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Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
New IT 'will defend Powys Council from cyber attack'
New IT will help protect Powys County Council against a cyber attack, council chiefs believe. At a meeting of the Governance and Audit committee on Friday, June 20, councillors and lay members received a report on the council's strategic risk register for the last quarter of 2024/2025 (January to end of March). The report says that the digital services department want to de-escalate the risk that the council's 'information and systems will be vulnerable to a cyberattack' from phishing emails. If senior councillors agree to this, the risk will drop down to be managed by a departmental risk register. Cllr Graham Breeze (Powys Independents) said: 'I'm really uncomfortable that we're asking for this to be de-escalated. 'The current situation we live in, worldwide massive organisations such as Marks and Spencer have come under a huge attack which has cost that company over £300 million to date. 'I'm interested to know how we feel so confident that we have control over this that we can de-escalate a risk I would consider to be one of the biggest we have as an authority. 'The sheer significance of this authority being hit by a cyberattack is unthinkable.' He wanted to be convinced that the council had a 'super system' to defend it from cyberattack. Head of digital services Ellen Sullivan said: 'The risk remains high, what is reduced is threat. 'We've actually purchased and deployed extra phishing software, so we have that across all our systems that detects any phishing concerns.' She added that extra 'phishing training' for staff had also been rolled out by the council. This means that 'fake emails' are sent out to test whether staff each month. Ms Sullivan explained that staff who click on the fake emails would then be given 'refresher training'. Cllr Chris Walsh (Labour) said: 'Cyber criminals will change their behaviour and tactics on a regular basis, it's not a stationary situation it's an evolving one. 'Reducing it feels slightly complacent.' Cabinet member for customers, digital and community services, Cllr Raiff Devlin (Liberal Democrat) said: 'There is no complacency here whatsoever. 'The council has invested significantly into its cyber defence. 'While members are absolutely correct to point out it's a dynamic environment, the key to maintaining our defence is our ongoing investment and there is a commitment by the cabinet to do just that. 'So, I feel that we are managing this risk appropriately and I'm reassured that the department has what it needs in place to do that.'
Powys County Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Powys' 'best students leaving county to continue education'
THE brightest pupils are leaving Powys to continue their post-16 education outside the county an education chief has confirmed. At a meeting of Powys County Council's Learning and Skills scrutiny committee on Monday, June 16, councillors and lay members received a report on school standards and improvement. The report also included data on GCSE and A-Level exam results which show that Powys is performing well below the standards of the past. When it comes to A-Level results, Powys come in below the all Wales average in five of six results categories. On the A*(star) to E grade table Powys come in joint 19th place with only 65 per cent getting all three grades. This is well below neighbours Ceredigion Council who come top of the class with 77 per cent. Cllr Gareth E Jones (Powys Independents) said: 'Have you done any work around the significant number of learners that are going out of county for their post-16 education to Hereford, Shrewsbury and Merthyr. 'What impact do those learners going out of county have on the overall performance of post-16? 'My guess would be that better quality learners go out of county and if they had stayed our overall performance may be better.' Head of school improvement and learning Anwen Orrells said: 'You would be correct in assuming that the more able are the ones that are leaving.' She said that the council knew how many post-16 pupils were out of county but didn't have details of their results from last summer. Cllr James Gibson-Watt (Liberal Democrat) stood down as council leader last month but has stayed on in the cabinet to start off the post-16 education review. The preferred option already backed by council officers could see all English medium school sixth forms vanish – in favour of two specialist sixth form schools to be based in Brecon and Newtown. While Welsh medium secondary schools would also join forces and have one separate sixth form operation across potentially three campuses. This preferred option has already come in for heavy criticism with many believing it would accelerate the exodus of pupils our of Powys. Cllr Gibson-Watt said: 'If ever we needed evidence of some radical reform in post-16 this paper sums it up. 'If you look at the details of the decline in performance it is quite shocking. 'We have to create a system that allows them to stay in county. 'We're in a situation where only 65 per cent are getting A* to E grades. 'Let's be frank, an A-level grade below C is not much use to anyone in life, particularly to get into higher education. 'I remember Powys was consistently in the top three counties for GCSE and A-level outcomes and here we are languishing in the bottom quartile.' Between 2010 and 2019 sixth forms across the saw a 33 per cent decline. falling from 1,445 to 978 in 2019. This means that funding from the Welsh Government based on pupils numbers has dropped from £6.5 million to £4.4 million
Powys County Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Long-standing Powys anti-poverty champion set to keep role
Long-standing Powys County Council's anti-poverty champion, Cllr Joy Jones is set to keep the role. At the council's annual meeting on Thursday, May 15 councillors will receive a report to find out who expressed an interest in becoming one of the three council member champions. Back in December the council agreed that the anti-poverty, disability, and armed forces member champions roles would be kept, at least until the end of this council term in May 2027. But instead of being appointed to the role by the council leader as had been the case in the past, those interested have had to go through an application process. The report said: 'Documents relating to the roles, responsibilities, support and governance arrangements and the expression of interest form were emailed to all councillors asking for submission of an expression of interest form. 'The closing date was February 7.' Out of a possible 68, only three 'expressions of interest' were received for the member champion roles. Two were for the anti-poverty champion role. These were by the incumbent Cllr Joy Jones (Powys Independents) and Cllr Little Brighouse (non-aligned). One expression of interest was shown in the armed forces champion role, by deputy council leader Cllr Matthew Dorrance (Labour) who is also the incumbent. The report added that no councillor had applied for the disability member champion role. The report said: 'The council chair (Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson – Conservative), leader (Cllr James Gibson-Watt – Liberal Democrat), deputy leader and cabinet member for a fairer Powys (Cllr Dorrance) were consulted on the expressions of interest received for the anti-poverty member champion and it is recommended that Cllr Jones be appointed. 'The chair and leader were consulted on the armed forces member champion, and it is recommended that Cllr Matthew Dorrance is appointed." If councillors agree the recommendations details of the member champions including their description of the role and how to contact them will be published to the council website. They will also be expected to present annual report on their work to a council meeting. Following a review, last year the Democratic Services committee decided to scrap the member champion roles, and this recommendation was put to all councillors at a full council meeting last July. But councillors voted to reject the recommendation, and it was sent back to the committee for further discussion.
