News
New appointments in Denbighshire
Members of the Council have re-elected Councillor Hugh Evans OBE as Leader of the Council.
Councillor Evans, who represents the Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd/ Gwyddelwern ward, has served as Leader of the Council for the past nine years. He also served as Cabinet Member for the economy in the last council.
Councillor Peter Prendergast of Rhyl was elected Chairman for the next year. His chosen charities for the year ahead will be the RNLI (Rhyl Branch) and St Kentigern’s Hospice.
Councillor Peter Scott of St Asaph was elected as Vice Chair.
Councillor Peter Prendergast (left) with Councillor Peter Scott
Meanwhile the out-going Chair, Councillor Ann Davies of Rhuddlan presented a cheque totalling £11,028 that will be shared between her chosen charities - Tŷ Gobaith and St Kentigern’s Hospice. The money was raised during a year of fundraising activities. Eluned Yaxley from Tŷ Gobaith and Laura Parry from St Kentigern’s were presented with their cheques and thanked the Council for the ‘absolutely wonderful and vital support’.
Councillor Ann Davies, Eluned Yaxley (Tŷ Gobaith), Laura Parry (St Kentigern’s) and Jane Hugo (Cllr Davies’ consort)
Contacting your county council
The information about county councillors has been updated on the Council’s website, following the elections in early May.
By clicking here you can find out details about your local county councillor, as well as information on how to contact them.
This section of the website also provides details of committee structures and which councillors sit on which committee.
Ageing Well in Denbighshire
Over 50? Interested in influencing service delivery in Denbighshire?
If so, we’re interested in hearing from you.
An Ageing Well Denbighshire Group (previously the Older People’s Reference Group ) consisting of Denbighshire residents, representatives from the Council and key agencies, meet once a month to debate, consult and suggest ways to work together and improve services for older people in Denbighshire.
The Older People’s Strategy is a national and local strategy which was first launched in 2003 by the Welsh Government. The Strategy (the most recent being in its 3rd phase 2013 – 2023) still impacts on many, if not all, of Denbighshire’s priorities. Alongside this, the Ageing Well Plan has been developed locally and nationally emphasising the significance of this important agenda. Older people’s engagement and involvement in developing services in Denbighshire is right at the heart of both the Older People’s Strategy and the Ageing Well Plan.
Interested in finding out more … please contact Karen Eynon, Older People’s Strategy Development Officer on karen.eynon@denbighshire.gov.uk or tel 01824 706356 / 07884 116634.
Urdd success in South Wales
The Council has congratulated children and young people from across the county for their tremendous success at the Urdd National Eisteddfod, held in Bridgend earlier this month.
A strong delegation from the county’s schools qualified for this year’s national competition, held at Pencoed.
They competed in a wide range of competitions, including singing, cerdd dant and recitation, as well as off-stage competitions in arts, crafts, design and literary categories.
Karen Evans, Denbighshire’s Head of Education and Children’s Services, said: “Yet again this year, there has been a wealth of talent on offer at the various eisteddfodau held in the county. Pupils, teachers and parents have worked tirelessly to prepare for the heats and I would like to congratulate everyone on their efforts.
“To reach the national heats is a great testament to the amount of good work going on and our pupils were great ambassadors for Denbighshire and for Welsh language culture. The fact that our young people performed so brilliantly at the Eisteddfod is a reflection of their commitment, passion and dedication for Welsh culture”.
Stay well through the Dewis website
Looking for advice on staying well ? Then look no further than the Dewis Cymru website.
The website is the place for information about all issues relating to well-being in Wales, as well as the first point of information about local organisations and services that can help.
The website includes information on key topics: Being Well; Being Social; Being at Home; Being Safe; Managing Your Money; Children and Families and Looking After Someone.
The Being Well section looks at a range of issues, including indoor and outdoor activities, healthy relationships (including sexual health) and dealing with medication. It also details five ways of being well (connecting with people, being active, keep learning, taking notice of your surroundings and volunteering).
Bethan Jones Edwards, Head of Regional Collaboration of the North Wales Social Care and Well-being Services Improvement Collaborative, said: “Being well isn’t just about being physically healthy and free from illness, it’s also how you feel about yourself and your life as a whole.
“People often have a greater sense of well-being when they have strong social networks, suitable housing, they are in employment and/or education (if they wish to be) and they are healthy, both physically and emotionally.
“The Dewis Cymru website is a great one stop shop for all the information you need about well-being. There is a directory of services and activities available in your community. It’s all about pointing people in the right direction to the wealth of support already available”.
People can visit the website to register and to access details of support available in their county.
Your Talking Points
Have a say on the future of bus services in your area
The Council is inviting people to have their say on proposals to revise a number of public bus services in the county.
Drop-in sessions will be held at Denbigh Library on Thursday, July 6 between 9.30am and 12pm and at County Hall, Ruthin between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. A session will be held at Corwen Library on Friday, July 7 between 9.30am and 12pm. Representatives from the Council and the Bus Users Forum will be available to answer questions.
The services being consulted on are:
The closing date for comments is August 10. All feedback received will be considered as part of the review, with the services going out to tender in the autumn.
People can also acces the information online at: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/travel.
Modernising Social Services: Community Resource Team
We know that we are stronger together in achieving the desired health and well- being outcomes for the people of Denbighshire. That is why, with BCU Health Board, we are embarking on an ambitious plan to establish integrated teams across Denbighshire that will work closely with G.P practices.
Our joint vision is for the provision of comprehensive, flexible and responsive community services, available 24/7. The expectation is that integrated teams, made up of district nurses, community nurses, specialist nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social care practitioners and community navigators, from shared bases will deliver services together to designated populations. This will enable more care and support that is delivered in the community that promotes well-being and builds community resilience. Information, advice and assistance, early intervention, the prevention or delay of dependency and timely and effective reablement will be key objectives of the teams, as will the provision of timely and quality end of life care in the setting of the person’s choice.
What difference will having a Community Resource Team make to you, as a resident of Denbighshire?
- When you need support, you will only have to tell your story once, you will have less staff from the different agencies visiting your home with their different assessments.
- The service will be more flexible and responsive based on ‘what matters’ to you, as communication between the different professionals involved will be better.
- You will wherever possible receive care and support to remain independent at home, and if you do need to go into hospital our mission will be to get you home as soon as possible.
- You will be connected to a range of health and well-being advice services in your local community, supported by third sector and others. This will enable you to be better able to cope with crises and other situations which cause stress or anxiety.
Our first Community Resource Team in Denbighshire and our ‘spring board,’ to delivering the best possible service together, with our partners covers the Rhyl area. Our priority for 2017/2018 will be to establish integrated working practices and one team identity.
For further information, please contact Jane Moore at jane.moore@denbighshire.gov.uk or on 01824 712341.
Council frustrated at superfast Cymru roll out information
The Council has expressed its disappointment and frustration at information released by the Welsh Government on which properties will not get access to fibre broadband through the Superfast Cymru programme.
Although a second scheme is due to get underway next year there are no guarantees that properties in Denbighshire currently unable to access superfast broadband will get this opportunity in the next phase.
The current information shows that there are 2,400 properties not able to access superfast broadband in Denbighshire.
Councillor Richard Mainon, Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for Digital: “This is very disappointing as the Council has been pressing both the Welsh Government and BT for many months for answers as to when all communities in the county can benefit from it.
“The Council is aware of the economic benefits that high quality broadband can bring to communities and that superfast speeds are or will become essential for many of our businesses and residents.
“Until now there has been uncertainty on which properties would not benefit from the publicly subsidised Superfast Cymru programme and the Council has shared the frustrations and concerns of our businesses and residents.
“The Council has identified those properties in the county that cannot access superfast broadband. While this is far from unique across Wales, the Council is taking the opportunity to highlight the issue and support communities in moving forward”.
Funding is available from Welsh Government for individuals and groups of property owners to upgrade their broadband themselves and the Council is providing information on these opportunities on its website.
The Council believes the Welsh Government’s ‘Access Broadband Cymru’ (or ABC) scheme may be the most appropriate option for most residents. It offers grants of up to £800 per household on a first come, first served basis.
The Council is willing to coordinate meetings with the most affected communities who would be interested in working together to improve their broadband, but would need local ‘champions’ who would be willing and able to co-ordinate the work required to implement a community solution.
If you are interested, or know of anyone who would like to work with the Council please contact the Council, on 01824 706000 or e-mail: customer.services@denbighshire.gov.uk