Latest news with #MaryAnnBrocklesby
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby on Monmouthshire County Council
But that doesn't mean that local authorities do not have their own particular priorities and the ability to make choices on how they deal with the financial challenges. In Monmouthshire, our focus is on what we can do, not what we cannot. This was how we set out our stall, clearly, before we were elected and we have relentlessly kept to that agenda. Our approach is yielding positive results in so many different ways. At the heart of everything we do, our 'style' if you like, is the ability to work collaboratively with community groups, other organisations and our residents, and where necessary, to try a different, innovative approach. As just one example of how this can work for the benefit of all, we have just been awarded the highest score of any local authority in the whole of the United Kingdom for our work on waste reduction and food by a community interest company, Climate Emergency UK. They assessed all local authorities and scored them according to ambitious targets. Monmouthshire got the highest score, 93 per cent, for our work on Waste Reduction and Food and the second highest overall score in Wales across seven varied themes. The cabinet member responsible for this aspect of our work, Catrin Maby, made clear that the result recognised what we have been doing together with local communities. And never one to sit on our laurels, she added: 'We can be proud of what we've achieved, but we also know we need to keep on doing better.' This was possible because of the environmentally conscious way that our residents and many others worked with us, not against us. Continuing the theme of working in partnership, we have just launched a STEM Programme (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) which is a trigger for attracting new businesses to our county and can also underpin links between employers and schools. Here we will be able to harness the skills and energy of local school teachers, engaging effectively with pupils. Our aim is also to establish a flexible and innovative apprenticeship centre in the county. We are focusing not only on helping students pass their exams but also on equipping them with marketable skills that will benefit them for their futures. The increased uptake of those following STEM subjects will interact positively with training and employment opportunities. It is another excellent example of our approach to partnership and collaboration on a wider canvas. Hence, I do not see our authority as a beleaguered island, surrounded by breaking waves. No, we are at the beating heart of a wonderful county, working alongside so many others to build a better, 'healthier' (in all senses of the word) Monmouthshire, which in turn can stimulate a better future for all. Councillor Mary Ann Brocklesby is leader of Monmouthshire County Council.
Business News Wales
11-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Monmouthshire Celebrates Official Opening of Flagship All-Through School
Morgan Sindall Construction's King Henry VIII 3-19 School at Old Hereford Rd, NP7 6EP, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales on 16 April 2025. Photo: Adam Davies ©2025 Adam Davies Photography, All Rights Reserved. Monmouthshire County Council has officially opened the new King Henry VIII three-19 School in Abergavenny. The event, attended by Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle, Monmouthshire County Council Leader Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, MCC Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Laura Wright, and a host of dignitaries, staff, and pupils, celebrated the completion of the first operationally net-zero carbon all-through school in Wales. The £70 million project, jointly funded by the Welsh Government and Monmouthshire County Council under the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme and constructed by Morgan Sindall, represents a bold investment in the future of education in the region, the council said. Monmouthshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Laura Wright, said: 'This building is more than bricks and mortar. It's a beacon for a modern education system in Wales, designed to inspire, to nurture, and to empower our young people.' Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle said: 'I was delighted to visit King Henry VIII School for the official opening and witness this remarkable investment that was made possible through our Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. As our first operationally net-zero carbon all-through school, not only will our learners benefit from high quality facilities, but they will also benefit from learning in a sustainable school environment. What has been achieved here is truly inspiring for our learners.' The ceremony featured performances from pupils across all ages, showcasing the school's through school strategy. Guests enjoyed performances from the cast of the school's production of Les Misérables, a dance performance by pupils in Years 1 and 2, as well as performances from the Primary Phase and All-Age Choirs. Adding to the celebration, Monmouthshire County Council was recently named 'Client of the Year' at the Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards, held at Celtic Manor. The award recognises the council's exemplary leadership and collaborative approach throughout the King Henry VIII project. Judges praised the council's unwavering focus on quality, sustainability, and community impact, noting that the project sets a benchmark for public sector delivery. As winners of the Welsh award, the council will now represent Wales at the UK-wide Constructing Excellence National Awards later this year. Monmouthshire County Council's Leader, Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, noted: 'It's an honour to be named as 'Client of the Year'. As a council, we wanted to ensure that this project not only delivered a building for the next few years, but one that will shape education within the town and county for generations to come. The award highlights our dedication to achieving this, and we look forward to representing Wales at the UK National awards.' Phase two of the project, which includes the completion of the playing fields and the energy centre, is scheduled for completion by April 2026.
South Wales Argus
08-07-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Armed Forces Day at Caldicot Castle and Country Park
More than 7,000 people gathered at Caldicot Castle and Country Park on Saturday, June 28, for Wales' National Armed Forces Day in honour of servicemen and women, past and present. Councillor Peter Strong, chair and armed forces champion at Monmouthshire County Council, said: "What a wonderful day at Caldicot Castle and Country Park. "Seeing so many people in attendance to show their support for our Armed Forces community highlights the high esteem that people have for serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets, and their families." The event featured a Spitfire flypast, a cadet and veterans parade, and a full programme of musical performances. It was also where the Armed Forces Covenant was re-signed by the council. Councillor Mary Ann Brocklesby, leader of Monmouthshire County Council, said: "It was a privilege to re-sign the Covenant at the Armed Forces Day event."
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Monmouthshire free school bus changes will remain, says council
A council that is removing free bus passes to some 300 children in September is not planning any changes to its next home-to-school transport move by Monmouthshire County Council will see it comply with Welsh government the new policy, free passes will only be offered to secondary school pupils who live three miles or more from their school and two miles for primary council's current offer is more generous, as it provides free travel for children who live 1.5 miles or more from their primary and two miles from their secondary school. The changes have been confirmed by the council which said providing free transport to pupils who live below the Welsh government's statutory distances was becoming unaffordable due to rising demand and operator Ann Brocklesby, the council's Labour leader, said as a result it had protected funding for said Monmouthshire was one of the last local authorities in Wales to go beyond the home-to-school transport distances required by law."By reverting to the statutory distances, we've been able to redirect this money into our schools to support education for all our learners," she said."In truth, if we had the funding, we wouldn't have done this, however, it is a result of a sustained period of underfunding for our public services." At a council meeting, Louise Brown, Conservative councillor for Shirenewton, asked if the policy - which has to be reviewed each year - had been delayed because no proposals for the 2026/27 policy were included in a list of forthcoming Wright, the Labour cabinet member for education, said the Welsh government was due to consult on guidance on learner travel and that the council would not alter its policy for 2026-27 while the guidance was under asked if parents would be notified that no changes would be made to the policy for the 2026-27 school year, and council transport chief Deborah Hill-Howells said the council website would be updated and all parents would be have to consult on home-to-school transport policies in the autumn term of the school year, before they come into force. This article was written by a trusted journalist and then edited for length and style with the help of AI, before being checked again by a BBC Journalist. It's part of a pilot.
South Wales Argus
27-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire mosque lease for former library confirmed
Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet agreed to grant a 30-year lease for the empty Abergavenny Library to the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association in May but three backbench councillors forced a review using the council's call in process. Just two days before a scrutiny committee considered that request the grade II listed building, last used as a pupil referral unit after the library closed and transferred to the to the town hall in 2015, was targeted by Islamophobic vandalism. The decision had to come back to the Labour-led cabinet's Wednesday, June 25 meeting where leader Mary Ann Brocklesby reminded those present the call in 'asked us to review the decision made and does not have the authority to overturn the decision.' Councillor Ben Callard, who is responsible for resources including leases, addressed the seven points made by the scrutiny committee which sent the decision back to the cabinet, on the chair's casting vote, but said he wasn't convinced the tender process should be run again as the committee wanted. A photograph showing the anti-Muslim vandalism of the former Abergavenny Library. The Llanfoist and Govilon member said: 'I've reflected on them but at the moment I'm not minded to change the original decision. I think it was the correct one and Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association will be good tenants for this property.' Of those reasons Cllr Callard said the council hadn't set a target rent for the building, and doing so could have 'depressed' the price, and defended the four week timeframe for the tender process. He said a number of 'competitive' bids were received and he didn't agree the council should have got an independent survey of the building as the authority has the capacity to do so itself. He also dismissed the suggestion, he said made by a Conservative councillor, the library built and funded by Scottish-American philanthropists Andrew Carnegie should be sold. He said: 'I don't think it should be disposed of, it should remain in the council's ownership'. Conservative opposition leader Cllr Richard John claimed taxpayers would be 'subsidising' the mosque at the agreed rent of £500 a month, or £6,000 a year. He said a previous council budget paper suggested it could produce a rental of between £20-25,000 a year. Cllr Callard said: 'The tax payers of Monmouthshire will not be subsidising it. It was put out for a competitive tender and it returned the figures proposed by the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association, which was the highest submission.' From left, Cllrs Ben Callard, Mary Ann Brocklesby and Richard John. (Image: Monmouthshire County Council.) He added the lease is on a 'full repair' basis which will pass all maintenance responsibilities to the tenants and he described the building as having 'significant liabilities'. The lease was also described as a commercial deal and Cllr Callard said the Muslim association isn't benefiting from a rental agreement, which is a subsidy, that other community groups leasing council buildings enjoy. Cllr Callard also acknowledged it was an 'ambition' of the cabinet the local Muslim community should have a mosque but denied, under questioning from Cllr John, there was any 'done deal'. He also said independent councillor Simon Howarth was wrong to say the council had 'put' the mosque in the library as it offered the building through a tender process open to all. Concerns from residents over car parking in the area were also acknowledged at the meeting and Cllr Callard said the association has committed to using the three nearby public car parks. All seven members of the cabinet confirmed their support for the original decision when asked by Cllr Brocklesby who said the unanimous decision means the lease will be offered to the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association. During the meeting Cllr Callard also acknowledged questioning over how the council should subject potential leases to scrutiny before decisions are made which he said requires further thought.
