Working Together

I have been sent this picture from a police officer tonight. This is from a couple of weeks ago and is covered in the local paper today and also ties in with a letter that I wrote a couple of weeks ago praising this event.

Basically, our young people looked after our more senior residents on a Saturday afternoon and it was a great success. I left the event proud to have been part of it and to be honest the picture does not do the attendance proud, there were about 35senior residents and about 15 younger residents, having said that the smiles say it all.

Cometh the Frost, Cometh the Fuel Rise

Well the first hard frost has arrived along with an email informing me that my Gas and Electric bills are to rise by 7%. The next thing I will expect in the post is a very special offer, asking me to sign up for a freeze in price rises for the next 2 years!!! (only to see a decrease in energy prices in the following Spring and a penalty clause of about £70 for getting out of the contract that was suppose to save me money)




Prices are going up but we want to help manage your energy costs

Dear Mr Priestley,

We’re committed to providing you with competitive prices. Over the last year, we’ve kept our energy prices as low as possible and were the first major energy supplier to drop our gas prices in both 2009 and 2010. We have also been on average the cheapest major supplier for standard electricity for 75 out of the last 77 weeks*.

The cost of supplying and delivering gas and electricity to your home has been going up and has considerably increased in the last few months. This is an issue facing all energy suppliers. Unfortunately, as a result, we have to increase our prices. Your new prices come into effect on 10 December 2010. Learn more about your new prices

Find out more ways we can help you manage your energy costs

Thank you for being a customer. You are important to us


YEAH RIGHT!! and what have your profits been during this very difficult time


Mike

Future of Policing in north Wales

I received this email from north Wales Police today:



We are writing to update you on our progress in managing the impact of changing finances, and to reassure you that we will continue to provide the highest possible level of policing service to North Wales.



North Wales Police Force and North Wales Police Authority have jointly produced a briefing document. This document is available from our website: www.nwalespa.org. The intention is to clarify some of the challenges we know we are facing, to be open about issues which are yet to be resolved and to initiate a dialogue between ourselves and our communities. Policing and the safety of North Wales is our reason for being, and we want to reassure you that we will do everything possible to minimize the impact of these financial cuts on the services we deliver, but the reality of the situation means that there will be some significant changes in the near future.



We want to be open, honest and transparent with our communities, our staff and Officers. We already know that we are facing unprecedented financial cuts, and we want to ensure that we become more efficient where possible, but the scale of the challenge goes beyond efficiency savings as we know them. Over the next few years we will have to:

· change the way we deliver services,

· review all of our activities,

· prioritise some activities and stop other activities

· reduce our workforce

· reduce our non-staff costs (such as vehicles, premises, information and communications technology)



We are here to serve and protect North Wales, and we want North Wales to aid us in managing the changes that we must face, by providing constructive feedback, by asking questions of us, and being open about your concerns. Although our financial situation has changed our priority has not, we still want to ensure that you have trust and confidence in North Wales Police.



The Government is expected to announce funding allocations on 8 December and further information will be provided on our website as soon as possible after that. We will be sending an update to everyone receiving this email direct from us – if it has been forwarded to you and you want to receive updates, please email us at consultation@north-wales.police.uk or you can write to us at Future of Policing Consultation, Glan y Don, Colwyn Bay, Conwy LL29 8AW.



The Police Authority will be finalising the budget for policing in North Wales on 11 February. We will be agreeing policing priorities for the year ahead at the same time. We will take account of all views received by 27 January (contact details as set out above), but we prefer earlier responses as this will enable us to incorporate views into our planning – particularly in relation to a new district structure.





We look forward to hearing from you.







Mark Polin

Prif Gwnstabl / Chief Constable
Alun Lewis

Cadeirydd / Chair
Tal Michael

Prif Weithredwr / Chief Executive


Dear All

Rydym yn ysgrifennu atoch i’ch diweddaru ynghylch y cynnydd rydym yn ei wneud o ran rheoli effaith y sefyllfa ariannol, ac i dawelu eich meddwl y byddwn yn parhau i ddarparu’r gwasanaeth plismona o’r radd flaenaf i Ogledd Cymru.



Mae Heddlu Gogledd Cymru ac Awdurdod Heddlu Gogledd Cymru wedi cynhyrchu dogfen friffio ar y cyd. Mae’r ddogfen hon ar gael ar ein gwefan: www.nwalespa.org. Y bwriad ydi egluro beth yw rhai o’r heriau yr ydym yn eu hwynebu, i fod yn agored ynghylch materion sydd heb gael eu datrys eto ac i gychwyn deialog rhyngom a’n cymunedau. Plismona a diogelwch Gogledd Cymru yw’r rheswm dros ein bodolaeth, ac rydym eisiau tawelu eich meddwl ein bod yn gwneud popeth y gallwn i leihau effaith y toriadau ariannol hyn ar y gwasanaethau rydym yn eu darparu; ond mae realiti’r sefyllfa yn golygu y bydd yna rai newidiadau sylweddol yn y dyfodol agos.





Rydym eisiau bod yn agored, yn onest ac yn dryloyw gyda’n cymunedau, ein staff a’n Swyddogion. Rydym eisoes yn gwybod ein bod yn wynebu toriadau ariannol heb eu tebyg, ac rydym eisiau sicrhau ein bod yn datblygu i fod yn fwy effeithiol lle’n bosibl, ond mae graddfa’r her yn mynd y tu hwnt i wneud arbedion effeithiolrwydd yn unig. Dros y blynyddoedd nesaf bydd rhaid i ni:

· newid y ffordd yr ydym yn darparu gwasanaethau,

· adolygu ein holl weithgareddau,

· blaenoriaethu rhai gweithgareddau a rhoi’r gorau i weithgareddau eraill

· lleihau ein gweithlu

· lleihau costau nad ydynt yn rhai staff (megis cerbydau modur, adeiladau, technoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebiadau)



Rydym yma i wasanaethu ac amddiffyn Gogledd Cymru, ac rydym eisiau i Ogledd Cymru ein helpu ni i reoli’r newidiadau y bydd rhaid i ni eu hwynebu, drwy ddarparu adborth adeiladol, drwy ofyn cwestiynau, a thrwy fod yn agored ynghylch eich pryderon. Er bod ein sefyllfa ariannol wedi newid nid ydyw ein blaenoriaeth, rydym eisiau parhau i sicrhau bod gennych hyder a ffydd yn Heddlu Gogledd Cymru.



Disgwylir i’r Llywodraeth gyhoeddi’r dyraniadau ariannol ar 8 Rhagfyr a bydd rhagor o wybodaeth ar gael ar ein gwefan cyn gynted â phosib ar ôl hynny. Byddwn yn anfon diweddariad at bawb fydd yn derbyn yr e-bost hwn yn uniongyrchol gennym ni - os yw’r e-bost hwn wedi cael ei anfon ymlaen atoch a’ch bod chi eisiau derbyn diweddariadau, anfonwch e-bost atom consultation@north-wales.police.uk neu fe allwch ysgrifennu atom i Ymgynghoriad Dyfodol Plismona, Glan y Don, Bae Colwyn, Conwy LL29 8AW.



Bydd Awdurdod yr Heddlu yn dod i benderfyniad terfynol ynghylch cyllideb blismona Gogledd Cymru ar 11 Chwefror. Byddwn yn cytuno beth fydd y blaenoriaethau plismona ar gyfer y flwyddyn i ddod ar yr un pryd. Byddwn yn ystyried yr holl sylwadau y byddwn wedi eu cael erbyn 27 Ionawr (manylion cyswllt fel yr uchod), ond byddai’n well gennym dderbyn ymatebion ymhell cyn hynny gan y byddai hynny’n ein galluogi ni i gynnwys y safbwyntiau hynny yn ein cynlluniau – yn arbennig mewn perthynas â strwythur newydd yr ardaloedd.



Edrychwn ymlaen at glywed oddi wrthych.


We are writing to update you on our progress in managing the impact of changing finances, and to reassure you that we will continue to provide the highest possible level of policing service to North Wales.



North Wales Police Force and North Wales Police Authority have jointly produced a briefing document. This document is available from our website: www.nwalespa.org. The intention is to clarify some of the challenges we know we are facing, to be open about issues which are yet to be resolved and to initiate a dialogue between ourselves and our communities. Policing and the safety of North Wales is our reason for being, and we want to reassure you that we will do everything possible to minimize the impact of these financial cuts on the services we deliver, but the reality of the situation means that there will be some significant changes in the near future.



We want to be open, honest and transparent with our communities, our staff and Officers. We already know that we are facing unprecedented financial cuts, and we want to ensure that we become more efficient where possible, but the scale of the challenge goes beyond efficiency savings as we know them. Over the next few years we will have to:

· change the way we deliver services,

· review all of our activities,

· prioritise some activities and stop other activities

· reduce our workforce

· reduce our non-staff costs (such as vehicles, premises, information and communications technology)



We are here to serve and protect North Wales, and we want North Wales to aid us in managing the changes that we must face, by providing constructive feedback, by asking questions of us, and being open about your concerns. Although our financial situation has changed our priority has not, we still want to ensure that you have trust and confidence in North Wales Police.



The Government is expected to announce funding allocations on 8 December and further information will be provided on our website as soon as possible after that. We will be sending an update to everyone receiving this email direct from us – if it has been forwarded to you and you want to receive updates, please email us at consultation@north-wales.police.uk or you can write to us at Future of Policing Consultation, Glan y Don, Colwyn Bay, Conwy LL29 8AW.



The Police Authority will be finalising the budget for policing in North Wales on 11 February. We will be agreeing policing priorities for the year ahead at the same time. We will take account of all views received by 27 January (contact details as set out above), but we prefer earlier responses as this will enable us to incorporate views into our planning – particularly in relation to a new district structure.





We look forward to hearing from you.







Mark Polin

Prif Gwnstabl / Chief Constable
Alun Lewis

Cadeirydd / Chair
Tal Michael

Prif Weithredwr / Chief Executive






Dear All

Rydym yn ysgrifennu atoch i’ch diweddaru ynghylch y cynnydd rydym yn ei wneud o ran rheoli effaith y sefyllfa ariannol, ac i dawelu eich meddwl y byddwn yn parhau i ddarparu’r gwasanaeth plismona o’r radd flaenaf i Ogledd Cymru.



Mae Heddlu Gogledd Cymru ac Awdurdod Heddlu Gogledd Cymru wedi cynhyrchu dogfen friffio ar y cyd. Mae’r ddogfen hon ar gael ar ein gwefan: www.nwalespa.org. Y bwriad ydi egluro beth yw rhai o’r heriau yr ydym yn eu hwynebu, i fod yn agored ynghylch materion sydd heb gael eu datrys eto ac i gychwyn deialog rhyngom a’n cymunedau. Plismona a diogelwch Gogledd Cymru yw’r rheswm dros ein bodolaeth, ac rydym eisiau tawelu eich meddwl ein bod yn gwneud popeth y gallwn i leihau effaith y toriadau ariannol hyn ar y gwasanaethau rydym yn eu darparu; ond mae realiti’r sefyllfa yn golygu y bydd yna rai newidiadau sylweddol yn y dyfodol agos.





Rydym eisiau bod yn agored, yn onest ac yn dryloyw gyda’n cymunedau, ein staff a’n Swyddogion. Rydym eisoes yn gwybod ein bod yn wynebu toriadau ariannol heb eu tebyg, ac rydym eisiau sicrhau ein bod yn datblygu i fod yn fwy effeithiol lle’n bosibl, ond mae graddfa’r her yn mynd y tu hwnt i wneud arbedion effeithiolrwydd yn unig. Dros y blynyddoedd nesaf bydd rhaid i ni:

· newid y ffordd yr ydym yn darparu gwasanaethau,

· adolygu ein holl weithgareddau,

· blaenoriaethu rhai gweithgareddau a rhoi’r gorau i weithgareddau eraill

· lleihau ein gweithlu

· lleihau costau nad ydynt yn rhai staff (megis cerbydau modur, adeiladau, technoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebiadau)



Rydym yma i wasanaethu ac amddiffyn Gogledd Cymru, ac rydym eisiau i Ogledd Cymru ein helpu ni i reoli’r newidiadau y bydd rhaid i ni eu hwynebu, drwy ddarparu adborth adeiladol, drwy ofyn cwestiynau, a thrwy fod yn agored ynghylch eich pryderon. Er bod ein sefyllfa ariannol wedi newid nid ydyw ein blaenoriaeth, rydym eisiau parhau i sicrhau bod gennych hyder a ffydd yn Heddlu Gogledd Cymru.



Disgwylir i’r Llywodraeth gyhoeddi’r dyraniadau ariannol ar 8 Rhagfyr a bydd rhagor o wybodaeth ar gael ar ein gwefan cyn gynted â phosib ar ôl hynny. Byddwn yn anfon diweddariad at bawb fydd yn derbyn yr e-bost hwn yn uniongyrchol gennym ni - os yw’r e-bost hwn wedi cael ei anfon ymlaen atoch a’ch bod chi eisiau derbyn diweddariadau, anfonwch e-bost atom consultation@north-wales.police.uk neu fe allwch ysgrifennu atom i Ymgynghoriad Dyfodol Plismona, Glan y Don, Bae Colwyn, Conwy LL29 8AW.



Bydd Awdurdod yr Heddlu yn dod i benderfyniad terfynol ynghylch cyllideb blismona Gogledd Cymru ar 11 Chwefror. Byddwn yn cytuno beth fydd y blaenoriaethau plismona ar gyfer y flwyddyn i ddod ar yr un pryd. Byddwn yn ystyried yr holl sylwadau y byddwn wedi eu cael erbyn 27 Ionawr (manylion cyswllt fel yr uchod), ond byddai’n well gennym dderbyn ymatebion ymhell cyn hynny gan y byddai hynny’n ein galluogi ni i gynnwys y safbwyntiau hynny yn ein cynlluniau – yn arbennig mewn perthynas â strwythur newydd yr ardaloedd.



Edrychwn ymlaen at glywed oddi wrthych.

Recycling Targets in Wales

Wales is set to become the first country in the UK to introduce statutory targets for recycling for local authorities. Welsh Assembly Government recently passed legislation which introduces legally binding targets for the amount of municipal waste that councils recycle or compost.

Conwy currently recycles and composts around 43% of its waste. The next target is to recycle and compost 52% by 2012/13 with an overall target of 70% by 2024/25, failure to meet the statutory target will incorporate a fine of £200 per tonne over this limit.

Conwy is looking to introduce improvements to its recycling collections and in the spring of next year, the improvements will include a weekly collection of:
Cans
Paper
Glass
Plastic
Cardboard
Household Batteries
Tetra Packs
Food

Conwy will also be collecting Garden waste and your black bin every other week.These improved collections will assist us to reach and go beyond the 52% for 2012/13.

I believe that these targets can be met but will be a challenge that needs a partnership approach, Residents, Conwy Council and Welsh Assembly Government working together in order for this to be achieved.I believe that jobs will be created in the recycling industry and Councils can make some money from selling the "Resources" it collects, it will also reduce our impact on our planet and the damage that we are currently doing to it. After all the damage to our planet will have to be faced by our children and grandchildren.

Tuition Fees

I have today written to congratulate our new party president Tim Farron MP, I can say that I did vote for him and we have something in common and that is we are against the rise in tuition fees. I have offered my support in opposing this issue.

I agree that difficult descions have to be made, but this in my opinion is a wrong one and it saddens me to see MPs signing the pledge against this during the election campaign.

I think it has to be pointed out that it was Labour that introduced the fee system and they also set out the terms of reference for the Browne Review and there seems to be a little confusion and disagreement between their leader and Shadow Chancellor on moving this subject forward. I also believe that education should be free up to and to the end of the first degree. Education in my view benefits us all in so many ways. These students are our future Business Leaders, Lawyers, Doctors, Nurses, teachers and so on and they will have such a positive role in our communities in the future.

I cannot support a policy that will leave students with tens of thousands of pounds of debt when graduating and I also feel that this will put off many prospective students from going into further education. I feel we need to take a step back and really look at this policy and its implications. Yes money is very tight but surely there could be other ways of funding this, such as a graduate tax or more sponsorship from Corporate Business? Another question, could some money come out of the Trident Project, help or assist in this area?? There are some good points in the Browne Review such as a quarter of graduates would pay less under this system than the current one, you would not have to start repaying until you were earning over £21,000 but I still feel trebling is wrong and wonder what council tax payers would say if we said we were to treble this tax. The above are my views and my views only which I believe are shared with many other Liberal Democrats and this is why I feel this system needs to be looked at and reviewed. I welcome feedback regarding this issue and have taken on board the views from people such as Chris. I for one do not want to throw out the baby with the bath water, but feel the fees need addressing.