Dear resident,
Please find below my monthly update on my activities in both the National Assembly and Montgomeryshire.
Last month, we saw some significant changes take place with a new set of Councillors elected to represent our interests at County Hall.
In April, the Prime Minister called a General Election, and I hope that everyone makes their views known by voting for your chosen candidate tomorrow - 8th June. Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm.
Naturally, I hope that your choice is for my friend and colleague, Glyn Davies, who I believe has served the people of Montgomeryshire tirelessly since his election as our MP in 2010. If you would like to meet with him, he will be at Welshpool Town Hall tonight (Wednesday 7th June) from 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome and Glyn will be available to answer questions in an informal setting.
And as always, if you feel that I can help in any way, please don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or on 01686 610887.
Best regards,
Russell George
National Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire
Change at Powys County Council
Following the local government elections on May 4th, Councillor Rosemarie Harris has been elected as Executive Leader of a new administration with a partnership of Independent Councillors and the Council’s Welsh Conservative group.
I have congratulated Cllr. Harris on becoming the Leader of Powys County Council and I look forward to working with her administration and all local councillors in an effort to improve the communities which they represent.
I would also like to congratulate Cllr. Dai Davies from Berriew who was appointed Chairman of Council, and Cllr. Joy Jones who represents the Newtown East ward, who was elected Chair of the Montgomeryshire Committee.
I know that the Conservative group of Councillors under the leadership of their group leader, Cllr. Aled Davies, will play a constructive role as part of the new administration and will use their influence to put forward positive proposals which were included in their plan for Powys during the election campaign.
Conservative Councillors campaigned on reversing cuts to recycling services and I know that the strengthened Conservative presence on Powys County Council will mean that other key policies will be high on the council's agenda, including the improvement of day care services for the elderly; and the integration of social services and healthcare provision.
For my part, as the Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, I will do all I can to support the new administration at Powys County Council and look forward to working with Cllr. Harris' team to navigate the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead in the best interests of Powys' people and communities.
Review of Recycling Centres
I’m pleased that an urgent review is to take place into the opening times and restrictions imposed on access to Powys recycling centres.
The review, which was recently announced by the new Powys County Council Cabinet Member for Waste, Phyl Davies, follows concerns at the recently introduced cut to opening hours from seven days a week to just three and only one of these is at the weekend.
The review, which will also reconsider restrictions on vans and trailers at the sites, will include recycling centres at Newtown, Welshpool and other sites in Powys.
Restrictions imposed on access to recycling centres in Newtown and Welshpool have been unfair and wrong. I have always felt that it was unacceptable for sites in Newtown or Welshpool to operate for just a few days a week. Both sites are very well used and this decision was a backward step which could have an adverse impact on our environment and recycling rates if it is not reversed.
I had over 5000 residents take part in my own recycling survey earlier this year and there was an overwhelming view that the decision to limit the days in which Potters recycling sites are open should be reversed.
I'm therefore delighted that Councillor Phyl Davies has made the decision to conduct an urgent review as one of his first decisions as he takes on his new cabinet responsibilities.
NatWest Bank Closures in Welshpool & Machynlleth
I wanted to update you following meetings I have had with the bank officials. During April, I organised a public meeting at Welshpool Town Hall and attended a public meeting with Machynlleth Town Council. I was disappointed that NatWest managers refused to attend the public meetings, only agreeing to meet with myself and community leaders.
It is clear that NatWest management will not change their position, and both banks will close later this year.
The bank management did detail other options for customers in what they refer to as there ‘after closure plans’. These range form services being available at post offices branches and a mobile bank visiting each community each week.
I also raised issues which members of the public raised at the public meeting including security and privacy concerns as well as a lack of all banking services available at the Post Office and potential long queues at the Post Office too.
Although the bank officials did not agree to review their closure plans they did agree to review their proposed ‘after closure plans’, 3 months after the closures take place, and I will meeting them again at this point.
I have again raised the issue with the First Minister and renewed my calls for a new community banking model which would preserve the presence of banks on Powys’ high streets. The First Minister acknowledged the serious situation which communities face when it comes to the loss of their banking services and has agreed to take up my calls to facilitate 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. I hope that the Welsh Government is now able to exert some pressure to ensure that adequate solutions are found.
The NatWest bank officials also agreed to explore the community model that I have been promoting.
Support for Welsh Tourism Week
In May, I was delighted to be able to support the Mid Wales Branch of the British Holiday and Home Park Association in a day of events just outside of Machynlleth, to support Mid Wales tourism.
More tourists than ever before are visiting Mid Wales to see what our wonderful region has to offer with
renowned heritage sites, fantastic food and drink, beautiful market towns and fantastic mountain ranges.
Tourism is a critical driver in economic development and job creation and the Welsh Government must do more to foster the right conditions for growth in this crucial sector for the Mid Wales economy.
Last year, I revealed that the Welsh Government doesn’t spend a single penny of its £8.3 million budget on specifically promoting Mid Wales as a tourist destination. This is scandalous and instead of Government taking the lead, the industry should be in the driving seat in promoting Mid Wales’ unique tourism offer.
Tourism habits are changing – and Mid Wales is well-placed to benefit from this, but only with the right action plan which will allow the tourism industry in Mid Wales to flourish and reach its full potential.
As a member of the Assembly's cross party group on Tourism, I will continue to work with and support this important sector.
Dementia Awareness
A few weeks ago I was pleased to meet with Alzheimer’s Society Cymru representatives in the Senedd to raise awareness for those living with dementia. I was also pleased to have attended two coffee mornings in Welshpool and Newtown to bring attention to the cause and to witness the presentation of certificates to businesses in Welshpool who are supporting the Dementia Friendly Communities programme.
With a growing number of people living with dementia, it's becoming increasingly important that we find a way of working in collaboration to meet the challenge dementia presents. The Dementia Friendly Communities programme facilitates the creation of dementia-friendly communities to ensure that people with dementia feel understood, valued and able to contribute to their community. My staff and I are already registered as “Dementia Friends” and it is great to see that Welshpool and Newtown businesses are embracing this project.
Superfast Cymru
Less than eight months before the conclusion of the Superfast Cymru fibre broadband upgrade, I have raised concerns with the First Minister about the communication errors which continue to plague the Superfast Cymru programme.
For example, in March, I received a letter from the Minister for Skills & Science, Julie James AM, confirming that residents in Adfa would benefit from Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) technology but in April, I received another letter to say that Adfa had been downgraded to Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) technology which would mean that those who are too far away from the cabinet would miss out on superfast broadband altogether.
Last year’s Evaluation of the Next Generation Broadband Wales Programme also called for a more coherent and strategic approach to communications after reporting that the communications surround the timing of the roll-out was inconsistent.
I was pleased that the First Minister agreed to look into this matter as a matter of urgency but I have to say that it is bitterly disappointing for residents to have been promised one thing and then find out that they are not going to benefit from a fibre broadband upgrade after all.
We are just months away from the conclusion of the Superfast Cymru project and we really ought to be in a position whereby everyone has a definitive answer on whether they are going to receive an upgrade as part of the Superfast Cymru scheme. There’s really no excuse for these communications errors to occur any longer.
I have also been liaising with a number of local IT businesses that provide tailored solutions to communities.
I will also be holding a 'Broadband Summit' next month in Newtown, which the Welsh Government Minister has agreed to attend.
Mobile Coverage
Access to mobile coverage will be critical for consumers and businesses who use the new Newtown bypass when it is constructed and I have written to all mobile network operators to ensure that they have plans to ensure that the bypass benefits from seamless voice and mobile internet coverage. I have also asked Welsh Goverment officials to raise awareness of the new bypass with the mobile industry and I hope that Powys County Council will do the same.
I continue to raise the lack of mobile signal issues of many other areas and communities, and continue to report back. As I reported last month, I’m delighted to report that Staylittle has recently received mobile coverage from O2 and a video about this rural rollout is available to watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/h4LvIQwmCLI
Mid Wales Economy
I was delighted to lead a debate in the Senedd a couple of weeks ago calling for the Welsh Government to recognise the need to address the regional disparity in economic prosperity, which still exists within Wales, through a Mid Wales Growth Deal.
I believe that a Mid Wales Growth Deal would go some way in driving and increasing productivity and social mobility in Mid Wales. When I recently visited Lake Vyrnwy Hotel to discuss their plans for the future, it was clear that more investment in marketing mid Wales as a specific tourist destination and investment in transport networks and creating a world-class telecommunications infrastructure are desperately needed to create a thriving Mid Wales economy - a Mid Wales which is a viable place to do business, ensuring that key sectors such as tourism and agriculture are plugged into the wider midlands engine.
To read my full contribution, please click here
The work of the Economy, Infrastructure & Skills Committee
Last year I was elected to Chair the National Assembly's Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee and I wanted to share with you some of the work on which we have been recently focusing on. The committee meets weekly and is made up of 8 members from across all party groups represented in the National Assembly.
The Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry into the city and growth deal activity which is taking place across Wales and how these fit together with the economic strategies for Wales and the UK. I was particularly keen to include a focus on mid Wales, and I'm pleased that the committee will be taking evidence from witnesses with a mid Wales perspective later this month. An inquiry into Apprenticeships in Wales which will build on the work we did on the Apprenticeship Levy earlier this year is also taking place.
For more information on the work of the Committee and information on how to submit evidence to any of our inquiries, please click here
Advice Surgeries
I will be holding advice Surgeries in my Welshpool and Newtown office as detailed below.
These are by appointment only so please contact me if you would like to meet.
If you would like to meet outside of these times please contact my office so we can find an alternative date.
Welshpool - Friday 16 June between 12 - 2pm
Newtown - Friday 23 June between 12 - 2pm