Latest news with #DilwynRoberts
Business News Wales
27-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
First Artist's Impressions Unveiled for Proposed Venue Cymru Redevelopment
Conwy County Borough Council has shared a first look at the artist's impressions for proposals for Venue Cymru, Llandudno. The visuals showcase a transformed space that aims to better serve the local community, library users, visitors, cultural professionals and theatre patrons. The artist's impressions are included in a report that will be presented to the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillors will be asked to consider the draft proposals and make recommendations to Cabinet. The report will also include the results of the Library Public Consultation and the outline economic impact report on the proposed relocation of Llandudno Library to Venue Cymru. The redesign will help safeguard both the area library and Venue Cymru's place as a premier cultural and events destination in North Wales. In addition to providing modern facilities and improving accessibility, the co-location of the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) and area library is expected to deliver cost savings of over £100,000 per year. 'Seeing the artist's impressions is an exciting milestone for the project,' said Conwy's Head of Economy & Culture, Sarah Ecob, 'It really helps bring our vision to life and shows our commitment to creating a cultural hub that is inclusive, modern, and fit for the future.' 'These proposals for Venue Cymru are part of a wider strategy to safeguard vital services and support economic growth, cultural development, and tourism in Conwy.' Cllr Dilwyn Roberts, Conwy's Cabinet Member for Culture, said: 'This redevelopment represents a significant investment in the cultural life of our region. Venue Cymru has long been a cornerstone of our arts and entertainment offer. These exciting proposals aim to ensure it continues to inspire and engage future generations and secure the future for the area library. I hope councillors get behind this project that promises to celebrate creativity, bring people together, and strengthen our communities' cultural identity.' Cllr Nigel Smith, Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Economy, added: 'I am really pleased to support this investment in Venue Cymru, as the project will be a welcomed boost to the local economy. The proposed works will both sustain and create jobs in the short term and help to safeguard and grow jobs in the future. Just as importantly by giving improved access to the arts and culture all under one roof, it will also help sustain our much-loved Venue Cymru, the Library Service, and Tourist Information service for the benefit of our residents and visitors.' The draft Business Case for funding has been submitted to UK Government. Final plans will be subject to councillors' approval. Plans will be put on show in Venue Cymru, Tourism Information Centre (TIC), and Llandudno Library in the coming months.
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Public consultation on school amalgamation to start next month
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A public consultation will start next month on the amalgamation of two Old Colwyn primary schools, which could lead to redundancies if given the go-ahead. At a meeting at Coed Pella today (Tuesday), Conwy Council's cabinet agreed to rubber-stamp the consultation for the amalgamation of Ysgol T Gwynn Jones (Infants) and Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn (Juniors) into a single, unified school. If approved, the new streamlined school would continue to operate across both existing school sites with one management structure. A report discussed by the cabinet warned of 'potential staff redeployment and/or redundancies' as a result of the merger. During the meeting, cabinet member for education Cllr Julie Fallon said: 'The proposal is to formally amalgamate the two schools, so the infants and the juniors. The proposed new school would remain located on the two sites but would operate under one management structure. "So the proposal and subsequent statutory steps would be in line with the Welsh Government statutory code of practice. Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox. 'The proposal would provide continuity of education for the pupils, which we've seen in a number of these that have taken place; a greater sense of school community for all staff, pupils, and parents, with one consistent vision, ethos, continuity, and progression of learning through the seamless transition; shared teaching expertise, and more effective deployment of resources.' She added: 'Initial discussions on the proposal have taken place with the headteachers and the governing bodies at both schools. Both are content for us to move forward with the consultation.' The move comes as part of a wider review of school organisation under the Welsh Government's Statutory School Organisation Code (2017), which requires councils to ensure educational consistency, efficient use of school buildings, and equal funding per pupil. Cllr Dilwyn Roberts seconded Cllr Fallon's proposal to back the consultation, which was voted through. The public consultation will start on June 2 until July 14, returning for debate at cabinet in October, with a final decision due early in the new year. Public notices in your area
North Wales Live
13-05-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Live
Public consultation on school amalgamation to start next month
A public consultation will start next month on the amalgamation of two Old Colwyn primary schools, which could lead to redundancies if given the go-ahead. At a meeting at Coed Pella today (Tuesday), Conwy Council's cabinet agreed to rubber-stamp the consultation for the amalgamation of Ysgol T Gwynn Jones (Infants) and Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn (Juniors) into a single, unified school. If approved, the new streamlined school would continue to operate across both existing school sites with one management structure. A report discussed by the cabinet warned of 'potential staff redeployment and/or redundancies' as a result of the merger. During the meeting, cabinet member for education Cllr Julie Fallon said: 'The proposal is to formally amalgamate the two schools, so the infants and the juniors. The proposed new school would remain located on the two sites but would operate under one management structure. "So the proposal and subsequent statutory steps would be in line with the Welsh Government statutory code of practice. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. 'The proposal would provide continuity of education for the pupils, which we've seen in a number of these that have taken place; a greater sense of school community for all staff, pupils, and parents, with one consistent vision, ethos, continuity, and progression of learning through the seamless transition; shared teaching expertise, and more effective deployment of resources.' She added: 'Initial discussions on the proposal have taken place with the headteachers and the governing bodies at both schools. Both are content for us to move forward with the consultation.' The move comes as part of a wider review of school organisation under the Welsh Government's Statutory School Organisation Code (2017), which requires councils to ensure educational consistency, efficient use of school buildings, and equal funding per pupil. Cllr Dilwyn Roberts seconded Cllr Fallon's proposal to back the consultation, which was voted through. The public consultation will start on June 2 until July 14, returning for debate at cabinet in October, with a final decision due early in the new year.
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Council's new translation system partly inaudible to listeners
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A cabinet member congratulated Conwy Council on its "high standards" of Welsh translation at the council's new Colwyn Bay chamber, seemingly unaware parts of his speech were inaudible due to bugs in the translation system. A finance scrutiny committee met on Monday for the first time at Conwy 's flagship Coed Pella building, with councillors meeting for the final time on Friday after 30 years in the Grade-II listed Bodlondeb. The council explained last week that it had 'been working with an outdated system at Bodlondeb for a number of years' after a livestream of a meeting was delayed on Friday. To save funds, Conwy opted to move to the state-of-the-art £58m Coed Pella building, after spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on the move and kitting out the new chamber. At the meeting, the Welsh language standards annual report was introduced by Cllr Dilwyn Roberts, the cabinet member for culture and leisure. While speaking in Welsh, Cllr Roberts congratulated the council on a "high standard" of Welsh translation in the new chamber, seemingly unaware that those listening to the English translator online couldn't understand parts of his address. Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox. Whilst English speaking speakers could be heard clearly, when some Welsh speakers took to the mic, the translation equipment amplified other conversations going on in the room. The stream constantly buzzed, crackled, and popped, leaving listeners straining their ears and unable to hear parts of the dialogue. 'I'm really proud of (inaudible), but first (inaudible) the main chamber (inaudible). Historic day here today, and additionally, I'm glad as well I have a report for you that is very important for this scrutiny meeting (barely audible) morning,' said Cllr Roberts. 'As you know - we've all read the report – it says it is to do with (inaudible). We have to do this according to the Welsh language standards, and it is nice to hear the high standard of translation coming through in here today, and that everything has been done easily. So (inaudible) this committee will see like I do that this is a very positive report, and the support has been amazing.' He added: 'For this report to be positive, it has taken a lot of support from councillors and staff at the same time, and whatever your first language, there is good support for bilingualism in this council, and I'm very proud of that.' (Image: North Wales Weekly News) Cllr Roberts continued to introduce the report in Welsh, which continued to pop and buzz with interference. Once Cllr Roberts had finished, council officers also presented the report, with parts of their speech being similarly difficult to hear to varying degrees, due to the translation picking up other conversations and more interference. At another point, later in the same meeting, Cllr David Carr was complaining about the council not cutting non-essential services and the bin and recycling collections, only for his voice to repeatedly cut out. Earlier this month, the authority said it needed a new modern council chamber as Bodlondeb was outdated. Consequently, the new Coed Pella meeting room had been equipped with new improved 'microphones, headsets for simultaneous translation facilities, cameras, display screens, and audio enhancement and hard-of-hearing support'. The council said it spent £700K on the cost of bringing all functions into Coed Pella and reconfiguring the space to accommodate the new council chamber, democratic hub, and other services. The purpose of the report was to show how the council has conformed with the Welsh Standards during 2024-2025, a statutory requirement. The committee approved the report, which will now go to cabinet for further debate. A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council commented: "This was the first committee meeting from the council chamber in Coed Pella, so we're aware that some small refinements to the new systems may be necessary. It must be remembered that adapting to a new system takes time for everyone." Public notices in your area
North Wales Live
13-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Council's new translation system partly inaudible to listeners
A cabinet member congratulated Conwy Council on its "high standards" of Welsh translation at the council's new Colwyn Bay chamber, seemingly unaware parts of his speech were inaudible due to bugs in the translation system. A finance scrutiny committee met on Monday for the first time at Conwy 's flagship Coed Pella building, with councillors meeting for the final time on Friday after 30 years in the Grade-II listed Bodlondeb. The council explained last week that it had 'been working with an outdated system at Bodlondeb for a number of years' after a livestream of a meeting was delayed on Friday. To save funds, Conwy opted to move to the state-of-the-art £58m Coed Pella building, after spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on the move and kitting out the new chamber. At the meeting, the Welsh language standards annual report was introduced by Cllr Dilwyn Roberts, the cabinet member for culture and leisure. While speaking in Welsh, Cllr Roberts congratulated the council on a "high standard" of Welsh translation in the new chamber, seemingly unaware that those listening to the English translator online couldn't understand parts of his address. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. Whilst English speaking speakers could be heard clearly, when some Welsh speakers took to the mic, the translation equipment amplified other conversations going on in the room. The stream constantly buzzed, crackled, and popped, leaving listeners straining their ears and unable to hear parts of the dialogue. 'I'm really proud of (inaudible), but first (inaudible) the main chamber (inaudible). Historic day here today, and additionally, I'm glad as well I have a report for you that is very important for this scrutiny meeting (barely audible) morning,' said Cllr Roberts. 'As you know - we've all read the report – it says it is to do with (inaudible). We have to do this according to the Welsh language standards, and it is nice to hear the high standard of translation coming through in here today, and that everything has been done easily. So (inaudible) this committee will see like I do that this is a very positive report, and the support has been amazing.' He added: 'For this report to be positive, it has taken a lot of support from councillors and staff at the same time, and whatever your first language, there is good support for bilingualism in this council, and I'm very proud of that.' Cllr Roberts continued to introduce the report in Welsh, which continued to pop and buzz with interference. Once Cllr Roberts had finished, council officers also presented the report, with parts of their speech being similarly difficult to hear to varying degrees, due to the translation picking up other conversations and more interference. At another point, later in the same meeting, Cllr David Carr was complaining about the council not cutting non-essential services and the bin and recycling collections, only for his voice to repeatedly cut out. Earlier this month, the authority said it needed a new modern council chamber as Bodlondeb was outdated. Consequently, the new Coed Pella meeting room had been equipped with new improved 'microphones, headsets for simultaneous translation facilities, cameras, display screens, and audio enhancement and hard-of-hearing support'. The council said it spent £700K on the cost of bringing all functions into Coed Pella and reconfiguring the space to accommodate the new council chamber, democratic hub, and other services. The purpose of the report was to show how the council has conformed with the Welsh Standards during 2024-2025, a statutory requirement. The committee approved the report, which will now go to cabinet for further debate. A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council commented: "This was the first committee meeting from the council chamber in Coed Pella, so we're aware that some small refinements to the new systems may be necessary. It must be remembered that adapting to a new system takes time for everyone." Public notices in your area
