Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A well-run, high performing Council

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes. 

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A greener Denbighshire

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes.

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A learning and growing Denbighshire

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes.

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A healthier and happier, caring Denbighshire

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes.

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A prosperous Denbighshire

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes.

Corporate Plan Highlights April 2024 to March 2025: A Denbighshire of quality housing that meets people's needs

Every year, the Council reviews its performance in delivering the Corporate Plan 2022 to 2027: The Denbighshire We Want. Our Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for the people and communities of Denbighshire over the next 5 years. The Plan consists of six themes:

Christmas Waste and Recycling Collection Week Commencing Dec 22

Denbighshire County Council are advising residents to be aware of temporary collection days changes to Waste and recycling over the festive holidays.

Over the Christmas and New Year period, the following changes will be made to household waste collections, some collection days have changed, these are:

Normal collections will resume from Monday, 5 January, 2026.

Full details about Christmas and New Year information is on the Council’s website.

Residents can check how to recycle items on the Council’s A-Z recycling guide online.

Avian Influenza update from Denbighshire County Council

Denbighshire County Council is advising poultry and game birds owners to be aware of the potential risk of avian influenza (bird flu).

The risk of the avian influenza virus increases during the winter due to migration of waterfowl and gulls and is a highly contagious viral transmitted from bird to bird or through the environment.

The disease can affect the respiratory, digestive or nervous system of many species of birds, and common signs include a loss of appetite, swollen heads and respiratory problems which can lead to death.

Following an increased number of reported cases in Wales, from today (Thursday November 13), it will be a legal requirement for all keepers of 50 or more birds of any species to house them to reduce the spread and stop the virus.

Mandatory housing will also apply to flocks of less than 50 birds of any species if eggs or poultry products are sold or given away, due to the increased risk of disease transmission associated with trading or giving away poultry products.

The new compulsory housing measures will be incorporated into the existing Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) introduced in January. 

Denbighshire County Council would like to remind anyone who keeps poultry or game birds, including those with fewer than 50 birds, that it is a requirement to provide details of their flocks to the Poultry Register.

This will ensure that they can be contacted immediately in an avian disease outbreak so that they can take action to protect their birds at the earliest opportunity.

Poultry keepers should inspect their birds regularly for signs of the disease and separate birds that are showing signs of being affected. Any suspected cases of avian influenza should be reported immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

To report and dispose of dead birds, please call DEFRA on 03459 335577 or to register your poultry  click here  or call the GB Poultry Register Helpline, on 0800 634 1112.

For more information, please visit the link below:

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/licences-permits-and-trading-standards/trading-standards/bird-flu-hpai-virus.aspx

Walking group given insight into council path network

A Vale of Clwyd group were recently given a special exploration of Denbighshire’s footpaths to mark a milestone anniversary.

The Vale of Clwyd Group of Ramblers Cymru recently celebrated 30 years of its existence, delivering regular walks across the area and further afield for hikers, with a ramble around the paths of Denbigh and a lunch and presentation at the Eirianfa Centre in Denbigh.

Adrian Walls, Rights of Way Officer for Denbighshire County Council, gave the group a presentation on the length and breadth of the council’s path network across the county.

He helped provided ideas for the group’s future planned walks and thanked them also for their assistance in helping manage the network through their walking excursions.

Gritting fleet test run

Denbighshire County Council winter maintenance crews will be completing a test run of our gritter fleet on Wednesday 12th November in readiness for the impending winter season. In recent weeks the team has been replenishing road salt stocks and calibrating the spreaders on our gritter fleet and the test run is essential to ensure that our vehicles are functioning correctly ahead of our first spell of sub-zero temperatures across the county.

Trading Standards team to host free electric blanket testing sessions

Denbighshire County Council’s Trading Standards team are set to host free Electric Blanket testing sessions at Prestatyn Library on the 25 November.

The Trading Standards Team will be screen testing the blankets and will test any double or single electric blanket as long as all leads, controls and plugs associated with the electric blankets are brought along for testing.

No appointments are necessary, and the drop-in session will run from 10.00am until 4.00pm. If electric blankets are found to have failed the safety test, a new one will be provided free of charge (subject to availability). Any blankets over 10 years old will automatically fail.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said:

“Electric blankets have become more and more popular as the colder weather has increased. Whilst they are great for keeping warm, it is important that they are maintained properly to ensure that they are safe.

“I would encourage Denbighshire residents to pop into one of the drop-in sessions to learn more about these blankets.”

For more information about Denbighshire County Council’s Trading Standards Team, please visit our website. 

For more information about this event please contact 01824 706057.

Road maintenance update for November

Our Highways department undertake maintenance schemes across the county.

We are responsible for the maintenance and repair of 1,400 kilometres of Denbighshire roads. Our teams carry out a regular programme of works to maintain and improve our roads, which ranges from the repair of potholes right up to resurfacing schemes.

Roads may need to be closed for us to carry out the patching, drainage and other supporting works.

November’s strategic Highways work is listed below:

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Our Highways teams are regularly working all year around to support and maintain the routes we have across the county. We would like to thank our residents for their patience and support this month as we carry out this important work.”

Dates of work may be subject to change due to the weather or other external factors.

For all roadwork information across Denbighshire roads including other Council services and utility companies please visit this link for further information.

Over 100 attendees at successful caravan weighing sessions

Denbighshire and Conwy trading standard teams saw over 100 attendees at their free caravan weighing and advice sessions over the summer.

Held over four different sessions between June and August at the weighbridge on the A525 between Rhuddlan and St Asaph, the sessions offered an opportunity for residents and visitors to learn more about the dangerous of overloading caravans to themselves and other road users.

Following a trend of increasing road traffic incidents involving touring and motor caravans on the A55, the project started over six years ago and has seen an increase in people attending the sessions year upon year.

Not only have these sessions been used to warn and inform residents, but they have also been used to train Denbighshire and Conwy trading standards officers.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said:

“Following the success of similar public sessions held in the past, it was decided that it would be useful to conduct these sessions once again.

“The feedback from residents and visitors that attended the free sessions was positive and it’s important that the public are aware of the potential dangerous when overloading their caravans or campervans”.

For more information on the council’s trading standards team or to get in contact visit our website.

Young people urged to claim their savings

Many young adults in Denbighshire could have an average of £2,200 waiting for them in their unclaimed Child Trust Fund account.

Child Trust Funds were introduced by the UK Government in 2005. Accounts were opened for almost 6 million children born in the UK between 1st September 2002 and 2nd January 2011.

Nearly half of Child Trust Funds in Wales remain unclaimed. According to the Share Foundation, around 1240 accounts are still unclaimed in Denbighshire.

Young people aged 16 or over can take control of their own Child Trust Fund, although the funds can only be withdrawn once they turn 18. Families can continue to pay up to £9,000 a year tax-free into a Child Trust Fund until the account matures. The money stays in the account until the child withdraws or reinvests it into another account. If a parent or guardian could not set up an account for their child, the government opened a savings account on the child’s behalf.

Every 16-year-old is sent information about finding their Child Trust Fund from HMRC with their National Insurance letter. Anyone unsure about their situation should check with their bank or building society. Alternatively, young adults and parents can also search on www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds to find out where their Child Trust Fund account is held.

Councillor Delyth Jones, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets said:

“I strongly encourage all eligible young people to check their accounts and claim what is rightfully theirs. The investment could be placed into an adult ISA or put towards their education, housing or driving lessons.

I would urge young people to use the online tool to track it down or, for parents of teenagers, to speak to them to ensure they’re aware of their Child Trust Fund. It could make a real difference to their future particularly at a time when finances are tight.”

The Child Trust Fund scheme closed in January 2011 and was replaced with Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISA).

For more information on Child Trust Funds, visit www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds. Alternatively, visit https://www.meiccymru.org/do-you-have-money-hiding-in-a-child-trust-fund/, text 07943 114449 or call 080880 23456.

Pension Credit Week of Action: The Credit that keeps giving

Pension Credit does more than provide direct financial help – it unlocks a range of support* that could save eligible pensioners hundreds of pounds each year.  

Four ways Pension Credit helps pensioners save: 

1. Housing costs: Pension Credit could help reduce your housing expenses. Eligible pensioners might also qualify for Council Tax Reduction to lower their council tax bill, Housing Benefit if they're renting, or Support for Mortgage Interest if they own their home. 

1. Energy bills:  Pension Credit can open access to additional energy support. Eligible pensioners could receive the Warm Home Discount to reduce electricity costs and Cold Weather Payments during particularly cold spells.  

1. Health and wellbeing: Pension Credit may provide access to essential free NHS services. This includes dental treatment and help with transport costs for hospital appointments. 

1. TV Licence: Pensioners aged 75 or over who are eligible for Pension Credit qualify for a free TV licence.  

If you’re aware of pensioners who could benefit or who may be eligible for Pension Credit, but unaware of the extra support it could provide for them, please share these messages with them.

To find out more visit the gov.uk website for full details and to apply.

 *Eligibility criteria apply. Pension Credit has two parts – Guarantee Pension Credit and Savings Pension Credit. You may be able to get one or both parts depending on your circumstances. The type of Pension Credit you get may affect which passported benefits you automatically get.  

Road maintenance update for October

Our Highways department undertake maintenance schemes across the county.

We are responsible for the maintenance and repair of 1,400 kilometres of Denbighshire roads. Our teams carry out a regular programme of works to maintain and improve our roads, which ranges from the repair of potholes right up to resurfacing schemes.

Roads may need to be closed for us to carry out the patching, drainage and other supporting works.

October’s strategic Highways work is listed below:

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Our Highways teams are regularly working all year around to support and maintain the routes we have across the county. We would like to thank our residents for their patience and support this month as we carry out this important work.”

Dates of work may be subject to change due to the weather or other external factors.

For all roadwork information across Denbighshire roads including other Council services and utility companies please visit this link for further information.

Discovering Denbighshire

Looking to discover more of Denbighshire?

Why not take inspiration from our walking and cycling maps for new ideas of places to visit.

For more inspiration on activities in and around Denbighshire visit - https://www.northeastwales.wales/  

Fancy learning something new?

The Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador scheme is a free, online training course to enhance your knowledge and deepen your understanding of the Denbighshire tourism offer.

There are 14 modules to choose from on a variety of themes including walking, cycling, food, arts, coast, history and sustainable tourism.

Watch our short film highlighting the course.

Visit www.ambassador.wales and get started today!

More areas to receive Flying Start assistance in Denbighshire

Further areas within Denbighshire are now set to receive assistance through the Flying Start childcare scheme.

The expanded areas now cover Rhyl, Prestatyn, Meliden, Rhuddlan, Dyserth, Denbigh, Corwen, Llangollen, Llandrillo, Llanfair DC and are applicable to families who have a child who turned 2 years old between 1^st September 2024 and 31st August 2025.

This expansion means that families in the new areas will be eligible for up to 12 ½ hours of funded childcare per week during term time. With more settings offering funded Flying Start Childcare, and new postcodes being added regularly, families are encouraged to check their postcode using the postcode checker on the website.

Denbighshire Flying Start is a Welsh Government funded programme. The aim of the programme is to help children to have the best possible start in life for their future growth and development.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said:

“This latest expansion of the Flying Start scheme will mean that more Denbighshire families can now get access to the free childcare provision. This assistance is a massive help for parents and families.

Residents in the newly expanded areas can check if their postcode is eligible through the postcode checker.”

For more information please visit our website. 

Highlighting Denbighshire's main towns

Our Tourism Team have been highlighting each of our main towns in their North-East Wales blog.

You can find out more in their blog