February 2012

In Denbighshire, we are looking at all avenues to protect and enhance frontline services. One important option is to collaborate with partners on a regional basis. I was pleased therefore, that Full Council decided to agree unanimously to sign the Compact; this is an agreement between Welsh Government and local authorities to deliver services on a regional basis. This will provide sustainability and the sharing of good practice.

A good debate was had at Full Council and some emerging themes of efficiency and effectiveness as driving forces for making the decisions. There are two highly important services earmarked to be discussed at Cabinet – the regional school improvement service and the social services hub.

It was good to meet with John Griffiths, Minister for Environment, who visited the newly extended Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Clwydian Range and Dee Valley. It was good that he recognised the commitment and excitement of key stakeholders in managing the extension.

As Conwy and Denbighshire have merged the Local Service Boards, I attended a workshop to develop some priorities for both authorities on a sub-regional basis. Both authorities are similar in that there are high population densities on the coast and sparsity in the south, but an emerging priority will be dealing with the economic climate.

As Chair of the North Wales Regional Board, I took a delegation of colleagues to the Welsh Office to meet the deputy Welsh Minister, David Jones. Again there was a focus on the economy and we also resurrected the need for a prison in North Wales.

We are in the process of moving forward with Families First projects. This will be a successor to the Cymorth Programme and is focussed on the support of vulnerable families and is a key element of The Big Plan. The objective is to build a team around the family and provide more support to vulnerable families in our communities.

And finally – our children are becoming more independent with my daughter in university and son away swimming. My wife and I were left alone at home. It was a strange feeling of having the house to ourselves. The silence was deafening!

January 2012

I hope you all had a good Christmas and may I take this opportunity to wish you a happy New Year.

One of the most important discussions I had in December was regarding the economic situation inNorth Wales. I was asked to chair the first Economic Management Board inNorth Wales. The board consists of lead members and senior officers and the intention is to develop a framework for working across the region in a more strategic way. There is a lot of evidence to support this approach – the most concerning one being that North Wales has only 74.4% GVA (Gross Added Value) for Wales, which is concerning. Apart from developing a framework, the focus will be inward investment, infrastructure, enterprise, skills and youth unemployment.

There has been a focus over the last 12 months to develop plans for the major towns in Denbighshire. I am pleased that the first plan was presented to Cabinet for Denbigh and was well received. I am hoping these plans will provide confidence to the private sector, make it easier to draw down funding for projects and allow our services to work in a more co-ordinated way.

I presented a paper on the Corporate Plan, which showed continual improvement in our performance. It is also pleasing that as we set our budget, money is being allocated to our priorities which are beginning to make a difference, particularly to our highways.

We are presently setting our budget for next years and I would welcome your suggestions on what services should be protected and where we should be reining back spending through the Big Debate.

And finally…

I was honoured to receive an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List and feel this is for the improvements in Denbighshire that have happened due to the hard work and dedication of staff and councillors who genuinely want to provide the best services for our residents.

There are consequences to this new profile, the first is that my wife will expect a new outfit for the visit to the palace, and also I have become a question at a local quiz – fame at last!