Latest news with #SeanMorgan
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Caerphilly libraries heading for closure may be saved
But a series of imminent closures risks sending parts of the borough 'back to Victorian times', a critic has warned. The council plans to shut down ten of its smaller libraries at the end of August as part of cost-cutting plans to make the service 'sustainable and resilient'. The local authority will instead 'focus resources on an improved offer at seven library 'hubs'', Cllr Carol Andrews, the cabinet member for education, told a committee on Tuesday July 15. Committee members heard there is local interest in Community Asset Transfers of the council libraries in Aberbargoed, Abertridwr, Llanbradach and Nelson. Meanwhile, the library buildings in Deri and Pengam have been 'identified as good locations' for the expansion of the Welsh Government's Flying Start childcare programme. This could involve some 'minor building work' at both sites, but the council's early years service has also confirmed it would 'be able to support an independent community library offer from each location'. Library closures will also be mitigated by a new Community Outreach Service, including order-and-collect options and digital offers. Council figures are keen to paint these potential developments as a success. Recently, Cllr Sean Morgan, who leads the authority, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the closures were 'something we have to do because of finances, and I see the opportunity there for communities'. The council has argued it would save £507,000 annually by shutting the libraries, and develop the 'hubs' into places where visitors can access local authority and third-sector services, as well as the usual book-borrowing. But there remains a vocal opposition to the library closures across the county borough. Campaigners have warned the council will isolate smaller communities by taking away important community spaces, to the detriment of their youngest, oldest or lowest-income residents. This week, Caerphilly Trades Union Council called libraries 'so much more than book depositories' and urged the local authority to rethink the closures. Its secretary, Mariam Kamish, told the committee that despite the council's optimism for community handovers and an outreach service, 'nothing in your plans can in any way replace bricks-and-mortar libraries with dedicated staff'. 'We don't want to go back to Victorian times when people had to run their own libraries,' she added. Senior council officer Rob Hartshorn defended the Community Asset Transfers, however, telling the committee it would offer a 'social return, instead of a financial return' to the local authority. The meeting also heard from Cllr Brenda Miles, who was a member of the committee until a recent row over the council's handling of the libraries issue ended in her being 'removed from all internal and external appointments'. Cllr Miles told the committee the imminent closures would mean a 'great loss' to the borough, and she expected 'by now' there to be a 'clear picture' of what comes next. The council report on the next steps 'raises more questions than answers', she added.
South Wales Argus
11-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Caerphilly council leader on community support for buildings
Caerphilly County Borough Council is encouraging local groups and organisations to work with us as we consider alternative uses for buildings and land through a process called 'Community Asset Transfer' (CAT). There are already a number of exciting CAT projects underway to bring assets back into use - recent examples include a former Meals on Wheels building being turned into a gym in Rhymney, and only last week we agreed to transfer the Tredegar Park toilet block in Risca and land at Dan Y Graig for community use. Additionally, some sports clubs are also seeking to carry out CAT on playing fields and pavilions. We are also seeking to secure a new future for a number of our smaller library buildings across the area, as we transition to delivering a new Library vision. This will see our focus switch to delivering enhanced library hubs in our key town centres. We have already had a number of expressions of interest in our library buildings, so many in fact that we have recently agreed to extend the deadline for bids. We've made the process of applying for a Community Asset Transfer even easier than before. Below are the key steps from start to finish: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) EOI appraisal and recommendations Business Plan submitted (If required) Appraisal of Business Plan Terms agreed and transfer Details of available properties and sites can be found on the CCBC website: (search 'community asset transfer'). If you would like an informal discussion regarding a particular asset, please contact CATenquiries@ or call 01443 866218. Please come forward to find out more about the range of sites and opportunities that are available. This is your chance to help secure the future of key assets for the benefit of the whole community. Councillor Sean Morgan is leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council.
South Wales Argus
25-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Caerphilly council ‘not going to panic' over £6m budget gap
Cllr Sean Morgan said paying higher National Insurance contributions and teachers' salaries – as well as rising home-to-school transport costs – were behind the latest gloomy forecast. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Morgan said a previous target of saving £29 million by April 2028 could now grow to nearly £36 million. The council's budget gap has been blamed for several controversial policies in recent years, including the recent proposals to close some libraries. So will this latest expected budget setback mean further service cuts? Not 'as of yet,' Cllr Morgan said. 'You can never rule this out. Will some of those pressures be alleviated by central government? We don't know.' Family left in limbo for over a year after fire ripped through their home Plans to boost manufacturing and semiconductors in area of Gwent 'We are very much in a position where we haven't got the answer to the full £6 million, but we are certainly moving in the right direction… to take us a long way towards it', he added. 'We aren't going to panic over it', he said of the shortfall, before explaining the ongoing 'transformation agenda' at the council would deliver further savings. In short, the budget gap in Caerphilly emerged because the costs of providing services rose faster than any increases to the central government settlement grants, which make up the vast majority of the council's income. Conservative-era UK austerity policies have drawn criticism from Labour politicians in Wales, and the council's deputy leader, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, claimed their consequence – after 15 years of Tory rule in Westminster – was that 'people are noticing it more at the sharp end' as they see purse strings tightened and services reduced. But when asked whether he had expected the current pressures a year into UK Labour's watch, Cllr Morgan's assessment was measured. 'We thought they would be more significantly alleviated than what they are,' he said. Cllr Pritchard said local authorities received 'much better' settlement grants under UK Labour this year, but described them as 'still leaving councils halfway where they need to be' financially. The council is three years into its money-saving 'transformation agenda', which drew initial criticism because external consultants were hired to the tune of around £2 million. Cllr Morgan defended the spending, arguing it would bring about much bigger savings in the long run, and described internal changes as producing 'more incremental' returns which were harder to factor into budget forecasts. More visible savings proposals have drawn plenty of criticism, however, and the council was forced to retreat from plans to scrap a meals on wheels service described by supporters as a 'lifeline'. It also issued a reprieve for the at-risk Blackwood Miners' Institute after considerable local opposition against the venue's closure – but Llancaiach Fawr was mothballed in early 2025 after the council decided to stop subsidising the heritage site. Libraries were the latest service to face 'transformation', with ten smaller sites currently expected to shut down by August 31 despite impassioned appeals for a rethink. Cllr Morgan defended those decisions, and said there were hopeful signs at least half of those libraries may be taken over by community groups. He said the library closures were 'something we have to do because of finances, and I see the opportunity there for communities'. But those arguments have failed to stave off criticism, and the Plaid Cymru opposition group has tabled a motion of no confidence in Cllr Morgan, scheduled for July. On Llancaich Fawr, Cllr Morgan said the local authority had received six proposals from potential operators, which could mean more weddings and events there while retaining the site's museum. But he acknowledged the delay between the mothballing and the eventual reopening of the site. 'There is that problem between when you make that decision… and when it comes to fruition,' he said. 'It's 12 months of misery we have to put up with.'
South Wales Argus
24-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Council to scrap 75 sports pitches increase after backlash
The council has announced it will be reconsidering the 75 per cent hike (Image: Caerphilly County Borough Council) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. A planned 75 per cent price increase for the hire of sports pitches and pavilions across Caerphilly county borough has been reconsidered by the council's cabinet. The cabinet met on Wednesday, May 21, to consider a report which outlined a revised set of costs for outdoor sports facilities, significantly lower than originally anticipated. The council has 'responded positively to the feedback from the community' according to Councillor Sean Morgan. He said the feedback 'clearly told us that the increased costs could have a significant impact on grassroots sport across the county borough.' He said: "Therefore, we have developed a revised pricing structure which places the council at the average point for adult fees when compared to neighbouring local authorities. "We will also maintain a position whereby fees in the youth, junior and mini age groups are well below the average of other local authorities." The cabinet will now consider a revised approach to the original 75 per cent increase. It will be relating to outdoor sports facilities like grass sports pitches - football, rugby and cricket pitches, but not artificial 3G pitches. Councillor Chris Morgan, cabinet member responsible for leisure, added: "I'm sure the community will welcome this news, which demonstrates we are willing to listen to feedback and respond accordingly. "We have a 10-year strategy to get more people, more active, more often and our outdoor facilities are a key part of this plan." He said the revised pricing structure will support clubs and organisations to continue the 'excellent work they carry out across the county borough.'
