goldie Lookin’ Chain and Funeral for a Friend.
Rhodri Jones, Merthyr Rock director, said: “We’re really excited to be running Merthyr Rock again in 2012.
“The reaction we got from audiences in 2011 was incredible.”
Karl Griffiths, lead singer of Merthyr band, The Raging Bulls, said: “It’s about time that the Welsh Government backed ventures such as this.
“With this cash injection, Merthyr Rock can only build on what it achieved last year and get even better.
“I, for one, am looking forward to this event.
“Whether myself and my band of merry men are a part of it or not, I will be there showing my support and rocking out.
“People came from all over the country to Merthyr Rock last year and the event was a roaring success.
“It really put Merthyr Tydfil on the map. This year, no doubt its going to get even bigger as word of mouth spreads.
“This is great news for Merthyr as a town and even greater news for Merthyr bands, bands like mine for example.”
Huw Lewis, Assembly Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, also welcomed the funding.
He said: “I’m delighted that the Welsh Labour government has been able to support Merthyr Rock over the next two years.
“Last year’s Merthyr Rock festival was hugely popular with a mix of headline bands and local groups.
“Thanks to the support from the Welsh Labour government this festival can continue and confirms Merthyr Tydfil as an increasingly popular destination for first class cultural events.”
Organisers are offering fans the chance to let them know what bands they want to see at this year’s festival by contacting them at the website at www.merthyrrock.com
Eagerly-anticipated headline acts are set to be announced in March

Author hopes to cast a spell with fantasy novel

WIZARDRY, magic and mythological creatures are all commonplace in two of the most popular series of books ever to have graced the shelves.
And a Merthyr Tydfil man hopes that he too can follow in the footsteps of world famous J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien with the publication of his debut fantasy novel.
Richard Phillips took inspiration from his three children and let his imagination run wild, penning his first book, The Legend of Finndragon's Curse.
Set in and under the Welsh mountains, the adventure follows Emma, Megan, Scott and their pet dog Bones, who embark on a perilous expedition to find their father who has been missing for nearly a year.
In the process, they become embroiled in an ancient Welsh legend dating back fifteen hundred years and come face to face with the evil wizard Finndragon and his dastardly demons.
“The Legend of Finndragon’s Curse is an original fantasy adventure for older children, teens and adults alike,” the 46-year-old said.
“It is set firmly in a fictional town, not unlike Merthyr, in the foothills of the Brecon Beacon National Park.
“Prepare yourself for an incredible journey back through the ages of time.
“To a time where wizardry and magic were common place and to a place where strange mythological creatures roamed the Earth.”
Billed as a “rollercoaster of emotions that will make you laugh out loud”, the characters set about fulfilling an ancient scroll in their quest to kill the evil Finndragon.
“If you loved Lord of the Rings and couldn’t get enough of Harry Potter, then this is definitely for you,” Mr Phillips said.
The qualified nurse, who works for the Welsh Blood Service, hopes that his fantasy adventure will be published in paperback in the near future
“I’m very hopeful that I may soon have my first novel published by Dinefwr Publishers. “They have agreed pending final editorial approval.
“I have also written a couple of books for young children aged three to seven and hope to get these published some time in the future too.”
The Legend of Finndragon's Curse, written under the pen name of Richie Earl, is available to download now on Kindle, priced £1.16

Merthyr Council in top 10% for carbon footprint work

RHONDDA Cynon Taf Council has been named the second best local authority in Wales – and in the UK’s top 10% – for its strong commitment to the environment.
Schools, leisure centres and office buildings have benefited from extensive work to reduce energy usage and their carbon footprint as part of the Carbon Reduction Commitment scheme (CRC), which is in its first year and has just released its first performance tables.
It is hoped the performance of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council in the first year of the scheme will stand it in good stead for the future when it will be required by the Government to pay a “Carbon Tax” based on its energy usage.
The table will be published every year, with the council’s performance assessed annually.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is one of more than 2,100 private and public sector organisations from across the UK that participate in the CRC, which will see mandatory annual reporting of energy usage, spend on energy and measures put in place to reduce its carbon footprint.
Based on this, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has been named second-best of all 17 Welsh local authorities currently participating in CRC and in the top 10% of all organisations involved across the UK, including hospitals, private businesses and universities.
The authority says its success is down to innovative energy-saving measures – from special meters to technology that reduces energy usage at swimming pools.
Coun Anthony Christopher, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Frontline Services, explained: “In an organisation the size of Rhondda Cynon Taf, it is no mean feat to monitor and manage the energy usage generated across a huge range of council services and buildings – including more than 100 schools, as well as all of our leisure centres, day centres, customer care centres and office accommodation.
“The fact that we can manage and reduce energy usage on such a huge scale is testament to the hard work and focus of specialist council staff, who are determined to ensure that we are as efficient as we can be by installing state of the art energy saving initiatives.
“We have to use less energy to reduce spending and we ensure every penny we save is used and re-invested to continue and improve this performance.”
“As of 2012, we will be required to purchase from the Government a Carbon Allowance for each tonne of Carbon Dioxide we emit. Allowances cost £12 a tonne, which means we could be spending up to £435,000 a year on this allowance, unless we keep up the work to reduce carbon emissions.”

Students start work on health park art project

ART students from Merthyr Tydfil College have started work on a project to mark the building of a new health park in the borough.
The group of youngsters have been given eight weeks to produce a piece of artwork which will be displayed in the children’s waiting area of the new facilities.
The £34m park, funded by the Welsh Government, is being built on land next to the A470 in Merthyr and is set for completion later this year.
Building contractors Laing O’Rourke are currently building the park and are also responsible for organising the art project.
The project started last December when the students received a presentation about the park and a strict brief to work to.
And last week students got the chance to visit the park at Georgetown Plateau to see the building and get a feel for the area where the artwork will be displayed.
Jason Williams, Head of Art and Design at Merthyr College, said: “This is a great opportunity for the art students of Merthyr College to take part in a project that helps develop their art skills in a vocational context.”
The wall which has been identified to display the painting measures approximately 8 sq m and has been split into a grid.
Stephen Robbins, Laing O’Rourke’s Community Liaison Manager, said: “We have engaged with both Cwm Taf Health Board and Merthyr College to engineer the project. Everyone is really enthusiastic about the project and I am really looking forward to seeing the painting progress.”

New project teaches children to cycle safely

A MULTI-PARTNERSHIP project has helped to set up bike clubs in five primary schools in Merthyr Tydfil.
Communities First Town and Park joined forces with Merthyr Tydfil Council to help set up Transition Bike Clubs in Heolgerrig Community School, Caedraw Primary School, Twynyrodyn Community Primary School, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Santes Tudful and Cyfarthfa Junior School.
The clubs have been set up to encourage children aged 10 to 11 to take part in cycling and develop their skills to make them aware about cycling safely and healthy living.
The initiative has received £9,184 from Bike Club Wales to help the project and a launch event was held at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre.
Rhonda Braithwaite, communities first development officer, said: “Communities First Town and Park and Community Focused Schools would like to thank the Mayor Paul Brown, Acting Chair of Town and Park Communities First, Fred Bray, Melanie Davies from Bike Club Wales, Ian Richardson from CTC and Nerys Hann and Steve Kelleher from Asda.
“I’d also like to thank Halfords for providing prizes for the Obstacle Course and Bike Safety competitions, the teachers and children from each of the schools and all the partners involved for making this project possible.”

Merthyr Families’ fears for care homes

THE leader of Merthyr Tydfil Council would not give any assurances to allay fears that two care homes in the borough will undergo a change in services.
In last week’s Express we reported how fears were growing for Glendere and Park View care homes after letters were sent out to staff with possible future options, including the transfer of residents from their current facilities.
Council officials insist the letters related to a “review of services” at the homes and categorically deny the facilities are set to close.
But family and friends of the residents – young adults and older people with complex learning and physical disabilities – launched a petition which has since gained more than 4,000 signatures.
Brian Walkley, of Bradley Gardens, Merthyr, posed a direct question to leader of the authority, Jeff Edwards, at a meeting of Merthyr Tydfil Council last Wednesday.
Mr Walkley said: “The leader of the council has on many occasions stated that he listens and acts on the views of the community.
“Taking into account the overwhelming views of the people of Merthyr Tydfil as evidenced by the petition, will the leader demonstrate real commitment to the residents of Park View and Glendere, who as he knows are the most vulnerable members of the community, and give his personal assurances that both homes will remain in council ownership with the excellent care provided by the existing council employees?”
In response, Coun Edwards said the care homes were “subject to the decision of the council in time.”
Brendan Toomey, leader of the Labour Group on Merthyr Tydfil Council, said that relatives deserved a more direct answer.
“Mr Walkley and the other relatives of residents were looking for reassurances from the leader of the council who always says that it is the for Independent group to make those decisions,” he said.
“As leader of the group he should have taken responsibility and given reassurances to families that the future of both care homes were secure.
“Unfortunately he decided to hide behind the council despite being in a position as leader of the Independent-led authority where he could have given personal reassurances, given the sensitive nature of the issue.”
Gareth Jones, Cabinet Member for Community Services at the council, said that the review of services at the care homes was “simply a process we [the authority] are going through.”
“I can categorically say that there is absolutely no intention of closing the homes concerned,” he said.
“We are simply reviewing the service to look at ways of improving its delivery where possible.
“Options have been discussed with relatives and care staff, advantages and disadvantages noted and this includes the status quo – the ‘do nothing’ option.
“One option not mentioned by Councillor Toomey, I won’t guess as to why, centres around giving the residents Tenant Status which would increase funding opportunities for them and families to help further overcome some very profound disabilities.”

Merthyr Tydfil council and South Wales Police team up to target illegally parked cars on sale

ILLEGALLY parked cars displaying for sale signs are the target of a new campaign.
Merthyr Tydfil council and South Wales Police have joined forces to launch Operation Panama, which aims to crack down on vehicles illegally parked on roads throughout the borough.
The authority’s highways team will conduct routine inspections with the police, responding to complaints to tackle problem areas.
South Wales Police will deal with the offenders by issuing fixed penalty notices and in some cases, removing the vehicles from the highway at the owner’s expense.
Tony Rogers, pictured, deputy leader of Merthyr Tydfil council, welcomed the initiative.
“As an authority, we welcome Operation Panama as a joint initiative with South Wales Police and our highways team, to tackle the problem of private cars for sale being parked illegally on the highway, causing issues such as obstruction for the highway user,” he said.
“Local hotspot areas will be initially targeted, but all areas will be regularly monitored on an ongoing basis.
“Should problems in these areas be detected, the appropriate action will be taken to deal with the owners of the offending vehicles.”
Chief Inspector Stephen Jones, of South Wales Police, said that they will be adopting a tough approach during the campaign.
“We must ensure our roads are safe for people to use, and will take robust action with anyone who parks their vehicle irresponsibly, endangering other road users,” he said.
“We know where the hotspots are, and we will monitor those areas through targeted patrols.”
The operation will be an ongoing initiative with regular inspections and actions taken throughout the borough.
For further information about Operation Panama, call Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s Highways Customer Care on 01685 724939