My inbox has been full this month, mostly about the price of oil and the grant scheme (reported more fully elsewhere in this issue). In particular I’ve been working with officers and those operating pool buying schemes to resolve some teething problems, and it should now work (although please do contact the council before ordering as they can’t typically make retrospective grants). If there are any problems, please get in touch.
I’ve written to Chief Executive about the unresolved sewage issues in Dilwyn Common and have been assured he will be taking this to the CEO of Welsh Water later this month. It’s complicated, with lots of different public bodies involved, but the progress has simply been too slow and there’s still no clear agreement on accountability.
On the subject of the Chief Executive, he is due to leave at the end of June, and we continue to look for a replacement, potentially decided in the next few weeks. I have made it clear that – while the outgoing CEO has in many ways been excellent – I think his replacement must live in (or at least very near) the county.
In January next year, the analogue telephone system is to be turned off, with everything transferring to digital. For most consumers and businesses, this change will be straightforward:
- If you already have an internet connection, the change may be as simple as plugging your phone into your broadband router, rather than the socket on the wall.
- If you need to upgrade your phone system, your provider may need to arrange for a telephone engineer to come to your home to install a new system.
- If you have other devices connected to your phone line, such as an alarm and digital / tele-healthcare system, your alarm or healthcare system provider might need to upgrade your alarm device to make sure it's compatible.
I’ve been told that your telecoms provider (eg Virgin Media, O2 or BT) will contact you ahead of the switchover to let you know what you need to do to make sure your service isn't affected, and that you do not need to take any action until your provider contacts you directly. Please do get in touch if you or anyone you know is worried about this.
On roadworks: in the last few days, remedial works have been undertaken on the A4112 above Dilwyn, where (as advised by the parish council) the initial resurfacing wasn’t up to quality. I met with officers there to discuss other aspects which are still outstanding; drainage on both sides of the road in particular. I am glad to have assurances that the costs of the remedial works are not being met by us (the council and ultimately residents/tax-payers). Works on the rat-runs both north and south around are still to be scheduled - although I’ve an assurance that the potholes on Riddox Lane will be done within 28 days. There’s an outstanding query about the removal of cats-eyes on the western entrance to the village, and I continue to raise problems with paint being washed away, or cats-eyes not being replaced. This recurring theme of work not being done properly first time is something I’ve raised with the Leader of the council, and he has assured me that the new scheme (when Balfour Beatty leave) M Group will be managed to get jobs done right first time.
I’ve also been looking at the slow delivery of section 106 programmes for traffic calming; it is taking an interminable amount of time in two of my parishes – and there is a similar pattern across the county. In many cases, schemes are held up because of their complexity and it just takes one dependency for the whole thing to pause. I’ve asked the Leader to consider a different approach where we get what can be done, done. It sounds simple – time will tell. One thing held up by this was the failure of the flashing lights by Weobley school, that is now at last resolved, after a tortuous process.
Finally – a bit of personal news; our third child is imminent, due early May. Although my role as a councillor isn’t a “job”, so I don’t have formal paternity leave, I will be taking some time off to be with my family. If there is anything urgent/important please do of course still get in touch (as always, [email protected] or 07884 268624), but please forgive me if lack of sleep means I drop anything.