www.neathferret.co.uk Looking for Community Problems Blaenhonddan Edition Contact - News or Comments: news@neathferret.co.uk Weekending 27th September 2008 Version 9 A Case For The Public Services Ombudsman? A matter of concern. A Neath Abbey couple have a grievance and want to air their views. It seems that they are not happy with what has been reported in the local newspaper and perhaps even the coverage on this web site – although they have not said that. Their concern is about a Community Councillor who has been named in the local press, expressing his views in no uncertain terms. The Neath Abbey couple state that their letters to the Clerk of Blaenhonddan Community Council (and copies sent to councillors) about this Councillor are not being considered at council meetings. They are concerned that the freedom of expression akin to freedom of speech is not being upheld by the Community Council. The Clerk of the Council has sought advice from One Voice Wales, in view of the complaint against the said Councillor. One Voice Wales state that it is not for the Council to address personal complaints against an individual Member and that the correct avenue is for the complainant, if they so wish, to make a complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman (PSO). Our view is that a grievance of this nature can be aired and sorted out if the two parties were brought together to express their views and for a third party to come to a conclusion without the need of an official complaint to the PSO. This is the way the Ombudsman would probably work anyway. It would appear that the Neath Abbey couple brought this matter to the Council’s attention in the first place because it was thought that one of their members was behaving in an unreasonable manner by going directly to the press and making statements to them under his official title. It would therefore be reasonable, they thought, to contain the matter virtually at source. The fact that the public are not allowed to speak at council meetings has not helped matters. In addition to this, the item of ‘Any Other Business’ is never included. Maybe the answer, to keep matters localised and self contained, is for the Council to appoint a Select Committee for such matters to be discussed and sorted out. Each party could be heard privately in turn and then together for the outcome. Surely it would be far better to clear the air along these lines rather go to an Ombudsman - and certainly better than having the local press make a big issue over the matter. Why wash dirty clothes in public when there are better means of doing so? Select committees are often formed at Parliamentary level where Members of the Government can explain and account for their actions. It seems a sensible way of dealing with matters and clearing the air in a democratic way. Having said all this, it is understood that a model of procedure is being sought by the Council's Clerk for dealing with councillors who have a complaint made against them or act in an improper manner that is likely to bring the Council into disrepute. Ironically this has been enthusiastically endorsed by the councillor concerned - so we have been told. Visit the One Voice Wales website Public Services Ombudsman website Questions for Dr Dai Lloyd For his forthcoming visit to the Owain Glyndwr Saturday, 4th October, 2008 
Dr Dai Lloyd, the AM member for South West Wales, has been asked to find out if the Welsh Assembly Government is partly funding the eye sore development at Waunceirch. This follows a report in the media that developers building affordable homes get a 20% handout.The answers may be given during his visit to the Owain Glyndwr Community Hall at 10:00am onSaturday 4th October - the first Saturday of the month. It will be an opportunity for Dr Lloyd to meet residents and for them to get answers on matters that concern them - including Carehomes for the elderly. Dr Dai Lloyd - website Welsh Assembly website Janice Dudley's Newletter Better late than never 
Cllr. Dudley's (the County Borough Councillor for Bryncoch South) Newsletter has now been delivered. It seems that the delivery may have been a little late to give news about the Caewern Multi Agency Event and the clean up of the area with the provision of temporary rubbisn skips.The newsletter mentions the concern of residents about the closure of Post Offices - the one at Neath Abbey included. Changing rooms at the Owain Glyndwr playing fields is something that Cllr.Dudley is pursuing and she hopes to have more information about this very shortly. Broadband Coverage at Neath Civic Centre A great facility for visual presentations The committee rooms at the Neath Civic Centre has access to the Internet on their internal closed-loop network, which enables visual presentations to take place as and when required by meetings held there. A newly designed website for a Neighbourhood Watch scheme will be revealed there shortly. The public libraries of Neath Port Talbot Council also have access to the Internet, which can be used by the general public. Sadly this facility is currently not available in Blaenhonddan Coummunity halls where Internet classes could be held for older age groups. A forward looking council could very well consider this with the saving they are likely to make by getting rid of the loss making payphones. It seems that a telephone will still be retained at each hall for emergency outgoing calls and for incoming calls - said to be a legal obligation. The very same telephone line could be used for a Broadband connection to bring the halls into a modern society - and to match community halls in other areas who aleady have this facility. Grant Facility What is not generally known is that grant facilities are available for Broadband connections where there is an educational environment. This is certainly worth investigating because it will make the community halls even more attractive for educational groups. New Year's Honours For Blaenhonddan Residents 
An informal working party will be held at the Owain Glyndwr Community Hall on Monday, 29th September 2008 at 7:30pm, to discuss the awards and how they should work.Cllr Martyn Peters previously said that that the awards were to recognise those who have given service to the local community over past years. It would be a rolling scheme, which would mean that many people would be covered in the future. Community Fact Blaenhonddan Community Council The Council, with its eighteen community councillors, covers an area on the West side of the river Neath, which includes Aberdulais to the North to Neath Abbey in the South. To the West it covers two wards in Bryncoch. It represents approximately 11,000 residents and deals with an annual budget of over £170,000. The Council has a full time clerk, Mrs Mavis Hewett, who deals with administrative matters and can be contacted by email Not everyone is aware that Community Councillors do not get paid - and get no expenses. On the other hand, County Borough Councillers get paid, plus expenses, which they have to declare. Details of what they were paid was reported in the local newspaper on 4.9.08. If you read it, did you observe the members of a certain political party who claimed less than others? Coming soon: How speed retarders (those bumps in the road) affect your car - including a report from a RAC man. Tell your friends about this website - or send them a copy by email, our website address is:- www.neathferret.co.uk Email news and comments to: news@neathferret.co.uk Go to LATEST version Back to version 8 Councillor's website leads the way - an example for others to follow? Back to version 7 £5,000 reward for information Back to version 6 Councillor put in the picture. Back to version 5 PC Councillors scold Neath Ferret Back to Version 4 Neath Port Talbot dentist leaving NHS Back to Version 3 Anger over Neath Guardian Back to version 2 Planning consent for paedophiles? Information for this website is accepted in good faith. It is gathered from various sources and may, or may not, reflect the views of the webmaster. No responsibility is accepted for any errors that may occur from time to time. Sources of information must be made known to the webmaster but will not be divulged to any third party We aim to put the community first and make the residents of Neath aware of injustances and wrong doings. Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret", Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret",Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret",Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret",Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret",Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret",Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret", |