February 2020
Dear Resident,
Please find below my monthly newsletter for February 2020.
It’s not possible to mention every area I’m involved with in my newsletter, so if you would like to be updated on matters which I haven't mentioned, please do feel free to contact me on 01686 610887 or by emailing [email protected]
If you would like to meet me in person to discuss an issue, I have advice surgeries most Fridays in both Newtown and Welshpool and regular surgeries in locations around Montgomeryshire so please contact my office to make an appointment.
Best wishes
Russell George AM
Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire
Brexit - We must focus on new opportunities
I appreciate that there would have been different views as we left the European Union on Friday. I hope we can all agree that we now need to focus on new opportunities.
As we have now left the European Union, following the transition period, the UK will no longer receive EU structural funding (which is worth about £2.1 billion per year). The UK Government's proposed Shared Prosperity Fund will replace EU structural funding.
This new funding structure will be used for boosting several aspects of economic development, including support for businesses, employment and agriculture, and will be administered by the different nations of the UK.
We in north Powys did not benefit from EU structural funding, with funding only focused on certain parts of Wales, so I used my first question of 2020 in the chamber to challenge the First Minister on whether or not he agreed with me that the new Shared Prosperity Fund provides a new opportunity to invest in parts of Wales outside of the Valleys and the west of Wales. I believe that Mid Wales also needs to benefit from this new fund. I was pleased to receive a reasonably positive answer. Clearly, as the workings of this new fund becomes clear, I will report back further.
Montgomery Canal Restoration
I was pleased to have once again pledged my support for a bid by the Montgomery Canal Partnership for the canal restoration to be included in the projects supported by the Mid Wales Growth Deal.
The UK Government has pledged an initial £55 million for the Growth Deal and it’s hoped the Welsh Government will match that amount.
My colleague, the new MP for Montgomeryshire, Craig Williams, and I discussed the canal restoration at a positive meeting in Welshpool a couple of weeks ago with Montgomery Canal Partnership chair John Dodwell and Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust chair Michael Limbrey (pictured above).
Craig and I have both committed to liaising with Powys and Ceredigion County Councils about progress with the Growth Deal and I have also agreed to arrange an event and debate at the Senedd to make fellow AMs aware of the importance of the canal restoration to tourism and the economy of Montgomeryshire.
Tourism is such an important part of the Mid Wales economy and it’s crucial to realise the ambition of restoring the Montgomery Canal. I shall continue to champion the restoration.
Celebrating our Farming Community
Over the last month, I have made an effort to highlight the commitment and contribution of the farming community to Mid Wales and its rural economy in a series of meetings, both at the Senedd with farming unions, the NFU and FUW, and by attending a FUW Farmhouse Breakfast in Forden.
The aim was to raise the profile of the issues affecting the agriculture industry as well as celebrating our locally produced foods.
There are significant challenges facing the industry, and events like this that bring about informal discussions between local farmers and politicians.
I would particularly like to thank Mark and Helen Williams for their hospitality in hosting a fantastic Farmhouse Breakfast at Penderw Farm in Forden.
All of the meetings are an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the importance of our rural economy and an opportunity to promote the quality premium local produce that Montgomeryshire's farmers produce for us every day of the year.
The Welsh Government has a role to play in partnership with the farming community to confront the challenges ahead and seize the new opportunities which will be presented by Brexit.
There is an opportunity to reinvigorate our farming community and to produce the food our nation’s larder requires. We need trade deals that protects vital industries such as agriculture, that are so important for us in Mid Wales.
I will continue to call on the Welsh Government to provide farmers and rural communities with greater confidence in the Welsh Government's plans contained in their "Sustainable Farming and Our Land" proposals; to fully recognise the importance of food production in Wales; and acknowledge the role which farmers play in developing the rural economy.
Affordable Housing Developments
Over the past couple of weeks, I've been pleased to visit two local housing developments.
I was pleased to meet with the teams from the National House Building Council and Pickstock Homes to learn about the work they are doing to provide a new 100% affordable housing scheme in Churchstoke on behalf of Mid Wales Housing Association.
I was also pleased to view plans for a Mid Wales Housing development at the far end of Gallowstree Bank in Welshpool. It is a development of 54 homes, 40 of which will be social housing with the remaining 14 being available via the Welsh Government's Rent to Own scheme, the first of its kind in Mid Wales.
These development are good news, and a fantastic addition to the area as it is imperative that people have access to high quality, affordable homes.
Debate on Smacking Ban
Last week, the Senedd passed the Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill.
Any abuse of a child is intolerable and I support all workable movements to improve welfare and safety for young people, but if we are going to introduce laws to further protect children from harm, they need to be robust and enforceable.
The Act will remove the defence of ‘reasonable punishment’ by an accused person, the defence will no longer be available to anyone in Wales, including visitors, in any event that they are accused of assault or battery against a child. In doing so, the Welsh Government claims that children in Wales will be offered the same legal protection from physical punishment as adults.
In my view, this legislation is poorly thought-through and could criminalise tens of thousands of decent, loving parents and be nigh on impossible to enforce. I voted against this legislation.
The overwhelming majority of parents know where to draw the line between chastisement and abuse and we should trust their judgement. I believe that parents are best placed to care for their children - not the Welsh Government.
The vast majority of the public in Wales don't want this legislation. Whenever public opinion has been tested, the response has been very clear, and that is: between two thirds and three quarters of people, do not believe that a smacking ban should be introduced.
We already have comprehensive legislation in place that the police, social services and others use to deal with child abuse and those who break them should feel the full weight of the law.
Most parents who use the occasional smack do so within the confines of a loving relationship with the child who they want to raise to be a responsible adult and someone who can contribute to society usefully in the future.
Change ahead for Education in Powys
Powys County Council is currently developing its vision for education in Powys. The Council has prepared a document which outlines its emerging vision for education in Powys.
The document is available on its website: www.powys.gov.uk/transformingeducation
The Council is encouraging views on this document. To let the local authority know your views on the document you can:
- Respond to the online questionnaire using the link - http://bit.ly/2viN2H5
- Sending a written response either via e-mail or post: [email protected] / School Organisation & Capital Team, Schools Service, County Hall, Spa Road East, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5LG
The Council are requiring responses by 24th February 2020.
Following the end of the engagement period, I’m told the vision document will be updated to take account of the feedback received. An updated version will be considered by the Council's Cabinet in April 2020, alongside an implementation plan for the coming years.
For further information visit https://en.powys.gov.uk/transformingeducation
Delivering Apprenticeships & Training
Cambrian Training, a leading work-based learning company, which delivers apprenticeships across Wales, has begun the new decade and its 25th year of delivering skills with a glowing Estyn inspection report. The company was delighted to receive 'Good' judgements across all inspection areas, which confirmed its status as one of Wales' top training providers.
To celebrate the inspection report launch, I joined the company at a reception to celebrate their achievement which is an acknowledgement of the training programmes they provide.
Their training allows their apprentices to secure the wide range of practical and vocational skills that benefit the individuals that they work with which helps to establish them as valuable employees.
It’s of great benefit to Mid Wales to have a company based here that specialises in apprenticeships and supports employability opportunities so relevant to the local and Welsh economy.
Electric Vehicle Charging Points
I was happy to support my colleague, David Melding AM, in his legislative proposal this week which will require all new-build homes to be fitted with at least one electric car charging point.
Back in October, the National Assembly's Economy, Infrastructure & Skills Committee, which I chair, recommended that all new residential developments in Wales should have charging points for electric vehicles.
There are currently only around 550 public charging points in Wales whereas there are 12,700 in England so progress to roll out charging points in Wales has thus far been slow.
As the electric vehicle market expands, there is a clear need for urgent acceleration by the Welsh Government to ensure the network can cope.
Communication with stakeholders and the people of Wales will be a critical part of delivering this network.
I also believe that the electric vehicle charging infrastructure can be hard-wired in if the Welsh Government requires all new residential developments to set aside car parking capacity for electric vehicles.
Here in Powys, the County Council's bid for OLEV funding was successful, with the full £100,000 being awarded to help provide Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Powys. This funding will enable Powys to complete its phase 1 plan of installing fast EV chargers in 9 car park locations around the County. Sites in Montgomeryshire include:
Church Street Car Park, Welshpool
Back Lane Car Park, Newtown
Maengwyn Street Car Park, Machynlleth
Mount Street Car Park, Llanidloes
Orders for new electrical connections at these sites have been placed and the Council are finalising the contract with the successful supplier, with a view to completing installations by around April 2020.
