Latest news with #Welshcakes
South Wales Argus
09-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Where are the antisocial behaviour hotspots in Blaenau Gwent
At a meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Children Young People and Families scrutiny committee on Tuesday, July 1, councillors received a report on safeguarding performance from the education department during the last year. The report covered the 2024 summer, autumn and spring terms, and provided data on the number and types of anti-social behaviour (ASB) that had occurred during the period. Cllr Jules Gardner (Labour) said hotspots had been mentioned in the report as a reason for the increase in punishments aimed at tackling the rising number of ASB and serious violence incidents in the county borough. Man with serious mental disorder strangled taxi driver before taking off clothes Oasis band member visits South Wales bakery to try 'the best ever' Welshcakes Cllr Gardner said: 'I just wonder if there is any data on where the hotspot locations are and how many people instigated the anti-social behaviour in those areas, areas so that we can actually see what the increase is not just the punitive sanctions taken against those individuals.' He stressed that the information would give councillors more context to the report. Young people and partnerships team manager Joanne Sims said the information could be provided in future reports. Ms Sims said: 'What we have provided you with is high level information. 'ASB hotspot directs a lot of our team's work, but this report reflects on the previous year and hotspots change. 'What we are talking about is historical and what was the concern at the time and was it addressed.' Cllr Sonia Behr (Labour) said that a list of all types of antisocial behaviour had been included in the report, but it didn't include possession of 'potentially' offensive weapons, which it should. Cllr Behr said that 'slingshots' are becoming 'more of an issue these days.' 'They are used for killing birds and more latterly criminal damage of property, said Cllr Behr. School inclusion manager Julie Sambrook said she would 'check' where the list had come from and whether it was a set list provided by the safeguarding multi-agency partnership. If not possession of offensive weapons could be added to it, explained Ms Sambrook. Councillors went on to agree the report. The report showed that 76 ASB incidents by school children had been recorded during 2024/2024 with the highest number of 33 taking place during quarter three which cover October to the end of December. Warning letters had been issued on 76 occasions, but no home visits or Police involvement is recorded. The types of incidents include: nuisance behaviour and setting fires as part of a group, criminal damage, verbal abuse and inappropriate use of an electric scooter.
South Wales Argus
09-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Leadership row at Caerphilly council over CEO's £110K payout
Plaid Cymru councillor Colin Mann argued money would be better spent on frontline services rather than executives. But the council's leader has fought back, accusing Plaid of making 'misleading and inaccurate statements'. Caerphilly's Plaid group claimed council spending on top officers had increased by 41% between the two most recent years on record. The financial accounts for 2023/24 – which are the most recent available – also showed the amount the council paid out in redundancies more than doubled from the previous year, with one payoff in the range of £80,000 to £100,000, Plaid said. 'Back in 2023, I warned that the appointment of two more top officers at a cost of almost £300,000 couldn't be justified,' said Cllr Mann. 'We argued that money should be going on frontline employees such as care workers, refuse workers and community safety wardens, not empire-building.' Man with serious mental disorder strangled taxi driver before taking off clothes Oasis band member visits South Wales bakery to try 'the best ever' Welshcakes Pervert flashed teens in alley and has 'no intention' to stop exposing his penis The council recently began a restructure of the senior management team it said would result in savings of nearly £1 million. This was criticised by Plaid amid suggestions of poor decision-making. 'Now, they are restructuring and one of the posts axed is the deputy chief executive, a role Labour approved just a couple of years ago,' said Cllr Mann. 'What an absolute shambles, particularly as frontline services such as libraries and leisure centres are being closed.' Cllr Lindsay Whittle, who leads the Plaid group in the council chamber, added: 'Labour leaders were fooled into employing a deputy chief executive and then the chickens came home to roost. The former chief executive then went onto the sick, ultimately leading to a massive pay-off. 'Sadly the financial accounts only confirm what we have been saying for years – the Labour leadership has taken incompetency to a new level.' However, Cllr Sean Morgan, who leads Caerphilly County Borough Council, refuted Plaid's claims of 'empire-building'. 'It's worrying that Plaid Cymru members seem unwilling or unable to correctly interpret data,' he alleged. 'They know very well that our top tier of management has reduced over the past 12 months, leading to savings in the region of £900k. 'They clearly misunderstand the financial accounts, which are already 12 months out of date. They claim that the increased costs relate to two additional officers, but this is simply not the case.' Cllr Morgan added: 'These were existing posts, but because they were in receipt of an honorarium for additional responsibilities, their full salary costs must be included in the financial note to the accounts. This is just a requirement in the way we report senior roles and does not mean that two extra posts were created. 'I would urge Cllr Mann and Cllr Whittle to check their facts before issuing misleading and inaccurate statements.'
South Wales Argus
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Oasis guitarist Paul Arthurs tries Welshcakes in Cardiff
Noel and Liam Gallagher announced last year they had put their acrimonious split behind them, confirming Oasis' long-awaited reunion after 15 years. The highly anticipated tour (Oasis Live '25) begins in Cardiff on Friday (July 4), at Principality Stadium. Oasis band members have already begun arriving in the Welsh capital ahead of Friday and Saturday's (July 4 and 5) gigs, with Noel Gallagher spotted arriving by train on Tuesday (July 1). Noel Gallagher spotted at Cardiff Train Station #Oasis — Joey (@Joey2Steezy) July 1, 2025 Oasis guitarist indulges on Welshcakes in Cardiff Another Oasis member who has already made his way to Cardiff is guitarist and founding member, Paul Arthurs, also known as Bonehead. He took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday (July 2) to share his movements in the Welsh capital, sharing with fans he planned on trying a Welshcake. Posting on the social media platform, Arthurs said: "Welshcakes. Yes or No?" Absolutely yes and get them from Fabulous Welshcakes opposite Cardiff Castle! Thank me later — Miss S (@welsh7634) July 2, 2025 One fan was quick to respond, commenting: "Absolutely yes and get them from Fabulous Welshcakes opposite Cardiff Castle! Thank me later." Another added: "Yes Bone! They are mega." While a third person wrote: "100% yes." The Oasis guitarist was quick to take fans up on their recommendation. Not long after Arthur's initial X post, he wrote several others. The first said: "Welshcakes. Hot or cold??" Followed by: "Welshcakes. With a cup of tea or on their own?" He then posted a photo of a packet of Fabulous Welshcakes with a hot drink, commenting: "Here we go." Arthurs even went on to post a rating on X, awarding the Welshcakes a 7/10. One fan, commenting about the Oasis band members' Welshcake discovery, said: "Surreal I bet, brother. Glad you are there." Another posted: "YES that's what I'm talking about. Enjoy." This person said: "Never been a fan of Welsh cakes but the ones from fabulous in Cardiff aren't bad at all." While a fourth, recommended trying somewhere else, adding: "Cardiff Bakestones in Cardiff Market, you need them fresh off the griddle rather than from a packet." Fabulous Welshcakes described as "the best ever" by customers Fabulous Welshcakes has two locations in Cardiff - one in Mermaid Quay and the other opposite Cardiff Castle. Both stores boast a 4.8 rating on Tripadvisor, with the bakery described as "the best Welsh cakes you can buy" and "10/10" by customers. One person, posting on Tripadvisor, said: "Absolutely delicious, the best ever! RECOMMENDED READING: "Had the traditional and also the chocolate chip ones. Best with a cup of tea! Highly recommend." While another visitor commented: "I am so very happy that I picked this place for a bakery during my visit to Cardiff. "They cook the cakes right there and they are yummy. I actually went there twice. I'd recommend it 100%."
