March 2018
Dear Resident,
I’ll be carrying out a number of ‘Drop in Advice Surgeries’ (no appointment needed) over the coming weeks, please see details below.
I was particularly pleased to support Marie Curie's Great Daffodil Appeal 2018 at Morrisons last weekend with fellow volunteer, Barbara Norbury. Many thanks to all those who donated.
The money raised from the Great Daffodil Appeal will help Marie Curie Nurses provide care and support to people living with a terminal illness, and their loved ones, in homes across Wales so I was delighted to help support the appeal again this year.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like any further information or would like help with any issues or concerns.
Russell George
Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire
Welsh Government cut Education Improvement Grant
The Education Improvement Grant (EIG), established in April 2015, provides financial assistance to schools, local authorities and regional education consortia to improve educational outcomes for all learners.
The Welsh Government’s draft budget set out plans to cut the Education Improvement Grant by £22 million over two years and this cut has previously been hidden behind a slight increase in overall funding to local authorities via their Revenue Support Grants.
However, there is no guarantee that any increases in that funding will be passed on to schools and Powys County Council has rightly voiced concerns about this net cut in school funding.
Unless resolved, these cuts will mean that councils could be forced to cut other vital services in order to make up for the deficit in their revenue support grants.
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and AM for Brecon & Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, acknowledges that there are "issues” with the EIG and has committed £5 million from the Reserves for 2018-19 to “alleviate the impact on our main urban authorities” but as she made no mention of the Vale of Glamorgan or Powys who are once again the poor relations to our urban counterparts, this is a matter I questioned her on in the Assembly.
I presented my view that these cuts must be reversed and local authorities the length and breadth of Wales must all be reimbursed for the money they’ve lost so that services can continue to support the educational needs of our pupils. This should be done in a fair way, so rural as well as urban Councils can benefit.
Disappointment as Barclays set to close another local bank
It is disappointing, but sadly not surprising, that the only remaining bank in Machynlleth, Barclays, is set to close. Last year, the only remaining bank in Llanidloes closed. Many other communities have lost banks over recent years.
In the latest in a long line of high street branch closures in Powys, Barclays will close its branch in Machynlleth this September.
Carwyn Jones, the First Minister, has previously joined me in recognising the serious situation which communities face when it comes to the loss of their high street banking services and I will be looking for him to take a lead in facilitating a discussion with the banks, the regulators and other partners to explore a new community banking model which would see banks share premises and services rather than close their doors for good.
While the Post Office should be congratulated for filling the gap left by high street banks such as Barclays, it doesn’t for all over the counter facilities at the bank, especially for some business transactions or those residents who are elderly or disabled. Furthermore, communities in areas such as Llanbrynmair, who already have to travel large distances, will now have even further to travel to their nearest branch.
Last week, I met again with senior Post office staff who have agreed to attend a meeting with me in Machynlleth to discuss how the banking services that the Post office provides can be improved.
Healthcare - The Mid Wales voice must be heard!
I am determined to ensure that the Mid Wales voice will be heard when changes are proposed in England that affect the availability of health services for Mid Wales residents.
Between 18th October 2017 and 24th January 2018, NHS England consulted on the modernisation of radiotherapy services and it’s my view that they didn't engage sufficiently with either NHS commissioners or the public in Wales who access radiotherapy services from across the border.
These proposals could lead to some services being moved from Shrewsbury to other centres further to the east. This would lead to increased travel at an anxious time for patients during such a debilitating treatment.
It would also be disappointing for people from Mid Wales who have done so much to raise money to bring these vital services to Shrewsbury firstly through the Cobalt Unit Trust Fund and then through the Lingen Davies charity.
Details of these proposals were only shared with me and the health board shortly before consultation ended, and I am grateful to Powys Teaching Health Board for quickly arranging a response to the consultation to represent the interests and concerns of people in Montgomeryshire.
However, I remain very disappointed that NHS England did not do more to raise awareness of their proposals and the impact this might have for people in Wales, so that Powys residents were given ample opportunity to respond themselves.
As we still await the go ahead for the consultation on NHS Future Fit, the Powys voice has and will continue to be heard in regards to proposed changes in Shropshire. I will keep you updated on developments in this regard.
First Minister visits Newtown for scrutiny session
The First Minister, Carwyn Jones AM, visited Newtown last month to be scrutinised by me and other Assembly Members who sit on the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister.
Meeting at the Hafren Centre / NPTC college site in Newtown, the focus of the meeting was to question the First Minister on the impact of Brexit on the Food & Drink Industry in Wales and the potential future international trade arrangements following withdrawal from the European Union but I also had the opportunity to question him on local healthcare.
The importance of the Food and Drink Industry to Mid Wales must not be underestimated and Brexit presents a significant challenge to the sector given the fact that 90% of Welsh food exports are to the European Union.
From my perspective, the Food and Drink sector and Welsh farming must be at the forefront of Brexit trade negotiations to ensure that we maintain the best possible access to the single market.
Ultimately, we all want the same thing, which is to ensure a seamless transition to a new set of arrangements which will allow Mid Wales products like Welsh lamb, Hilltop Honey and Monty's Beer to be traded freely without posing additional barriers to the food and drink industry.
As the local Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, I was also permitted a more locally based question and I took the opportunity to ask the First Minister about rural health services and the need for a new hospital facility locally.
I believe that changes to healthcare in Shropshire present us with an opportunity to strengthen our local services here in Powys and while the First Minister was non-committal in his response, this issue is now on his radar and I will continue my discussions with Powys Teaching Health Board regarding a bid being submitted for an improved facility locally.
Welsh Government presence at Ladywell House
The Welsh Government's lease at Ladywell House expires in March 2020 and I am concerned that the Cabinet Secretary has been unable to provide me with assurances that the Welsh Government will maintain its long-term presence in Mid Wales beyond 2020.
While I welcome the confirmation that the Welsh Government is committed to "a well-dispersed, interconnected and accessible presence for the Welsh Government right across Wales" they haven't made the firm commitment to Mid Wales which I was looking for.
The Welsh Government has always had offices in Montgomeryshire since its creation and there has been some concern in the past that Welsh Government plans to scale back on its commitment to basing Welsh Government staff in Newtown.
Now that Ladywell House has been sold to Powys County Council, I will be looking for a guarantee that the Welsh Government's presence as a significant employer in the area will be maintained.
Forthcoming Advice Surgeries
I have organised a number of advice surgeries and no appointment is required:
Llangurig
Llangurig Community Centre, Saturday 24th March (10.00 – 11.30)
Llanidloes
Llanidloes Community Centre, Saturday 24th March (12.00 – 14.00)
Trefeglwys
Trefeglwys Community Centre, Saturday 24th March (14.30 – 16.00)
Newtown
13 Parker's Lane, Monday 26th March (15.00 – 16.30)
Carno
Carno Community Centre (Cledan Hall), Tuesday 27th March (10.00 – 11.30)
Llanbrynmair
Machinations Café, Tuesday 27th March (12.00 – 13.00)
Machynlleth
Y Plas, Wednesday 28th March (15.30 – 16.30)
Newtown
13 Parker's Lane, Thursday 5th April (14.00 – 16.00)
Llanfyllin
Cain Valley Hotel, Thursday 12th April (11.00 – 13.00)
Meifod
Kings Head Pub, Thursday 12th April (13.30 – 15.30)
Llansantffraid
Llansantffraid Football Club, Thursday 12th April (16.30 – 18.30)
Welshpool
20, High Street, Friday 27th April (11.00 – 13.00)
You can also make an appointment with me in either my Newtown or Welshpool office most Fridays. I am also currently arranging surgeries in Churchstoke, Llanfair Caereinion, Llanerfyl, and Foel – Please contact me if you would like to meet with me when I’m in these locations.
You can contact me by email at [email protected] or on 01686 610887.