Friday 1st May: Mentoring TrainingBusiness Centre, Llandudno JunctionFree Course provided by the WLGA. I've been involved with mentoring when I worked in the Telecommunications sector. Its a useful process for bringing guidance and help to mentees. The process for Councillors is fairly new and something being formalised for those that may benefit. I wasn't sure that I was an ideal candidate for this due to being a Councilor for 1 year, but I was encouraged to attend as other felt I would be a good mentor. We are meeting again on the 19th to discuss the next steps within the authority.
Saturday 2nd May: Scout Camp at Rowen Camp Site.
After spending Saturday evening and most of Sunday with the scouts it does give you admiration to those people who volunteer to give up there time and energy to run activities for children and youths. It's been a while since I spent time round a camp fire, and making camp gadgets with knots and lashings. More about Scouting later in the posting!
Monday 4th MayComplete Day Off. Opening and closing of shop was done by others. Spent a time at Cheshire Oaks looking for Luggage for are planned holidays to Disneyland Paris and Ireland during the summer.
Tuesday 5th MayDeganwy Prom Day Committee, Conwy Yacht Club, 6:30pmNearly there, trying to tie down some of the detail for the day. Roles and responsibilities have been allocated. Meeting next week to finalise the layout for the day and marketing activities.
Wednesday 6th May, amFinance Training with Andrew Kirkham, Finance Director. Part of a series of training meetings. Today we looked into the WAG allocations for the Regional Support Grant and the Non Domestic Rates. Its a useful insight to understanding how the Welsh Assembly distribute the yearly funds between authorities. Conwy always seems to be low on the list when the funds are distributed, today's meeting helped to understand the formulae used and the reasons why. As this constitutes around 80% of the funding, it also has major factor in determining the Council Tax.
Wednesday 6th MayPartnership Overview and Scrutiny Meeting, 2pmA good meeting. We discussed the proposed Governance Toolkit that will be used when formulating partnerships. The toolkit will also provide a basis on which we can scrutinise exiting partnerships. I felt that at last (after 1 year) we have an basis for this committee and the confidence to question and scrutinise partnerships in which the authority is involved.
Thursday 7th MayInformal Council, 10amAn unusually good turnout (approx 40) for today's meeting. It seems mostly where quite interested in the first subject. By the end of the meeting we where down to a more usual figure of 20.
Presentations and discussions on the progress of the new Welsh Assembly Building in Llandudno Junction, Mencap's Changing Places campaign and the progress on the Authorities Job Evaluation Scheme.
Thursday 7th MayScouts District Treasurer.
A couple of months ago Cllr Brian Cossey approached me asking if I would consider taking on the role of Treasurer for the Conwy District Scouting Association. Cllr Brian (Chairperson for the District) knows that my wife Kirsty is Scout Leader at Llandudno Junction and that we obviously have an interest in Scouting. The current District Treasurer is also the Treasurer for the Snowdonia & Anglesey Area and hence felt that he should resign from the District if a replacement could be found. Richard Davies the current Treasurer visited to go through the accounts and the activities of the role. I should be formally accepted in the role at the District AGM on 26th May.
Friday 8th May, Street Scene WorkshopBusiness Centre, Llandudno JunctionQuite a good turnout from Councillors on this one. Organised by Lyn Davies the Street Scene manager and his team. It was a good meeting and a chance to raise our concerns and discuss the next steps for the service. As I discussed after the meeting with some other councillors none of it was rocket science, and most of the expected issues where raised. But some good ideas did come out and the activities that could be taken.
There was a buffet after this meeting, which I and few other felt wasn't required. I can understand that it can be seen as a way of "attracting" a good turnout of councillors. As it has been said that some would only turn up because the agenda said "Buffet". In this instance the subject area was one that was close to our hearts, as the local environmental issues are ones that all Councillors and residents have concerns about. We do have to re-evaluate when a buffet is provided. This meeting finished at lunchtime and hence most councillors would have been able to get their own lunch. I admit I did stay for the buffet as it was a useful time for networking and I'd hate to see it go to waste.
Friday 8th MayYear 11 Achievement File Presentation. Ysgol John BrightAs a Governor I was invited to the Yearly Presentation Evening to recognise the achievements of the Year 11 students who will at the end of time either leave the school are carry on in the 6th Form.
