Latest news with #PowysCountyCouncil
Powys County Times
13 hours ago
- General
- Powys County Times
Powys: Acting head appointed at Ysgol Bro Caereinion
A senior education officer from Powys County Council has been appointed to take over at a school after the head and deputy both resigned. Anwen Orrells has been appointed as acting headteacher of Ysgol Bro Caereinion following "an extensive recruitment process" overseen by the school's governing body. Mrs Orrells, is a fluent Welsh speaker with over 30 years' experience in education, including more than 16 years in educational leadership, curriculum design, and school improvement. Her previous roles have included Service Manager for the Education Support Service and Secondary School Challenge Adviser with the council as well as senior leadership positions at Caereinion High School and as a teacher at Builth Wells High School. Mrs Orells is currently Head of School Improvement and Learning at Powys County Council and Strategic Lead for the Mid Wales Education Partnership. The school released a statement saying it was overjoyed that she had accepted their offer for her to fill in the role after the resignation of headteacher Huw Lloyd-Jones and deputy Edward Baldwin from their positions. 'I'm delighted to announce that we have offered the post of Acting Headteacher to Mrs Anwen Orrells and she has accepted the offer,' said Ysgol Bro Caereinion's chair of governors, Myfanwy Alexander. 'A familiar face to many in the school community, Mrs Orrells combines strategic knowledge, leadership skills and unrivalled talents as a teacher. The Governing Body has the utmost faith in her and we are certain that she is the headteacher replete with experience and vision who can lead the school to an exciting and successful future.' Mrs Orrells said she was delighted to take on the role and will be joined by Miss Laura Jones as Deputy Head whose appointment was announced last week 'I am delighted to begin my role as Headteacher and to work in close partnership with pupils, staff, parents, and governors,' said Mrs Orrells. 'Together, we will build on the school's many strengths to ensure every learner has the opportunity to thrive. 'I am committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and ambitious learning environment for all, as we continue our journey along the language continuum towards becoming a truly bilingual school.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Cllr Pete Roberts, Powys County Council's cabinet member for a learning Powys, hailed Mrs Orrells 'wealth of experience and a strong track record in educational leadership to her new role'. He added: 'Her deep understanding of the local education landscape will be a valuable asset to the school community. 'I'm excited to continue working alongside Anwen and the entire Ysgol Bro Caereinion community as we strive to improve educational outcomes for all learners. Together, we are committed to advancing the school's journey along the language continuum and fulfilling the goals set out in our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.'
Powys County Times
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Powys council misses information request deadlines
The number of requests for information met on time by Powys County Council plummeted during 2023/4, a meeting has heard. At a meeting of Powys County Council's Liberal Democrat/Labour Cabinet senior councillors received a historic annual report on Information Governance covering 2023/2024. The report showed that during that year the council received a total of 1,271 information requests under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and Subject Access Requests (SAR), 16 per cent up on the 1,093 received in 2022/2023. FOI and EIR requests are supposed to receive an answer within 20 working days while for SAR the deadline is 30 days. The performance during 2023/2024 saw was 73 per cent for FOI, 77 per cent for EIR and for SARs only 32 per cent were completed on time. This is down on the 84 per cent for both FOI and EIRs and 57 per cent for SARs that the council achieved in 2022/2023. The Information Commissioner expects the compliance rate to be at 90 per cent. The report explains that the team have had staffing issues during the reporting period. Cllr Raiff Devlin (Liberal Democrat) who was installed as the cabinet member customers, digital and customer services only last month said that an 'Information Management, Assurance, and Governance plan' was in place to try and improve things. As of the end of March last year only 35 per cent of this plan had been completed. Cllr Devlin said: 'Further work is required to meet the targets. 'Compliance rates have seen a decline, and this is as a result of resource challenges within the department. '66 per cent of non-compliant responses were due to delays in the provision of information by the service enabling a response to be drafted or released. 'Complaints to the commissioner are mainly linked to late requests.' 'The commissioner made decisions on two complaints, over an exemption applied and information held. 'The commissioner found in favour of the council on both occasions.' He said that the report provided 'reasonable assurance' that the council's arrangements and plan 'adequately' reflect the principles of good information governance. Cllr Devlin added: 'It is important to note that this report is from 2023/2024 and many of the forward plan priorities have already been actioned by the department and that the 2024/2025 report is in development.'
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
£300m railway project in Powys delayed by five years risks local job opportunities and economic boost
£300m railway project in Powys delayed by five years risks local job opportunities and economic boost A report to a Powys County Council committee has revealed that one of the biggest employment projects in the county is running five years later than planned The project would potentially introduce hundreds of jobs (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A rail track testing facility project near Ystradygynlais has experienced significant delays, now running at least five years late, according to recent disclosures. The plan promises substantial economic benefits by potentially introducing hundreds of jobs and is anticipated to inject approximately £300m into the local economy. During a Powys County Council's Governance and Audit committee session, councillors together with lay members reviewed a report on the risks the council faces from repurposing the former Nant Helen coal drift mine into a state-of-the-art Global Centre of Railway Excellence (GCRE). Diane Reynolds, director of economic development and growth, informed the committee that they can expect GCRE to submit additional planning applications for the site to the council in the upcoming year. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Planning permissions confirming the fundamental viability of redeveloping the location were secured from both Powys and Neath Port Talbot council's planning committees back in 2021. In the previous year, GCRE had secured approval from planning authorities to extend the time permitted to deliver detailed designs for the project. A site masterplan shows how the GCRE will take shape. (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) Article continues below The facility was initially slated to be up and running by 2025, however this no longer appears to be the case. Ms Reynolds clarified: "These things change over time they are looking to put in a revised planning applications." The upcoming plans are set to include the refurbishment of a footpath encircling the area, which could become part of a new cycle route. She added: "I think they are looking at improving access as well." Committee vice-chairman and lay member John Brautigam expressed concern, stating: "There is a risk stated in the report that there is a skills deficit for the jobs that would be needed there. What is being done about that?". Ms Reynolds responded that they have a massive programme to attract people into the world of engineering. She explained: "They have been conducting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) sessions with Year Six pupils, reaching out to all of the local schools, providing training and sparking interest among young people in the types of skills that will be required for the future operation of such a site. "We don't anticipate the site to be operational until 2030 so we're talking five years. "They have also been working diligently with the Welsh and UK Government on any individuals that will be displaced as part of the steelworks ceasing. "They have been re-training local people in the rail industry so they can assume positions in the future." Mr Brautigam responded: "Thank you I'm glad to hear there is some activity in that direction anyway." Committee chairwoman and lay member Lynne Hamilton suggested that another report on the development should be presented to the committee in the future to ensure that the council's risks are being "managed appropriately,". Article continues below
Business News Wales
2 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Powys Public Transport Network Upgrade Agreed by Cabinet
Plans to upgrade the Powys' public transport network have been agreed by the Powys County Council's Cabinet. Following a comprehensive engagement and consultation exercise, the council has revised its local bus timetables and service routes, incorporating public feedback to ensure a more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable transport network. The upgraded network aims to deliver the Sustainable Powys ambition of connecting communities and localities to their core towns within an hour's journey time. It also provides for longer distance services throughout the county and for onward travel to bigger towns and cities across the borders that Powys residents may need to get to for health, education and other services that are not available locally. With an increase in routes, bus numbers and more evening and weekend travel options, the agreed upgrade will require additional funding of a one-off investment of £1.349 million and an annual increase in budget of £2.354 million. These costs will be taken to an Extraordinary Full Council meeting on 4 July for approval. Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, said: 'Following the agreement at today's Cabinet meeting to upgrade the county's public transport network, and subject to full council approval, Powys communities will soon be able to benefit from a more connected county. The upgraded public transport network in Powys aims to provide more reliable and frequent services in rural areas with better connections between towns and key services. 'If the additional funding requirements are approved by full council early next month, the new seven-year contracts will be awarded to a range of local and regional transport operators who will begin delivering enhanced services with greater connectivity from September 2025. 'Along with improved public transport provision, we are delighted that the young people of Powys will also benefit from the extension of the Welsh Government young person's travel concession (MyTravelPass) from September 2025, allowing them to travel on buses within Wales for just £1.' Details of the new services will be publicised later in the summer.
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Plan to overhaul Powys public transport reaches a key stage
Plans to transform Powys' bus network so no resident is more than an hour's travel from one of the county's five core towns has taken a leap forward. A full council meeting next month will see the plans face their final test, with members needing to agree to spent £1.349 million in the first instance, and to increase the travel budget by £2.35 million a year to allow the changes to happen. Powys County Council's Liberal Democrat/Labour Cabinet met on Tuesday, June 24, and discussed a report on bus service contracts in that county as well as details of a consultation held earlier this year on the proposed timetable changes. Under the Sustainable Powys programme Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod, Brecon and Ystradgynlais are being designated the county's core towns. And the new network is aimed at ensuring communities can get to their local core town within an hour's travel. It also provides for longer distance services and onward travel to bigger towns and cities across the borders where Powys residents access services such as health. Details of the new services will be published later in the summer. Cllr Jackie Charlton, cabinet member for a greener Powys who is responsible for transport, said 'Subject to full council approval, Powys communities will soon be able to benefit from a more connected county. "The upgraded public transport network in Powys aims to provide more reliable and frequent services in rural areas with better connections between towns and key services. 'If the additional funding requirements are approved by full council early next month, the new seven-year contracts will be awarded to a range of local and regional transport operators who will begin delivering enhanced services with greater connectivity from September 2025. 'Along with improved public transport provision, we are delighted that the young people of Powys will also benefit from the extension of the Welsh Government young person's travel concession (MyTravelPass) from September 2025, allowing them to travel on buses within Wales for just £1.' Speaking at Tuesday's meeting Cllr Charlton added: 'We engaged, consulted and listened to lots of feedback from public transport users, this is the starting point for along the improvement journey for local transport users." She added that 'lots of ideas' for further improvement had been received from consultation feedback which could be used in the future if more money is found. Cllr Gary Mitchell (Plaid Cymru) vice-chairman of the Economy, Residents and Communities scrutiny committee criticised the lateness of the report coming in front of the councillors and that it had to be 'squeezed in' to a special 'last minute' meeting last Friday (June 20). Cllr Mitchell said: 'There were only two options, and that limits us in making recommendations and we must understand there are significant budget pressures to both of them.' Finance portfolio holder, Cllr David Thomas (Labour) said that he was 'confident' that the extra money could be found within council budgets to fund the proposal. Former council leader and now portfolio holder for a prosperous Powys, Cllr James Gibson-Watt (Liberal Democrat) said: 'The perception out there is we hardly ever see a bus in Powys, when you look at the list there is a really comprehensive network operating and this will enhance that immensely.'
