#DemDef

Local views on National Assembly for Wales news

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It strikes me that you offer news for local people and that is the sort of news that people want

Dame Rosemary Butler AM, Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales, addressing hyperlocal journalists from North Wales (via glyndwruni)

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Hyperlocal news day live blog: press conference photos

Hyperlocal journalists from across North Wales have attended a press conference with Dame Rosemary Butler AM and Lesley Griffiths AM at Glyndwr’s Centre for Creative Industries today.

A range of questions were put to Dame Rosemary and Lesley Griffiths, who is AM for Wrexham.

Dame Rosemary talked of the vital role hyperlocal journalists played in offering local news.

Talking to the hyperlocal journalists today, Dame Rosemary said: “It strikes me that you offer news for local people and that is the sort of news that people want.”

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Hyperlocal news day gets underway at Glyndwr

Hyperlocal journalists from across North and Mid Wales are at Glyndwr today attending a workshop on sourcing news from the National Assembly for Wales.

Presiding Officer for the National Assembly for Wales Dame Rosemary Butler AM and Deputy Presiding Officer David Melding AM were involved in a morning briefing to start the day.

Also involved are staff and students from Glyndwr’s broadcasting, journalism and media communications degree programme, who will be working with the journalists and live blogging and videoing various activities.

Over the course of the workshop, journalists will be sourcing local stories on the activities of the National Assembly for Wales

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Non Gwilym from the National Assembly for Wales is interviewed at the hyperlocal news day at Glyndwr today

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Interview with David Melding as shot by Broadcasting, Journalism and Media Communications student Timothy Tucker

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Hyperlocal news day live blog

Wrexham.com work on their stories at today’s #demdef hyperlocal news day here at Glyndwr. It’s part of the Senedd Wrexham series of events happening across Wrexham this week, with a number taking place at Glyndwr. 

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Hyperlocal day | Diwrnod hyperlocal #demdef #SeneddWrexham #SeneddWrecsam

Today we’re at Glyndwr University with some students and local bloggers and online journalists for a training day, helping them create stories about the Assembly. More content from the day will follow…

Rydym ym Mhrifysgol Glyndŵr gyda myfyrwyr, blogwyr lleol a newyddiadurwyr ar-lein ar gyfer diwrnod hyfforddi heddiw, i’w helpu i lunio storïau am y Cynulliad. Cewch ragor o wybodaeth am y diwrnod yn fuan ….

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Rhondda People #demdef 

www.rhonddapeople.com

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Cwmbran secondary schools to get over £500,000 for poorest pupils #DemDef (Cwmbran Life)

Cwmbran’s three secondary schools will share over half a million pounds from the Welsh Government’s Pupil Deprivation Grant.

This week the government published a report evaluating the impact of the grant that was first launched in 2012.

“The grant was launched in 2012 and provides additional funding to schools based on the number of pupils on their roll eligible for Free School Meals or who are Looked After Children.”

Over the next two years the Cwmbran schools will receive:

Fairwater High School

2015/16 £126,000

2016/17 £138,000

Llantarnam School

2016/17 £178,500

2016/17 £195,500

Croesyceiliog School

2015/16 £152,250

2016/17 £166,750

Schools choose how to spend the cash on work or projects to close the attainment gap in their classrooms.

Aled Roberts AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Minister spoke to Cwmbran Life outside the National Assembly for Wales.

A recent report from the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission has called for changes to help pupils from poor backgrounds after research showed better-off pupils are twice as likely as those on free school meals to get five good GCSEs.

The increase in the Pupil Deprivation Grant is part of the Welsh Government’s plans to tackle this problem.

Note

This blog post was filmed, researched and written as part of the Hyperlocal #DemDef on Thursday 23 October 2014 organised by the National Assembly for Wales and Cardiff University’s Centre for Community Journalism.

Thanks to everyone involved. It was a good, fun and well-organised event.

(This post originally appeared on Cwmbran Life)

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Dim digon o arian i ysgolion Cymraeg Caerdydd

gan Cate Hopkins myfyriwr Prifysgol Caerdydd ar gyfer Pobl Caerdydd a Diwrnod Hyperleol y Senedd . 

Mae’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru wedi croesawu adroddiad a chyhoeddwyd yr wythnos hon sy’n cydnabod manteision y Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion dros disgyblion tlotaf Cymru. Mae’r grant, sef un o brif polisi y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru, yn sicrhau bod plant sy’n cael cinio ysgol am ddim yn cael grant I gau‘r gap cyflawniad rhwng y cyfloethog a’r tlotaf. Ond ar ôl adroddiad gan y Comisiwn Symudedd Cymdeithasol a Thlodi Plant a chyhoeddwyd wythnos diwetha, mae plant tlawd dal yn cael eu methu gan ysgolion yng Ngymru.

Yng Ngaerdydd, mae 15 o ysgolion Cymraeg yn derbyn arian o’r Grant Amddifadedd Disgyblion I helpu  plant sy’n dod o gartrefi tlotach i godi eu graddiau llythrynedd a rhifeg. Mae’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru yn dweud bod y grant wedi gwella gwasanaethau a oedd ar gael yn ysgolion Caerdydd ac hefyd wedi helpu dechrau nifer o brosiectau newydd sy’n gweithio dros dysgyblion afantais .

Ond mae’r Comisiwn Symudedd Cymdeithasol a Thlodi Plant yn dweud bod plant yng Nghymru dal yn cael eu methu gan ysgolion yng Nghymru. Yn ôl yr adroddiad, mae’r nifer o bobl yng Nghymru sy’n ffaelu ym maes llythrynedd a rhifeg yn annerbyniol. Yn arbennig, mae angen gweithredu ar frys gan y Lywodraeth I wella cyfle disgyblion Cymraeg i fynd i Brifysgol.

Mae Pobl Caerdydd wedi darganfod bod tua £400,000 o’r grant yn mynd I ysgolion cymraeg yng Nghaerdydd . Ond yn ôl y Comisiwn mae plant Cymru angen mwy o gymorth.   Mae Aled Roberts AC, Gweinidog Addysg o’r wrthblaid o’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru yn galw ar Llywodraeth Cymru i weithredu newid yng Nghymru fel mater o frys. 

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Do you know about the benefits of the Pupil Deprivation Grant for your school?

(From www.rhonddapeople.com)

The Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) launched in 2012 and it provides additional funding to schools based on the number of pupils eligible for 'Free School Meals'.

It means that by 2016/17 each school in the Rhondda and across Wales will receive £1,150 per child who is eligible.

The grant provides children with opportunities and services that they may not have been able to get otherwise, such as providing iPads and online learning facilities to children who may not have access to them at home.

Each individual school can use the grant in different ways and spend it on what they think will benefit children the most.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Welsh Government have both conducted evaluations to ensure that this money is spent properly and on services that are directly beneficial to the children who need it.

The total investment to schools across Wales will be £282m over the course of the Assembly term.

Some examples of Rhondda school's that will benefit from this grant include:

Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bronllwyn: 2015/16 - £31,500 2016/17 - £34,500

Treorchy Primary School: 2015/16 - £52,500 2016/17 - £57,500

Parc Primary School: 2015/16 - £47,250 2016/17 - £51,750

Treorchy Comprehensive School: 2015/16 - £320,250 2016/17 - £350,750

 To find out how much your school will benefit visit http://bit.ly/1Canh2q.

This grant comes at a time where the future of education in RCT remains unsure as a consultation on the proposals to close several schools in the Rhondda, remove sixth forms from Tonypandy, Porth and Ferndale and create new 3 to 16 and 3 to 19 year old schools has begun.

There will also be around £29m worth of cuts made to Education and Skills in Wales within the next two years. In response to this Karen Roberts, RCT's Lib Dem Campaign Manager and local party chair said: "Maintaining these grants in full time education will remain at the forefront of the Liberal Democrats priorities, even after the next general election."

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Dyfodol y Gyfnewidfa Lo - Diwrnod yn y Senedd

Ysgrifenwyd gan Esther Strange a Llio Jones myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd ar gyfer Pobl Caerdydd a Diwrnod Hyperleol yn y Senedd 

Wythnos yma, fe wnaeth y Senedd gyfarfod i drafod datblygiad deiseb ‘Arbed Cyfnewidfa Lo Caerdydd’. Penderfynon nhw bod rhaid edrych mewn i bwy yn union sydd yn berchen yr adeilad er mwyn ei ddiogelu. 

Mae’r ffaith bod pwyllgor deiseb y Senedd heb syniad pwy yw’r datodwyr yn amlwg yn broblem fawr. Roedd y ddeiseb a drefnwyd gan wr lleol, John Avant a arwyddwyd gan 3000 o bobl, yn gofyn am gadarnhad o statws perchnogaeth yr adeilad. Pwysleisiodd y pwyllgor mae awdurdod cynllunio yn unig yw’ Cyngor Caerdydd a nid nhw sy’n perchen yr adeilad; dydyn nhw ddim hyd yn oed yn siŵr a yw'r datodwyr yn hapus i hwyluso ymweliad gan aelodau’r Cynulliad. 

Mae’r Gyfnewidfa Lo ym Mae Caerdydd wedi bod o dan fygythiad ers blynyddoedd. Ym Mai flwyddyn diwethaf gwnaeth yr adeilad gau oherwydd perygl o ddymchwel. Ers ‘ny mae’r perchnogaeth wedi trosglwyddo o ddwylo’r GYG Exchange Limited i berchnogwyr eraill anhysbys sydd newydd fynd yn fethdalwyr. Mae dyfodol yr adeilad nawr yn ansicr. 

Cyflwynodd Plaid Cymru ‘Mesur Asedau Cymunedol’, yn ddiweddar, mesur sydd wedi cael ei fabwysiadu yn Lloegr . Ond ni benderfynnodd llywodraeth Cymru ei fabwysiadu. Byddai’r mesur wedi diogelu adeiladau o werth cymunedol gan roi’r dewis cynta i gymunedau i brynu’r sefydliadau. Trafodon ni gyda Llyr Huws Griffiths, aelod y cynulliad y blaid am yr hyn roedd yr adeilad yn golygu i bobl Caerdydd. Dywedodd:

“Mae’n adeilad eiconig, adeilad pwysig sy’n ganolog i hanes Caerdydd ac i hanes  diwydianol Cymru”

“Gan weld yr adeilad yn y fath gyflwr ac y mae, fel rhywun sy’n byw rownd y gornel mae’n dorcalonnus”

“Wrth drosglwyddo yr adeilad fel ased cymunedol byddai’n help yn y broses o sicrhau bod yr adeilad yn cael ei amddiffyn…. a bod dim fflatiau yn cael eu adeiladu yn y safle.

“Mae’r adeilad mor fawr ac wrth gwrs mae’n costi mwy fel canlyniad; er hyn mae’n golygu bod potential mawr gan yr adeilad i wneud pob math o bethau.”

Mae cyfranogiad Stephen Doughty, aelod seneddol llafur De Caerdydd a Phenarth, wedi bod yn allweddol yn yr ymgyrch i arbed yr Gyfnewidfa Lo. Mae Mr Doughty wedi ffurfio grŵp gweithredu sy'n anelu at arbed yr adeilad yng Nghaerdydd. Mae ef yn gynrychioli Caerdydd a Phenarth ac wrthi’n ceisio trefnu cyfarfodydd brys i ofyn i'r cyngor ac eraill i weithio gyda ef i ddwyn ynghyd ymgyrch neu gonsortiwm i achub yr adeilad. 

Mae’r Gyfnewidfa Lo yn rhan allweddol o dreftadaeth Caerdydd ac yn adeilad eiconig. Camau nesaf yn dilyn cyfarfod pwyllgor deiseb felly yw’r cysylltu gyda’r cyngor i ddarganfod pwy yw’r datodwyr ac i ysgrifennu i Stephen Doughty i drafod y gwaith fu’n digwydd nesaf ac i ymgysylltu ag ef.

Ysgrifenwyd gan Esther Strange a Llio Jones myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd ar gyfer Pobl Caerdydd a Diwrnod Hyperleol yn y Senedd 

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Cyfweliad Meri Huws interview (Papur Y Cwm) 

Rydyn ni yma ar ran papur y cwm ac wedi cael cyfle i gyfweld Meri Huws, Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, ynglyn a'r drafodaeth yn y Senedd heddiw ar y gyllideb ar gyfer y gymraeg.

We are here representing Papur Y Cwm, the 'papur bro' for the Gwendraeth Valley area. We interviewed Meri Huws, the Welsh Language Commissioner, on today's discussion at the Senedd on the budget for the Welsh language and its future implications.

(Papur Y Cwm)

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Welsh Government cash hits the right note for Dylan Thomas Community School (Bay TV)

Pupils in schools across Wales have been seeing the benefits of extra money from the Welsh Government.

The money, known as the Pupil Deprivation Grant, is meant to improve educational opportunities for the poorest pupils.

The grant is just over £900 for this year and will go up over the next couple of years to £1150 for each pupil receiving free school meals.

For one school in Swansea, the Dylan Thomas Community School, that will mean more than £300,000 a year.

And that, says head teacher Rob Phillips, is important for his school.

At Dylan Thomas, the grant has allowed them to employ extra people to help improve literacy and numeracy. Rob Phillips says the Welsh Government’s priorities exactly match what his school needs. He says Dylan Thomas School has used the extra money to good effect and it is helping the  school to improve pupils’ performance.

Phil Lee explained how the grant works for the Dylan Thomas School.

This story was posted by Bay TV.

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Planning (Wales) Bill and the National Assembly for Wales

The Welsh Government have recently introduced the Planning (Wales) Bill that it says will: “enable communities across Wales to benefit from a streamlined system which will support the delivery of the homes, jobs and infrastructure that Wales requires”.

Residents of Tongwynlais have recently opposed an outline planning application to build houses in the centre of the village so the current planning process is a popular local issue. The National Assembly for Wales publish the details of each bill on their website and you can follow its progress through each stage until the Assembly vote on a motion to pass it.

The Planning (Wales) Bill was introduced by the Welsh Government on the 6th of October 2014 and is currently at Stage 1 of the Assembly’s consideration process. This involves a public consultation until the 7th of November 2014. Individuals and organisations are invited to provide evidence to the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

The passage of a bill through the Assembly involves 4 stages:

Stage 1 – consideration of the general principles of the Bill by a committee, and the agreement of those general principles by the Assembly;

Stage 2 – detailed consideration by a committee of the Bill and any amendments tabled to that Bill;

Stage 3 – detailed consideration, by the Assembly, of the Bill and any amendments tabled to that Bill;

Stage 4 – a vote by the Assembly to pass the final text of the Bill.

Members of the public are welcome to sit in the public gallery and observe the committee meetings. Alternatively, committees can be viewed live on Senedd TV and details are on their website.

This article was written during the National Assembly for Wales “Hyperlocal News Day” to help tackle the democratic deficit. We’ve asked our readers how much they know about the Assembly and whether they’d like us to cover more national issues on Tongwynlais.com. We look forward to hearing their responses.

Image credit: https://flic.kr/p/nbCjp6

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Caerphilly's poorest pupils to get £11m extra Welsh Government cash

By Gareth Hill, Caerphilly Observer.

Schools in Caerphilly County Borough will receive over £11m for their most deprived pupils between 2015-17. 

A Welsh Government report showed the Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) is funding projects for pupils that would not be in place without it.

The PDG gives schools extra cash for children who receive free school meals to spend on what they feel best will boost their development.

The draft Welsh budget, agreed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, vowed to increase the PDG by £95m between 2015-17 on top of the £262m spent during this Assembly term.

By 2017 each pupil will receive £1,150 – despite overall education and skills spending falling by £29m.

Caerphilly schools will benefit £11.3m from the fund in the next two years.

Eluned Parrott, Liberal Democrat AM for South Wales Central, said: “Pupils who receive free school meals are less likely to get five GCSEs.

“We want to see an increase in social mobility in Wales. It (the PDG) is about the future of the economy. It’s about pupils getting the skills they need.”

Lewis Comprehensive School in Hengoed will get over £270,000 from the grant in the next two years, while Ynysddu Primary School in Cwmfelinfach will get more than £30,000.

The report shows that 71% of projects funded by the PDG in secondary schools are new and would not exist without it. In primary schools that figure stands at 59%.

Aled Roberts, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Minister, said: “The Welsh Liberal Democrats secured the Pupil Deprivation Grant so that Wales’ poorest pupils would get a fairer start in life.  Evidence shows that our scheme is having a hugely positive effect.

“However, we can’t be complacent and the Welsh Government must ensure that it is being used to target pupils that need help the most.

“We have ensured that Estyn, as part of the schools inspectorate process, will now be looking at how schools are using their Pupil Deprivation Grant.  This is a positive move as it will now reflect badly on schools if they fail to use this essential grant for its intended purposes.”

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Debate over Assets of Community Value

A scheme which obliges local authorities to list and protect assets of community value in England is unlikely to be introduced in Wales until after the next Assembly elections.

The Assets of Community Value (ACV) measures mean that if an asset on the list is offered for sale, the community has six weeks to register an interest in bidding for the asset. Once the interest is registered, the community has a further six months before the asset is put on the open market, where they have an opportunity to purchase it.

Land or buildings which are considered to benefit the social or economic wellbeing of the community can be nominated by local community groups to be listed.

In a statement last week, Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Communities and Tacking Poverty outlined the government’s concerns including:

“Community groups need to be aware the Assets of Community Value measures do not enable them to force the sale of an asset to the community, or prevent its sale to a higher bidder once the 6 month moratorium period is over.  In addition, it is important the distinction between a physical facility, and the services provided from it is clearly understood.  The former may be covered by the Measures while the latter is not.

“Asset owners may consider the Measures infringe their rights and portray private owners negatively or express concerns listing will lower the value of an asset or make it difficult to sell.

“Local Authorities would have a number of roles in relation to the ACV Measures.  As well as being responsible for maintaining lists of community assets, they are likely to be the owners of some of the assets in question.  They will also have established relationships with many community organisations, including providing funding and advice but also in regulatory roles.”

The statement concludes:

“I consider there is scope for us to develop an approach which is better suited to the Welsh context and addresses some of the shortcomings in the present arrangements in England.

“The Welsh Government greatly values the contribution key community facilities, and more particularly the people who support and use them, make to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Wales.”

While supporting the idea of a specifically Welsh solution to the issue, Plaid Cymru have argued that waiting for two or three years before measures are in place risks losing valuable assets in the meantime.

We spoke to Plaid shadow environment minister Llyr Gruffyd who explained his concerns, particularly about the impact on services of public sector cuts - see video in previous post.

We’d like to know what you think about the issue. If the scheme was introduced in Wales, which valuable community assets in Roath would you like to see protected?

  This story was written as part of the National Assembly Wales hyperlocal day – tackling the democratic deficit.