MAKING LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORK FOR WALES

Let's be brutally honest many of our smaller communities, our small and large towns and our cities have suffered in the past from ill-thought out developments and questionable short term economic thinking. Our local small to medium retailers, local businesses and local consumers have suffered accordingly and we the consumers have paid the price with a loss of local services and choice.

Many people have real and serious concerns about the economic future and the character of their communities. We need to ask ourselves some serious questions about who these decisions in relation to redevelopment are being made for? And do our communities really benefit, locally or otherwise, certainly at times it is not us the customers? In the not so recent past local government has hindered economic growth and has damaged the economic vitality of our communities, but, it does not have to be this way.

One way that local government can help, rather than hinder, our small to medium sized enterprises and our communities is by improving procurement practice something that helps create and sustain local jobs. Plaid has called for legislation to be used to ensure that Welsh public sector contracts are allocated wisely to maximize job creation and investment opportunities here in Wales. The Welsh Government has previously announced a National Procurement Service, Plaid Cymru has rightly warned that unless further concrete action is taken then we in Wales will see savings but we will not see the full benefits.

The Party of Wales leader Leanne Wood said:

“Procurement is one of the successes of the National Assembly. By ensuring that Welsh public money is spend in the Welsh economy then we can create and support employment. A Plaid Cymru government would work towards achieving a target of 75% local procurement in Wales because we know that this could create 46,000 jobs here. That would make a huge dent in the unemployment figures.

“Spending that money with local companies in our local communities can also have a significant knock-on investment effect. By creating the demand we will also be improving the skills of our workforce, will be increasing the number of jobs, and will be supporting our local and national economies.

“Many businesses have told us that the process of bidding for work needs to be simplified, and for that reason, at a local government level in particular, we have argued for contracts to be unbundled. We have also worked to remove barriers to make it easier for small, local firms to apply for contracts. It’s about supporting our companies and sustaining our economy.

“Procurement is one way in which Plaid Cymru has made a real difference to employment levels and economic performance, and we will continue to make the case for ensuring that the money of Welsh taxpayers is used as wisely as possible, for the sake of our communities.”

BACK TO THE FUTURE

The Party of Wales leader Leanne Wood has pleaded for rail services to be returned from the private sector to the ownership of the people of Wales.

Speaking during a Plaid Cymru debate on rail in the Senedd on Wednesday, Leanne Wood argued that the Wales and Borders franchise should be transferred into the hands of a not-for-dividend company, once the current franchise ends in 2018.

Leanne Wood also wants to see the powers and budget for railway infrastructure to be devolved to Wales, as happens in Scotland.

The Plaid leader stressed that The Party of Wales had consistently opposed the privatisation of the railway network.

“We believe that major infrastructure should operate for the wider benefit of our economy and our communities, and that money which could be spent on improving these services should not be diverted into the pockets of shareholders taking minimal investment risks.

“A not-for-dividend model could be a publicly owned company, or it could be a co-op, or an independent company limited by guarantee, along the lines of Network Rail or Glas Cymru.

“Our most important aim is that the Welsh Government ensures that a model based on reinvestment of profit is what finally happens.”

Leanne Wood said that the Welsh Government should have full control of the Wales and Borders franchise and not have to rely on the agreement of the UK Government, although it would be fully consulted.

The Plaid Cymru leader highlighted the case for the powers and budget for railway infrastructure to be devolved to Wales.

“While welcoming recent infrastructure developments such as the electrification announcements from London to Swansea and the Valleys Lines, this does not make up for the fact that such developments were taking place around most of England and even from London to Glasgow up to 40 years ago.

“Wales has been left behind on the platform – at the whim of successive UK government,” Leanne Wood added.

“Self-government gives us a chance to break new ground and reject the failures of privatisation and fragmentation.

“Devolution, if grasped to its full extent, will allow us to put our rail services in the hands of the people of Wales, where they belong” declared the Plaid leader.

PLAID ELECT'S NEW LEADER

Leanne Wood - Plaid's New Leader

Leanne Wood has been elected as the new leader of Plaid Cymru- The Party of Wales.

The result was announced this afternoon at a special event in Cardiff and Leanne Wood will now take over from Ieuan Wyn Jones who stands down after over a decade in charge of the party.

Plaid Cymru Chief Executive and Designated Officer for the election, Rhuanedd Richards said;

“I’m delighted to announce that Leanne Wood has been elected to lead Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales.

“I also wish to congratulate both Elin Jones and Dafydd Elis-Thomas on running such energetic and inspiring campaigns. I know that they will both continue to serve both Plaid and Wales with commitment and passion.

“Our new leader has a crucial job to do for our nation over the coming years.

“Fighting for the future of Wales and our communities is very much at the forefront of people’s minds. Plaid is the only party which will ensure that the interest of Wales and its people will be advanced.

“I look forward to working with Leanne Wood as we continue the work of renewing the party.
“Plaid has a team of thousands of community activists and members who are already playing their part in moving Plaid and Wales forward. I know they too are looking forward to working alongside Leanne Wood over the coming years.”

Plaid Cymru’s new Leader, Leanne Wood said;

“This campaign has not been about individuals. It has been about a vision - a programme, a set of connected politics. Our task now is to build on the work of all of those who have gone before us. We may be small, as a party and as a country, but we can stand tall if we stand together and we stand up for our principles.

"The election is over, now the real work begins. I may not be the leader of the official opposition, but I intend to lead the Official Proposition. The proposition that another Wales is possible. Our positive, ambitious alternative vision can only come from the party of Wales.

"So here’s my message today to the people of Wales: we are your party. The People’s Party, of Wales, for Wales. Join us. Help us to re-build your community. Help us to re-build our economy. Together we’ll build a new Wales that will be fair, a new Wales that will flourish and a new Wales that will be free.”

CROWN ESTATES PROFIT CALL

The Crown Estate is set for a multi-million pound windfall from the development of wind farms – and Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood believes the benefits of natural resources should go to the people of Wales.

A Freedom of Information request by Plaid’s Sustainability spokesperson revealed that the existing offshore wind farms in north Wales at North Hoyle and Rhyl Flats generated income to the Crown Estate of almost £400,000 in 2009-10.

And that is set to multiply many times with the development of other sites. Construction of the Gwynt-y-Mor wind project is due to start this year and the Crown Estate told Leanne Wood it also had a zone development agreement with Centrica to develop up to 4.2 gigawatts, covering both Welsh and English waters.

In addition, the Crown Estate has onshore options for three wind farms at Lys Dymper with Wind Power Wales, at Llanllwni with RES Renewables and Cilfaesty with RWE Power. Planning applications have been submitted for the first two.

The annual report of Crown Estate showed its Welsh holdings generated a gross surplus of £2.3m in 2009-10 with capital receipts bringing in £1.8m. It owns more than 3,000 acres across Wales, principally agricultural holdings. Profits earned by the Crown Estate are paid to the Treasury, according to them, for "the benefit of the nation".

Last year it was revealed that the Royal Family had secured a lucrative deal that will earn them tens of millions of pounds from the massive expansion of offshore wind farms. They will net up to £37.5 million extra income every year from the drive for green energy because the seabed within Britain's territorial waters is owned by the Crown Estate.

Leanne Wood AM, Plaid South Wales Central, said:

"The two North Wales wind farms generated £389,000 in income over the last financial year and that is set to grow into millions of pounds over the next few years with the increasing drive for more green energy. Many onshore and offshore projects are on the cards.
 

"Plaid’s view is that it is high time that profits which are earned from Wales’ natural resources, the seabed and the land should be owned by the Welsh Government for benefit of the people of Wales and not into the Treasury's coffers, which is passed into an already excessively wealthy Royal Family.
 

"We don’t want to repeat the situation where huge profits were made from the coal industry but Wales did not enjoy the benefits and is still paying the price today.
 

"Virtually all the UK’s sea bed, including that in Wales, up to 12 nautical miles and more than half the UK foreshore is owned by the Crown Estate.


WHAT THE CROWN ESTATES SAYS ABOUT ITS WELSH LAND HOLDINGS

We are responsible for three agricultural holdings, under different uses: Aberystwyth, which includes 34 hectares (84 acres) of land used by the University of Aberystwyth for research and the fourth largest sheep market in Wales, at 3 hectares (8 acres); Plynlimon, 1,185 hectares (2,928 acres) comprising two agricultural holdings; and Tintern, 68 hectares (169 acres) which includes substantial mineral interests on the west bank of the River Wye. In the interest of preserving Tintern Abbey for future generations, we have placed it in the care of CADW (the historic environment service of the Welsh Assembly) under a long-term management agreement. The majority of our estate in Wales is common land, primarily used for grazing sheep but we also have more traditional farms.

FOOD SECURITY

A growing number of people (me included) are worried about secure energy supplies, but not new Labour or the Con Dems who are quite happy to leave energy planning and energy supply to the whims of the 'free market'. We should also spare a thought for 'food security'.

Food security is nothing new, back in 1996, the World Food Summit defined food security as existing “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. The World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledge that the concept of food security is defined as including both physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences.

All very fine and day you may say, but, what does that have to do with us? Well, quite a lot actually, the especially as the UK produces 73% of 'indigenous-type foods’ (home grown to you and me), and is about 60% self-sufficient when exports and local consumption are set against production. It's also worth noting that UK consumers spend an average of £420 per household on food each year that they then throw away, or 4.1M tonnes of food nationally.

Every day we bin 4.4M apples, 5.1M potatoes, 2.8M tomatoes and 1.6M bananas. 2009 Wrap data suggests £12Bn worth is binned every year in the UK, or around £680 for the average family when drinks and liquid food is included. In Wales at least, as noted by Leanne Wood Plaid AM, South Wales Central, serious efforts are being made to cut waste (if we had the proper powers then we could make an even better job of it).

The rise in global food prices will have an impact on the cost of living and the prices we pay for our food. The cost of Global food prices quietly rose to a new high in December last year, according to the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Its Food Price Index went above the previous record of 2008 that saw prices spark riots in several countries.

Soaring sugar, cereal and oil prices had driven the rise, the report said. The index (produced by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) measures monthly price changes for a food basket composed of dairy, meat and sugar, cereals and oilseeds, averaged 214.7 points last month, up from 206 points in November and also noted that prices had risen for six consecutive months.

At the end of the day, rising food prices will bring little or scant benefit to our own or more distant food producers because often they are being short changed by the Supermarkets (and some of their suppliers). They need a fair deal and so do we, that's something to ponder on when confronted by the increased cost of our basic foodstuffs.

PASSPORT OFFICE RALLY

A march and rally calling for Newport's Passport Office to remain open will be held in Newport on Saturday. The event organised by the PCS union will start at 10.30am outside the Westgate Hotel, for an 11 am start. The march will go through Skinner Street, Upper Dock Street, Corn Street and Commercial Street before ending with a rally in John Frost Square. Leanne Wood AM's bog entry on the threatened closure of Newport's Passport Office is well worth a read, Leanne will be one of the speakers on Saturday.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

Uncommon Sense (27.06.2010) which blogs for a free Cuba is always worth a read - noting this week that the Group of 52 - who are Cuban Political Prisoners - who were among some 75 Cuban journalists, librarians, human rights activists and other dissidents were arrested and imprisoned during the "black spring," which started March 18, 2003 - remain in Raul Castro's gulag, as of June 24, 2010.

Also the fact that the Human Rights and Equality Commission does not recognise Welsh people as an indigenous people might shock more than a few people. This is something that the Plaid Wrecsam blog noted: "It should not need pointing out that the Welsh are in fact the indigenous people of Wales. Most people would not disagree with that and would probably comment that I am highlighting the blindingly obvious by making such a remark. Yet, the Human Rights and Equality Commission last week gave evidence to the Welsh Assembly stating the opposite. The evidence heard by the Welsh Assembly Petitions Committee from the Commission was that "Welsh people within the UK don't fit as an indigenous grouping" and therefore are not entitled to protection under Human Rights legislation, specifically the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."

While it is becoming depressingly obvious to many observers that the Conservative Party in London has not adjusted its attitude to the concept of Devolution (and subsequent developments since 1997) and many other matters one bit will probably not shock many observers at all - however, the Lib Dems have no excuses, having been pro-devolution since the 1960's and before. The happy (or not ) amalgam or effective merger (take your pick) that is the Con Dem Government's performance runs the risk (especially after the 'get on your bike' row that has erupted since Sunday) of repeating the mistakes of the Thatcherite era. Many people won't want to go throw the whole process again, once was enough, which should be more than enough reason to make people wonder why they voted Lib Dem at all...

The Plaid Llundain Blog notes that Thatcher`s first years were marked by the inexorable merciless shut down of manufacturing and mining in Wales, and a deterioration of services attended by massive increases in unemployment. Whole communities were condemned and abandoned to a despair which has become ingrained and normalised. This was then, despite Peter Hain's mutterings to the contrary, then repeated as Blair's New Labour`s sucking up to middle England marginalising and abandoning despite UK Labour `s apologists in Wales who are currently reawakening their socialist principles - going through it all once with Mr's T was a destructive enough experience for many of us - going through a similar experience under David ("Call me Dave") Cameron's rule is even less appealing.

Leanne Wood AM/AC blogged on short sentencing noting that: "It was refreshing to hear the Howard League for Penal Reform and the probation officers union, Napo, bring a bit of common sense to the public debate this week on how best to cut the budget deficit. Both suggested abolishing short prison sentences on the basis that they serve no purpose whatsoever." Well said, the whole piece is well worth a read.

The BBC ran an interesting piece on the dangers of re-writing history... and also noted that municipal authorities in Georgia have finally taken down a statue of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin that stood in the central square of Gori, his home town.

And finally an English MP has called for a fresh debate over 'English anthem' . Greg Mulholland a Lib Dem MP said it was "frustrating" to hear fans sing God Save The Queen in South Africa as it was the anthem for the United Kingdom. He told MPs there should be a "properly established" anthem for English teams. Parliament should debate the case for an "English national anthem" that fans can sing at sporting events like the World Cup he said. After Sunday, perhaps Abide With Me might be more appropriate.