Week commencing 2nd April

Well the count down is well and truly with us for the Local Elections on 3rd May 2012.
Just over 1 month to go. But still some business to keep going with until then.

Still meetings going on at Council. Although we are now in "purdah" and hence there are some limitations on announcements that could advantage/disadvantage to a particular party or candidate, it does not prevent day to day business continuing. Any controversial issues have to be put on hold.

Election plan:
As discussed in previous posting, my nomination is now in place. I'm currently working on my election flyer and it's good to have the help of the designers at blah d blah. My leaflets should be available for Easter and I have booked a holiday from work for the the w/c 9th April to deliver the leaflets around the ward. This should be in time to hopefully influence the Postal Voters.
I will not be knocking doors, but my literature will make it clear that I will be happy to pop round or discuss my candidacy with anyone who would like to know more. I know some people would want/ or even expect a knock at the door, but I'm also conscious of many who don't so I have decided to discuss by invitation only.

Meetings:
Conwy County Borough Council Calendar of Meetings: http://modgoveng.conwy.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?M=3&CID=0&OT=&CT=0&C=-1&MR=0&D=1&ACT=Later&DD=2012


Monday 2nd April

9am: Scrutiny Chairs and Vice Chairs Meeting, Bodlondeb (member)

10am: Principal Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Bodlondeb (member)
Agenda:
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Declarations of Interest: Code of Local Government Conduct
3. Urgent matters
4. Minutes
5. Minutes of the Informal Meeting of Scrutiny Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs
6. Minutes of the Audit Committee
7. To review the Principal Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme
8. To consider a report by the Strategic Director, Finance & Efficiencies on the following matter:
  i) Corporate Risk Assessment Template (RAT)
9. To consider reports by the Head of Service - Property Management and Asset Services on the following matters:
  i) Energy Consumption Comparison
  ii) Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) Carbon Management Plan Covering Report
10. To consider a report by the Head of Environment and Technical Services on the following matter:
  i) Fleet Management Progress/Update Report
11. Exempt Items: Local Government Act 1972, Section 100A and Schedule 12A (Access to Information)
  To consider passing a resolution under the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the above Act to exclude the Public and Press from the meeting for the following item(s), as it is likely that, if present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.
  12. To consider Minute 940 of Cabinet which has been called in
  13. To consider a report by the Head of Service - Property Management and Asset Services on the following matter:
    i) Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system at Llandudno Swimming Pool



English: http://modgoveng.conwy.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=107&MId=2739
Cymraeg: http://modgovcym.conwy.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=107&MId=2739

That's it for formal meetings for me this week. There is a meeting of Customers Scrutiny at 5pm on Tuesday: http://modgoveng.conwy.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=451&MId=2940

David Jones, MP

http://davidjonesblog.com/2012/03/31/speech-to-welsh-conservative-rally-25-march-2012/

Please take a couple of minutes to read the above speech that David Jones, MP gave to Welsh Conservative Rally last week.

Some interesting information about the Optic Centre in st Asaph, I've been there for meetings several times and never appreciated what actually happened there.

David Jones words about co-operation between Welsh and UK governments makes sound reading and has to be something that improves, especially in North Wales where we share more with the North-West of England than we do with Cardiff. It should not be a case of being proud and trying to do it on our own.

Local Elections - 3rd May 2012

http://www.conwy.gov.uk/section.asp?cat=7716&Language=1

The above is a link to the Council Election webpage, with notice of election and will be added to with further information as the process unfolds.

The period for nominations is still in progress and this papers have to be submitted by Wednesday 4th April at 12 noon.

The interesting information will then follow, which will be a list of all the nominations received and the names and parties of candidates for each division. This list will be issued by 12 noon on Tuesday 19th April.

With the recent result in the Bradford Bi-Election, it is certain nobody can take anything for granted. Locally it is proving hard to judge which way votes will go, will people look nationally for the way parties are working in Cardiff and London. How much will people be aware of the local council activities and the people involved.

I hope people are not getting election fatigue, it does now look like we seem to be having something to vote on nearly every year.

Interesting times and I would encourage everyone to make their mark and have a say in the future of your County and Town/Community Councils, and the people that represent you in this establishments.
The notice of election on the above website gives details of how to apply for a Postal vote or a Proxy vote.

Coashes

photo from BBC Wales website

Welsh version was misspelled as well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-17550569

Successful Deganwy Beach Clean

Deganwy Beach Clean - March 2012

Update: 29/3/2012: During the beach clean we noticed that there were still quite a few stones along the promenade, particular along the boundary walls and around the benches, following the winter storms. There were to many for us to deal with, but thanks to the Environment Dept this have been cleared today, in time for the Easter holidays.

Thank you to all the volunteers that helped with the Deganwy Beach Clean. Including local residents, local residents friends, Youth Service and Conwy Scouts.
Special thanks to Petra Haig for providing refreshments and allowing us to take over her front garden.
Thank you to the Council's Environment department and the Youth Service for loan of the equipment.

The photographs give an interesting comparison between March 2010 (bottom photo) and this Saturday (top photo). We collected a lot less rubbish this year than we have in the past. May be a promising sign that the litter situation is improving.

Deganwy Beach Clean - March 2010

Dog Fouling still remains an issue, I just don't understand some people. There are several issues.

1. those that don't pick up after there dogs at all.
2. those that bag it, but then throw the bag into the undergrowth
3. I even found a bag within 1 foot of a bin?

Please bag it and take the bag to the end of the path where you will find a bin. Enforcement activity is being increased and Deganwy has been targeted over the past few week. To my knowledge at least 1 £75 fine has been issued. I'm also aware of other  discussions are taking place regarding enforcement, something that we have to target.

Local Election Candidacy & Meetings

Election

Thank you to the ten people who have signed my nomination form to stand as a County Councillor candidate for the Deganwy Electoral division.

My nomination papers were submitted and checked on Wednesday.

So I am now registered to stand as a Independent Candidate for one of the two County Councillor positions in the Deganwy Electoral Division. Elections are on Thursday 3rd May 2012.

Deganwy has 2 Polling Stations: Llanrhos Old School (Conway Rd) and the Peniel Chapel (off Ty Mawr Rd)

Parents will be happy to here that we have manged to relocate the polling station away from Ysgol Deganwy, meaning it now does not need to close for elections.

Meetings

For Council meetings taking place this week please refer to the online Calender on the CCBC Website:
http://modgoveng.conwy.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

I will not be at the Council meeting (the last of the term) on Tuesday, this is an extra meeting put in the schedule to appoint a new Strategy Director. I have a Board meeting at work, which was already committed to before the Council meeting was scheduled.

We are fast approaching "purdah" in relation to activities for Council, meaning that all meetings will stop and our attempts to have things done will be diminished to ensure that work is not perceived as benefiting any particular councillor (electioneering).

Monday 26th March

I will be in Bodlondeb this afternoon, I have a few people to see.

7pm: Youth Awards at Venue Cymru. To celebrate the achievements of the the young people across the county have achieved in their own time, including Youth University Awards and Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) awards.

Wednesday 27th March

5pm: Governor meeting of the Finance Committee at Ysgol John Bright

7pm: Unless the cancelled Harbour Authority meeting is recalled, then I will be at the Deganwy Prom Day committee meeting.

Thursday 28th March

2pm: Conwy/Denbighshire Collaboration Programme Board, Venue Cymru

Friday 29th March

I have been invited to the opening of an arts exhibition: Engedi Arts: http://www.engediarts.com/exhibitions/easter-show-2012/about/

How things have changed

Deganwy Beach Clean - Saturday 24th March

Meetings:
Tuesday
Full Council at 2pm: http://modgoveng.conwy.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=207&MId=3016&Ver=4
Deganwy and Dirtrict Residents meeting at 7:15pm: http://deganwyresidentsassociation.blogspot.co.uk/
Thursday
Corporate Improvement Board at 2pm

Event:

Deganwy Beach Clean

Saturday 24th March from 10:30am

Meet by the toilet block on Marine Crescent for equipment

Refreshments available to Volunteers outside 21 Marine Crescent

This is the first beach clean of the year, we tend to collect a lot of rubbish following the winter period and storms. 

All volunteers very welcome. 

Litter Picking equipment is provided with thanks to the Environment Dept of Conwy County Borough Council and the Conwy Youth Service.

Olympic Torch Route through Deganwy - 29th May 2012

Olympic Torch Route is due through Conwy County on Tuesday 29th May 2012.
See the document below for the complete route and estimated times.

The torch will go through: Conwy, Deganwy, Llandudno, Penrhyn Bay, Rhos on Sea, Colwyn Bay, Old Colwyn, Abergele, Towyn and Kinmel Bay.

The route in Deganwy will be along the main A546. The torch will enter Deganwy from Conwy via the Weekly News Roundabout, onto Glan Y Mor Rd around 9:09am, then leading onto Station Rd, Deganwy Rd and then Maesdu Ave. Passing into Llandudno on Maesdu Ave at 9:31am


19 03 12 Day11 Beaumaris Chester

Notice of Elections

The clock has started ticking, the process started on Friday
Any nominations for candidature for County or Town/Community Council's must be delivered to the returning officer no later than NOON on Wednesday 4th April 2012


Notice of Local Election CONWY1

Deganwy Station Footbridge

Deganwy Station Footbridge is in the process of being dismantled and hence out of use.

The bridge is being removed for refurbishment, but will be returning.

In the mean time rail passangers will need to walk to the refurbished level crossing at Marine Crescent, to cross the track.

No Posts

Sorry for the lack of postings.
Since moving home, we have been without Internet access which has prevented postings to be done while at home.
Pinched a couple of minutes at work to say I'm still here and will hopefully back online soon.

One piece of news was the Planning Application for the Deganwy Castle Hotel development was approved yesterday.
The next step is for the Listed Building Consent Application to be sent and determined by CADW, and the Section 106 agreement regarding commuted sum to be agreed and signed by Legal.
So first of the big steps passed, but we are still a couple of months away from seeing any activity on site.

Deganwy Castle Hotel Design

I have received this from the the Design Consultants, Hourigan Connolly for the Deganwy Castle Hotel.

The application is on the agenda for the Planning Committee on Wednesday 14th March at 2pm.

Update: 7th March
The Planning Committee report has now been published at:
http://modgoveng.conwy.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=205&MId=2779&Ver=4

The Planning Officer have recommended to Grant Conditional Planning Permission subject to a Section 106 Obligation.

Some concerns have been received from the resident of the neighbouring Belgravia Court apartments, due to the new build being closer than the existing building. I understand from the Planning consultants have agreed and have performed a Daylight and Sunlight assessment of the build and the impact on Belgravia Court. The results of the report will be issued in the Addendum report at the beginning of the meeting, but I understand the results are positive and that any impact on Begravia Court are minimal and within guidelines.

On the whole this is a welcomed development and we were always going to have to find a level of compromise to bring this building back in to use. It is a central location, and fast turning into one of the County's "Local Eyesores". Bringing this building back into use can only benefit the whole of the village.