Download (opens in new window) PDF[1.54MB] This report summarises the outcomes of the Auditor General’s appointed auditors’ work on the 2014-15 accounts of town and community councils and their joint committees across Wales. It identifies that auditors are reporting on similar themes for 2014-15 as were reported on in previous years, indicating that the sector…

The Welsh Government has conceded that “pauses”, “delays” and staff retention issues led to a massive underspend on one of its flagship initiatives. Of the nearly £50million originally budgeted for Reach the Heights – little over £29m was ever spent. An evaluation document revealed that the difficulties around project expenditure were compounded by targeting issues, whereby only a…

The Most Reverend George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff, visited the school today. He joined the Chair of Governors, Fr Robert, Deputy Headteacher, Mr Alun Lewis, and Ms Fiona Bell, History Curriculum Leader, for assembly and a presentation from the Fire Service.   Head Boy, Joseph Davies and Deputy Head Boy, Jacob Jones took the Archbishop on a tour of the school and…

Welsh Liberal Democrats in RCT have welcomed the climb down by the Labour Cabinet over the changes to home to school transport which were planned to be introduced in September. Charges were due to be introduced for those living between two and three miles from secondary schools and one and a half and two miles…

Amendments to the Council’s Home to School Transport Policy, which were due to take effect from September 2016, will no longer take place.   The Council will shortly contact all parents/guardians of pupils to confirm home to school transport arrangements for 2016/17 academic year. County Borough Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County…

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne has set out the next stage of his long term economic plan for Wales, with an ambitious Budget designed to make Britain fit for the future at a time of increasing global economic uncertainty. The 2016 Budget showed how the Government’s economic plan continues to work for the…

77% of GPs believe that the Labour Government’s headline policy to improve patient access to GPs has failed, a new survey published today has revealed. In November, Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, wrote to over 650 GP surgeries in Wales asking their views; 21% of GP surgeries responded. The findings of the…

Kirsty Williams AM has labelled the proposed cut to the Severn Bridge tolls as “pathetic” and has called for the unfair tolls to be scrapped completely. She is also highly critical of the fact that the Chancellor failed to announce support for the Swansea Tidal Lagoon project. Commenting on the Budget, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Kirsty…

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, has welcomed the chancellor’s budget, which he says is further evidence that Conservatives are “delivering for Wales”. The Chancellor has announced significant, positive developments for Wales in his budget speech this afternoon:   Including:   Halving of the Severn Bridge Tolls when they return to public ownership;…

Economics spokesman Mark Reckless and author of UKIP’s Welsh Assembly Election Manifesto says while he backs the cut, only UKIP is pledging to scrap the toll altogether.  “Once the bridge is passed back into public ownership we see no reason why this punitive toll on people travelling to and from Wales should continue. It’s damaging…