© South Wales Evening Post - 30 August 2005
A total of £7 million was left in Swansea Council coffers last year. The lump sum was left in the authority's capital programme, its budget for major schemes and projects.
It pays for major building work on things like new leisure centres and new roads.
The council says the cash was left over from a number of schemes.
A spokesman said that some projects didn't use all the cash allocated to them, including work on the waterfront link in Princess Way, sports schemes at various schools financed from the New Opportunities Fund, school schemes from school improvement grant, infrastructure at Swansea Vale and transport and environment schemes funded by specific grants.
The spokesman said: "There were a number of programmes which were affected.
"Many capital grant schemes are often not confirmed until after the start of the financial year, it's not always possible to achieve the whole of the expenditure within the financial year.
"Arrangements, however, can be made for a carry over provision from one year to the next to deal with such issues and ensure the programme is completed.
"The cash is now part of the council's budget for the next three years.
The authority expects to spend around £77 million during that period.
It will pay for things like the £25 million refurbishment of Swansea Leisure Centre and the £6 million plans to relocate the central library from Alexandra Road to County Hall.
£20M SCHOOL REVAMP AT ISSUE
© South Wales Evening Post - 24 August 2005
Parents demanding to know how the council will fund a proposed £20 million revamp of a Swansea comprehensive are still being left in the dark. Bishop Gore School could be given the multi-million pound facelift as part of a massive shake-up of the city's education system.
There are concerns the expensive plans could mean cuts to other budgets.
The authority insists it is confident the money will be available to carry out the work.
But it is refusing to specify exactly where the cash will come from.Campaigners battling to save Dylan Thomas School, which has been earmarked for closure under the proposals, have questioned how the authority will be able to afford the refurbishment.
Their children will be sent to Bishop Gore if the plans to close Dylan Thomas are approved.Mike Day, cabinet member for education, insists that the money would be found.
But he would not specify where the cash would come from - saying only that it would be part of the "capital programme".
Money in the capital programme pays for major projects like new roads and buildings - the council produced a four year plan earlier this year with no mention of the £20 million school.
Work at Bishop Gore is unlikely to start until 2007, if it is given the go-ahead, and Councillor Day believes that the extra time will help the authority work out where to get the extra cash."
We will need to incorporate it into our capital programme when it is next formally reviewed, a process in which we look at all actual and likely variations in both expenditure and financing," he said.
"Some of the additional expenditure on Bishop Gore will go into the time-frame beyond the current capital programme and this will make it easier to manage the extra cost."
Councillor Day also defended the consultation process conducted by the council on the future of Swansea schools.The administration - made up of an alliance between Lib Dems, Conservative and Independent councillors - had come under attack from both Plaid Cymru and Labour politicians for ignoring the results.
"We have listened to pupils, parents, governors, teachers, and other groups during the consultation," said Councillor Day.
"The feedback has been vital in helping to shape our proposals.
"We believe the best option is to transfer pupils to Bishop Gore where the curriculum can meet the needs of all pupils."
The proposals will be discussed by the cabinet tomorrow.
If agreed, the council will consult on the proposals to operate a single school on two sites to enable the refurbishment work to progress at Bishop Gore.
Dereck Roberts, chairman of governors at Dylan Thomas, said: "The authority is clearly hoping that something will turn up.
"The only way they can afford this is by borrowing and that will then put a burden on the council to repay that debt for as long as it takes."
Parents demanding to know how the council will fund a proposed £20 million revamp of a Swansea comprehensive are still being left in the dark. Bishop Gore School could be given the multi-million pound facelift as part of a massive shake-up of the city's education system.
There are concerns the expensive plans could mean cuts to other budgets.
The authority insists it is confident the money will be available to carry out the work.
But it is refusing to specify exactly where the cash will come from.Campaigners battling to save Dylan Thomas School, which has been earmarked for closure under the proposals, have questioned how the authority will be able to afford the refurbishment.
Their children will be sent to Bishop Gore if the plans to close Dylan Thomas are approved.Mike Day, cabinet member for education, insists that the money would be found.
But he would not specify where the cash would come from - saying only that it would be part of the "capital programme".
Money in the capital programme pays for major projects like new roads and buildings - the council produced a four year plan earlier this year with no mention of the £20 million school.
Work at Bishop Gore is unlikely to start until 2007, if it is given the go-ahead, and Councillor Day believes that the extra time will help the authority work out where to get the extra cash."
We will need to incorporate it into our capital programme when it is next formally reviewed, a process in which we look at all actual and likely variations in both expenditure and financing," he said.
"Some of the additional expenditure on Bishop Gore will go into the time-frame beyond the current capital programme and this will make it easier to manage the extra cost."
Councillor Day also defended the consultation process conducted by the council on the future of Swansea schools.The administration - made up of an alliance between Lib Dems, Conservative and Independent councillors - had come under attack from both Plaid Cymru and Labour politicians for ignoring the results.
"We have listened to pupils, parents, governors, teachers, and other groups during the consultation," said Councillor Day.
"The feedback has been vital in helping to shape our proposals.
"We believe the best option is to transfer pupils to Bishop Gore where the curriculum can meet the needs of all pupils."
The proposals will be discussed by the cabinet tomorrow.
If agreed, the council will consult on the proposals to operate a single school on two sites to enable the refurbishment work to progress at Bishop Gore.
Dereck Roberts, chairman of governors at Dylan Thomas, said: "The authority is clearly hoping that something will turn up.
"The only way they can afford this is by borrowing and that will then put a burden on the council to repay that debt for as long as it takes."
CITY CENTRE ACTION PLAN MOVES CLOSER
© South Wales Evening Post - 24 August 2005
A New campaign to turn around the fortunes of Swansea city centre is on the cards for the new year. Bosses today announced plans to appoint a city centre marketing officer and an evening manager, tasked with improving the area from dusk to dawn.
There will also be high profile campaigns targeting negative perceptions of the city centre and promoting key activities, such as Sunday and late-night shopping.
The plans have been unveiled by the team working on creating a Business Improvement District in the city centre, the first in Wales.
More than 800 businesses have been consulted for their views on what they want to see in the city centre, and the result is a major set of improvement proposals.
"We've been working closely with senior managers in the council and potential match-funders on the improvements that the local business community wants," said bids co-ordinator Lisa Wells.
"The projects will reassert the city centre as the regional centre for South West Wales for shopping, leisure and commerce."A new marketing and communications officer will be appointed to actively promote the city centre as a premier destination.
With Swansea's night-time economy now estimated to be worth at least £200 million a year, another new appointment will be an evening economy co-ordinator, whose job will be to manage and improve the city centre through the night.
Plans to address criticism that the city centre has become like any other, with a bland range of shops, is being tackled, as will concerns at the number of empty premises in the area.There are plans for murals and window posters be put on vacant shops.
Ms Wells said: "Another project involves producing an inward investment pack to lift the range, quality and diversity of the commercial offer in the city centre.
"We want to provide start-up grants to encourage entrepreneurs, independent and specialised retailing and to fill vacant properties."
A New campaign to turn around the fortunes of Swansea city centre is on the cards for the new year. Bosses today announced plans to appoint a city centre marketing officer and an evening manager, tasked with improving the area from dusk to dawn.
There will also be high profile campaigns targeting negative perceptions of the city centre and promoting key activities, such as Sunday and late-night shopping.
The plans have been unveiled by the team working on creating a Business Improvement District in the city centre, the first in Wales.
More than 800 businesses have been consulted for their views on what they want to see in the city centre, and the result is a major set of improvement proposals.
"We've been working closely with senior managers in the council and potential match-funders on the improvements that the local business community wants," said bids co-ordinator Lisa Wells.
"The projects will reassert the city centre as the regional centre for South West Wales for shopping, leisure and commerce."A new marketing and communications officer will be appointed to actively promote the city centre as a premier destination.
With Swansea's night-time economy now estimated to be worth at least £200 million a year, another new appointment will be an evening economy co-ordinator, whose job will be to manage and improve the city centre through the night.
Plans to address criticism that the city centre has become like any other, with a bland range of shops, is being tackled, as will concerns at the number of empty premises in the area.There are plans for murals and window posters be put on vacant shops.
Ms Wells said: "Another project involves producing an inward investment pack to lift the range, quality and diversity of the commercial offer in the city centre.
"We want to provide start-up grants to encourage entrepreneurs, independent and specialised retailing and to fill vacant properties."
DISSATISFIED WELSBY SET TO QUIT COALITION
© South Wales Evening Post - 24 August 2005
An outspoken Independent councillor is about to jump ship and abandon the coalition which has been running Swansea Council for the past 14 months. Ray Welsby has told the so-called LIC super group - Liberal Democrat, Independent and Conservative members of the coalition - that he plans to pull out of the ruling administration.
There have been rumours of splits within the coalition for some time but this is the first public sign of cracks appearing in its armour of unity.
Councillor Welsby and fellow Independent, Audrey Clement, sensationally ousted Labour's Byron Owen and Charles White in Mynyddbach in June last year.
Asked if it was true he was now going to leave the coalition, he told the Post: "I am very seriously considering it, yes."I am staying an Independent and not joining any other party.
"I am dissatisfied with the way the coalition is being run."
Councillor Welsby said he would be making a full statement after he had taken legal advice about his position on the council. He has been at odds with the coalition over a number of issues, not least moves to transfer Swansea's stock of 14,000 council houses.
In February, the council cabinet approved plans to transfer the homes to a community housing mutual, despite Councillor Welsby's warning that there were fears among many tenants.
"I believe we should keep social housing within local government," he said at the time.
"I will never go along with getting rid of council houses. Now people have a good landlord that they can go to."
The outspoken Independent councillor was subsequently sacked as chairman of the city council's housing cabinet advisory committee.
And there were reports that he was unhappy about an apology he was said to have made after calling for heads to roll over the number of vacant council houses in the city.
A County Hall statement containing an apology to housing staff in the council is understood to have been issued before it had even been seen by Councillor Welsby.
A coalition source said the Mynyddbach member was furious at the time.
Just four months ago fellow Independent councillor Richard Lewis rubbished as ridiculous reports that coalition colleagues were falling out.
"What is important is that we, as an administration, can discuss things and have different points of view," he said.
"It is important to discuss these things and it is a load of rubbish to say there are cracks appearing in the administration."
Labour opposition group spokesman Lawrence Bailey said today it had been evident for some time that there were tensions between Ray Welsby and his colleagues.
"He obviously has very strong feelings in respect of housing and community issues, and so we respect his decision," he said.
An outspoken Independent councillor is about to jump ship and abandon the coalition which has been running Swansea Council for the past 14 months. Ray Welsby has told the so-called LIC super group - Liberal Democrat, Independent and Conservative members of the coalition - that he plans to pull out of the ruling administration.
There have been rumours of splits within the coalition for some time but this is the first public sign of cracks appearing in its armour of unity.
Councillor Welsby and fellow Independent, Audrey Clement, sensationally ousted Labour's Byron Owen and Charles White in Mynyddbach in June last year.
Asked if it was true he was now going to leave the coalition, he told the Post: "I am very seriously considering it, yes."I am staying an Independent and not joining any other party.
"I am dissatisfied with the way the coalition is being run."
Councillor Welsby said he would be making a full statement after he had taken legal advice about his position on the council. He has been at odds with the coalition over a number of issues, not least moves to transfer Swansea's stock of 14,000 council houses.
In February, the council cabinet approved plans to transfer the homes to a community housing mutual, despite Councillor Welsby's warning that there were fears among many tenants.
"I believe we should keep social housing within local government," he said at the time.
"I will never go along with getting rid of council houses. Now people have a good landlord that they can go to."
The outspoken Independent councillor was subsequently sacked as chairman of the city council's housing cabinet advisory committee.
And there were reports that he was unhappy about an apology he was said to have made after calling for heads to roll over the number of vacant council houses in the city.
A County Hall statement containing an apology to housing staff in the council is understood to have been issued before it had even been seen by Councillor Welsby.
A coalition source said the Mynyddbach member was furious at the time.
Just four months ago fellow Independent councillor Richard Lewis rubbished as ridiculous reports that coalition colleagues were falling out.
"What is important is that we, as an administration, can discuss things and have different points of view," he said.
"It is important to discuss these things and it is a load of rubbish to say there are cracks appearing in the administration."
Labour opposition group spokesman Lawrence Bailey said today it had been evident for some time that there were tensions between Ray Welsby and his colleagues.
"He obviously has very strong feelings in respect of housing and community issues, and so we respect his decision," he said.
LEISURE CENTRE FUNDING CONCERN
© South Wales Evening Post - 22 August 2005
Swansea Council today admitted it might have to cut spending and borrow cash to deliver the city's new £25 million leisure centre. The council's spending programme for the next four years includes using the expected £11.5 million for the sale of land in Gorseinon to supermarket chain Asda for a new store.
But when asked by the Post if the sale was key to the viability of the leisure centre project council bosses said no, adding that they could borrow money or cut spending in future years to balance the books instead.
The city's projected capital budget, the cash for delivering projects like new buildings and roads, for the next four years lists a total of £90.8 million expected expenditure.
The council has projected generating around £33 million through selling off Swansea's assets over the next four years, with more than a third expected to come next year when the Asda deal goes through.Swansea's cabinet has agreed to sell land to the supermarket giant subject to the company getting planning permission for the new store.
If they don't it could scupper the deal and leave a £11.5 million hole in the council's spending plans.
A council spokesman said that the authority's spending plans were subject to a rolling review and that the Asda deal was not vital to plans for the leisure centre.
When asked by the Post where the money would come from if the deal fell through, he said: "The Council is now able to use its prudential borrowing powers to even out short-term fluctuations in the capital programme.
"Furthermore, expenditure commitments beyond 2008/9 could be constrained in order to minimise any strain in funding the programme."
That raises fears for the long-term effects of reopening the leisure centre which closed in November 2003.
It shut suddenly after a report deemed it dangerous and a hazard to the public and staff.
An investigation blamed poor maintenance for the deterioration of the popular foreshore facility, and led to a further, still ongoing, investigation into former leisure chief David Evans.
The centre had been briefly earmarked for demolition before council leader Chris Holley announced plans to refurbish and reopen the centre at a cost of around £25.7 million.
Exact details of what will be included in the new centre have not been finalised, increasing concerns that any financial problems could lead to the scheme being scaled back.
Councillor David Phillips, leader of Swansea's Labour group, said: "From our perspective, the comments confirm that the Lib-Dem led administration is depending hugely on selling off assets, for example land at Gorseinon, to finance their capital spending plans up to the next election.
"If they don't get the planning permission then they will have to borrow another £11 million or cut the equivalent amount for the programme."
Swansea Council today admitted it might have to cut spending and borrow cash to deliver the city's new £25 million leisure centre. The council's spending programme for the next four years includes using the expected £11.5 million for the sale of land in Gorseinon to supermarket chain Asda for a new store.
But when asked by the Post if the sale was key to the viability of the leisure centre project council bosses said no, adding that they could borrow money or cut spending in future years to balance the books instead.
The city's projected capital budget, the cash for delivering projects like new buildings and roads, for the next four years lists a total of £90.8 million expected expenditure.
The council has projected generating around £33 million through selling off Swansea's assets over the next four years, with more than a third expected to come next year when the Asda deal goes through.Swansea's cabinet has agreed to sell land to the supermarket giant subject to the company getting planning permission for the new store.
If they don't it could scupper the deal and leave a £11.5 million hole in the council's spending plans.
A council spokesman said that the authority's spending plans were subject to a rolling review and that the Asda deal was not vital to plans for the leisure centre.
When asked by the Post where the money would come from if the deal fell through, he said: "The Council is now able to use its prudential borrowing powers to even out short-term fluctuations in the capital programme.
"Furthermore, expenditure commitments beyond 2008/9 could be constrained in order to minimise any strain in funding the programme."
That raises fears for the long-term effects of reopening the leisure centre which closed in November 2003.
It shut suddenly after a report deemed it dangerous and a hazard to the public and staff.
An investigation blamed poor maintenance for the deterioration of the popular foreshore facility, and led to a further, still ongoing, investigation into former leisure chief David Evans.
The centre had been briefly earmarked for demolition before council leader Chris Holley announced plans to refurbish and reopen the centre at a cost of around £25.7 million.
Exact details of what will be included in the new centre have not been finalised, increasing concerns that any financial problems could lead to the scheme being scaled back.
Councillor David Phillips, leader of Swansea's Labour group, said: "From our perspective, the comments confirm that the Lib-Dem led administration is depending hugely on selling off assets, for example land at Gorseinon, to finance their capital spending plans up to the next election.
"If they don't get the planning permission then they will have to borrow another £11 million or cut the equivalent amount for the programme."
LATE LICENCE NOT OUR FAULT
© South Wales Evening Post - 18 August 2005
Your recent article and letters concerning the granting of late drinking in nightclubs and pubs in Swansea and Mumbles show the real and genuine concern of local people about the associated risks of anti-social behaviour, violence and disturbance caused by alcohol-fuelled revellers. As much as I agree with much of what has been written in recent days and, indeed, I am on record as having questioned the concentration of so many licensed premises in Wind Street, I challenge those who attempt to lay the latest problems at the door of Swansea Council.
Back in 1997/8 when the Wind Street drinking dens were being proposed at planning committees, the council had to make a decision on how many premises they would allow to change their use from retail/banking to pubs and clubs.
They unwisely allowed virtually the whole street to become licensed premises. Back then, it was also for the magistrates courts to decide on the type of liquor licence to be granted - with much tougher criteria to be met and much earlier closing times that could be set, backed by strong legislation.
Now, we find ourselves in a very different situation. The Government in Westminster, in their infinite wisdom, decided to relax the laws relating to licensed premises to the point where establishments can apply for 24-hour opening times and there is a presumption in favour of applications going to the local authority for extensions from the existing 11pm or 12am drinkingup times.
Local councils can only turn down an application if there is strong and compelling evidence that, in granting the licence/extension, violence or other adverse effects will result specifically from the establishment in question. Otherwise the council would lose the case on appeal and face potentially huge legal costs.
I do not blame the police for failing to provide the licensing committee in Swansea with full facts relating to their fears about the granting of extensions in Swansea and Mumbles - you cannot put a figure on the "fear" or "expectations" of a rise in violence or anti-social behaviour.
However, if the police do find that adverse effects occur directly as a result of any late licence, they should report the facts to the council so that a review of any decisions can be made.
Although Labour in London has imposed this new licensing regime on us in Wales, at least there is scope to revisit decisions if violence or anti-social behaviour flares up as a result.
Councillor Rene Kinzett, Liberal Democrat, Mayals Ward
Your recent article and letters concerning the granting of late drinking in nightclubs and pubs in Swansea and Mumbles show the real and genuine concern of local people about the associated risks of anti-social behaviour, violence and disturbance caused by alcohol-fuelled revellers. As much as I agree with much of what has been written in recent days and, indeed, I am on record as having questioned the concentration of so many licensed premises in Wind Street, I challenge those who attempt to lay the latest problems at the door of Swansea Council.
Back in 1997/8 when the Wind Street drinking dens were being proposed at planning committees, the council had to make a decision on how many premises they would allow to change their use from retail/banking to pubs and clubs.
They unwisely allowed virtually the whole street to become licensed premises. Back then, it was also for the magistrates courts to decide on the type of liquor licence to be granted - with much tougher criteria to be met and much earlier closing times that could be set, backed by strong legislation.
Now, we find ourselves in a very different situation. The Government in Westminster, in their infinite wisdom, decided to relax the laws relating to licensed premises to the point where establishments can apply for 24-hour opening times and there is a presumption in favour of applications going to the local authority for extensions from the existing 11pm or 12am drinkingup times.
Local councils can only turn down an application if there is strong and compelling evidence that, in granting the licence/extension, violence or other adverse effects will result specifically from the establishment in question. Otherwise the council would lose the case on appeal and face potentially huge legal costs.
I do not blame the police for failing to provide the licensing committee in Swansea with full facts relating to their fears about the granting of extensions in Swansea and Mumbles - you cannot put a figure on the "fear" or "expectations" of a rise in violence or anti-social behaviour.
However, if the police do find that adverse effects occur directly as a result of any late licence, they should report the facts to the council so that a review of any decisions can be made.
Although Labour in London has imposed this new licensing regime on us in Wales, at least there is scope to revisit decisions if violence or anti-social behaviour flares up as a result.
Councillor Rene Kinzett, Liberal Democrat, Mayals Ward
'WHERE WILL CASH GO?' ASKS LABOUR
© South Wales Evening Post - 16 August 2005
Opposition councillors in Swansea say they want a guarantee that the millions of pounds the council stands to pick up from the possible sale of a schools site in the city will all go on education. The council is currently planning a big shake-up to cope with falling school rolls.
No decision has yet been taken on whether Dylan Thomas Comprehensive School in Cockett will shut.But opposition councillors say they want clarification on how the cash raised from the schools reorganisation will be spent.
They claim that the Liberal Democrat-led coalition has given conflicting evidence over what will happen to any money from the sale. It could bring in as much as £9 million from property developers.
Labour councillors want all that money to be funnelled into education. But they say they are still waiting for a guarantee about it and are not happy with the answers being given by cabinet members so far.
In a written reply to Labour's question, cabinet member for finance John Newbury said: "As a general principle, the proceeds from the sale of land used by any council services, except housing, will not be ring-fenced."
A month earlier cabinet member for education Mike Day said that £39 million would be saved in the reorganisation and pledged it would all go towards making improvements.
He said: "The organisation plan will manage this issue and all the money that is saved by not funding empty places will go to the front line instead. That means that the amount we can spend on every pupil will go up."
Labour councillor John Miles has now called for clarification over the issue.
He said: "It is not as though we asked a particularly difficult question, but it has obviously proved to be an awkward one for the coalition to answer.
"We now have one cabinet member saying the money will be going into schools and we have another saying it won't. They can't both be right".
Council leader Chris Holley said that both answers were consistent with the council's policy.
He said: "John Newbury has said that the money will go into a central pot."We have said that money which is saved or generated from schools reorganisation will go on improving the education service.
"We are under pressure from the Welsh Assembly to make savings in education and social services."
Mr Holley said that the only reason money was not being ring-fenced for education was because it was not a practical way to run a local authority.
He said: "We are being completely open in our plans for education in the city.
"School reorganisation is the best way to get better value for money."
Opposition councillors in Swansea say they want a guarantee that the millions of pounds the council stands to pick up from the possible sale of a schools site in the city will all go on education. The council is currently planning a big shake-up to cope with falling school rolls.
No decision has yet been taken on whether Dylan Thomas Comprehensive School in Cockett will shut.But opposition councillors say they want clarification on how the cash raised from the schools reorganisation will be spent.
They claim that the Liberal Democrat-led coalition has given conflicting evidence over what will happen to any money from the sale. It could bring in as much as £9 million from property developers.
Labour councillors want all that money to be funnelled into education. But they say they are still waiting for a guarantee about it and are not happy with the answers being given by cabinet members so far.
In a written reply to Labour's question, cabinet member for finance John Newbury said: "As a general principle, the proceeds from the sale of land used by any council services, except housing, will not be ring-fenced."
A month earlier cabinet member for education Mike Day said that £39 million would be saved in the reorganisation and pledged it would all go towards making improvements.
He said: "The organisation plan will manage this issue and all the money that is saved by not funding empty places will go to the front line instead. That means that the amount we can spend on every pupil will go up."
Labour councillor John Miles has now called for clarification over the issue.
He said: "It is not as though we asked a particularly difficult question, but it has obviously proved to be an awkward one for the coalition to answer.
"We now have one cabinet member saying the money will be going into schools and we have another saying it won't. They can't both be right".
Council leader Chris Holley said that both answers were consistent with the council's policy.
He said: "John Newbury has said that the money will go into a central pot."We have said that money which is saved or generated from schools reorganisation will go on improving the education service.
"We are under pressure from the Welsh Assembly to make savings in education and social services."
Mr Holley said that the only reason money was not being ring-fenced for education was because it was not a practical way to run a local authority.
He said: "We are being completely open in our plans for education in the city.
"School reorganisation is the best way to get better value for money."
POLICE FEARS ARE JUSTIFIED
© South Wales Evening Post - 15 August 2005
My fears have been confirmed that, once the granting of liquor and entertainment licences was taken out of the hands of the judiciary and transferred to the local authority, such matters would cease to have any serious control. However, I did think a change of the ruling party from Labour might at last see some common sense applied. Alas, it is not to be.
It is laughable of councillors to ask police to enumerate details of instances of problems caused by the excessive supply of intoxicating liquor.
Everyone is fed up with reading in the local and national press about excessive drinking and the problems caused. Obviously our local councillors cannot read.
Of course the police are concerned about the effect of extended hours on police requirements.
Where do people think the extra manpower will come from? It will come from residential areas of the city, so the general public will see even less policing in these areas - unless they happen to be binge drinkers or drunks causing trouble, or a celebrity.
The police expressed the concerns of the responsible, law-abiding members of the public and should have been heeded.
Eric W Plaice, Rowan Close, Killay, Swansea
My fears have been confirmed that, once the granting of liquor and entertainment licences was taken out of the hands of the judiciary and transferred to the local authority, such matters would cease to have any serious control. However, I did think a change of the ruling party from Labour might at last see some common sense applied. Alas, it is not to be.
It is laughable of councillors to ask police to enumerate details of instances of problems caused by the excessive supply of intoxicating liquor.
Everyone is fed up with reading in the local and national press about excessive drinking and the problems caused. Obviously our local councillors cannot read.
Of course the police are concerned about the effect of extended hours on police requirements.
Where do people think the extra manpower will come from? It will come from residential areas of the city, so the general public will see even less policing in these areas - unless they happen to be binge drinkers or drunks causing trouble, or a celebrity.
The police expressed the concerns of the responsible, law-abiding members of the public and should have been heeded.
Eric W Plaice, Rowan Close, Killay, Swansea
BETRAYED BY COUNCILLORS
© South Wales Evening Post - 15 August 2005
I attended a hearing to object to a late licence being granted to a pub in Mumbles. I was supported by 22 other residents who did not want longer hours because we suffer enough with the present ones. We also had the support of the police, who have enough trouble at the moment without having to stretch their resources any further. In the end, after badgering by a solicitor, the three councillors involved granted the licence.
We, the residents, came away feeling betrayed by elected councillors who passed the buck to the police.
People elected to look after the public interest should listen to the people and support the police.
F Tomkins, Devon Place, Mumbles, Swansea
I attended a hearing to object to a late licence being granted to a pub in Mumbles. I was supported by 22 other residents who did not want longer hours because we suffer enough with the present ones. We also had the support of the police, who have enough trouble at the moment without having to stretch their resources any further. In the end, after badgering by a solicitor, the three councillors involved granted the licence.
We, the residents, came away feeling betrayed by elected councillors who passed the buck to the police.
People elected to look after the public interest should listen to the people and support the police.
F Tomkins, Devon Place, Mumbles, Swansea
£1M FOR COMPOST
© South Wales Evening Post - 13 August 2005
Plans have been submitted for a building to house Swansea's new £1 million recycling system. Councillors hope the proposed state-of-the-art in-vessel composting machine will help to reduce the volume of waste that is being sent to landfill.
Swansea produces more than 140,000 tons of waste every year.Of that, around 31,000 tons is recycled, leaving 110,000 tons to clog up landfill sites.
If the new plans are given the go-ahead, it will enable the council to turn kitchen waste normally destined for landfill into compost.
Last week an application was lodged by Swansea City Waste Disposal Company for a new 580 sq m side annexe.
It will be housed at the baling plant in Ferryboat Close, Swansea Enterprise Park.
Plans have been submitted for a building to house Swansea's new £1 million recycling system. Councillors hope the proposed state-of-the-art in-vessel composting machine will help to reduce the volume of waste that is being sent to landfill.
Swansea produces more than 140,000 tons of waste every year.Of that, around 31,000 tons is recycled, leaving 110,000 tons to clog up landfill sites.
If the new plans are given the go-ahead, it will enable the council to turn kitchen waste normally destined for landfill into compost.
Last week an application was lodged by Swansea City Waste Disposal Company for a new 580 sq m side annexe.
It will be housed at the baling plant in Ferryboat Close, Swansea Enterprise Park.
IN AT DEEP END
© South Wales Evening Post - 13 August 2005
Swansea councillors may have rejected calls for an independent inquiry into the Pool Sanctuary debacle but the questions will not go away. So the investigation into the affair that will now take place by the authority's officers had better not be a whitewash. And the findings must be made public and published in full.
Swansea councillors may have rejected calls for an independent inquiry into the Pool Sanctuary debacle but the questions will not go away. So the investigation into the affair that will now take place by the authority's officers had better not be a whitewash. And the findings must be made public and published in full.
COME CLEAN OVER SAD SAGA
© South Wales Evening Post - 11 August 2005
The ruling coalition and Labour councillors on Swansea Council are busy scoring political points off each other over the Pool Sanctuary debacle. The truth is that both sides need to come clean about this sorry affair that is costing council tax payers dearly.
Labour needs to justify why it chose the Pool Sanctuary just as it was getting terrible publicity over the decision to close Swansea Leisure Centre a few months before the elections that swept it from power last year. It insists that it had the backing of council officers to turn the Pool Sanctuary into a replacement Activa gym.
Yet just a couple of months later the new coalition led group on the council had halted the plans, claiming council officers were insisting the building was not suitable.Who is right? Did council officers fall down on the job, or was it a case of the right hand not knowing what the left was doing? We need to know and that is why there should be an independent investigation.
The ruling coalition, meanwhile, is hardly covering itself in laurels over this affair, as evidenced by the dilly-dallying over a site for the new gym. It needs to come up with a scheme, and quickly.
The ruling coalition and Labour councillors on Swansea Council are busy scoring political points off each other over the Pool Sanctuary debacle. The truth is that both sides need to come clean about this sorry affair that is costing council tax payers dearly.
Labour needs to justify why it chose the Pool Sanctuary just as it was getting terrible publicity over the decision to close Swansea Leisure Centre a few months before the elections that swept it from power last year. It insists that it had the backing of council officers to turn the Pool Sanctuary into a replacement Activa gym.
Yet just a couple of months later the new coalition led group on the council had halted the plans, claiming council officers were insisting the building was not suitable.Who is right? Did council officers fall down on the job, or was it a case of the right hand not knowing what the left was doing? We need to know and that is why there should be an independent investigation.
The ruling coalition, meanwhile, is hardly covering itself in laurels over this affair, as evidenced by the dilly-dallying over a site for the new gym. It needs to come up with a scheme, and quickly.
POLICE GAFFE LED TO 6AM LICENCE
© South Wales Evening Post - 11 August 2005
A Police blunder may have led to Swansea's first dusk-til-dawn drinking licence being granted, it emerged today. Councillors unexpectedly gave a Swansea nightclub and bar the go-ahead this week to serve drinks until 6 every morning.
It has fuelled fears of an upsurge in violent crime.
The three-member council committee gave it the green light after police failed to give them specific facts and figures on drink-related city centre crime. The details had been requested but were not provided.
They simply said there were increased levels of crime in the area between midnight and 3am when the clubs were open and that extending the opening hours would stretch their resources further still.That wasn't detailed enough for councillors who had asked for them to be much more precise.
It means Barons nightclub and Bar 5 can now change their opening hours from this November. Others are likely to follow with similar applications as well.
Councillor Nick Tregoning, chairman of the licensing sub-committee which granted the licence, said today police had been asked for figures regarding alcohol-related incidents in the city centre 12 months ago.
These had not been received.He added that specific figures relating to Barons and the surrounding area had been requested on July 12 and these had not been received either.
Councillor Tregoning said: "One of the difficulties the licensing authorities are having is that despite the fact we have constantly been asking for figures about crime relating to pubs, we have had none.
"The situation that the licensing committee finds itself in is that there's a presumption in the licensing act towards granting the licence."
He said there needed to be good reason from one of the responsible authorities that shows one of the four licensing objectives - prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, protection of children from harm - would be not be adhered to.
"Unless we're in a position where a specific case has been made, the licence will be granted," he said.
"The licensing committee is quasi-judicial. That means that even if we do not like the Government's policy, we cannot change it."
He added: "I do not want to criticise the police because it's a very difficult job they have to do and they do it on limited resources. But unless they can come to us with detailed and specific figures for crimes it's going to be very difficult for us to come up with an argument against granting a licence."
The other two councillors sitting on the committee - Sylvia Lewis of Clydach and Margaret Smith of Gower - today also both said they had been hampered by the lack of detailed evidence.
Councillor Lewis added: "If the police evidence had been stronger, it might have been different.''
Monday's decision came just 48 hours ahead of a warning by worried judges and police nationally that the new late licences across the UK will trigger a huge explosion of violence.
They say they are worried some British cities may come to resemble squalid foreign party destinations, such as the notorious Greek resort of Falaraki.
Police, asked by the Post why the detailed information had not been supplied to the council, said in a statement: "We were not able to admit the evidence at the time of the hearing."
Councillor Tregoning said it was possible to review the licence at any time if information came up to show one of the four objectives was not being adhered to.
"So if there is a problem with any premises we can look at the licence again," he added.
A Police blunder may have led to Swansea's first dusk-til-dawn drinking licence being granted, it emerged today. Councillors unexpectedly gave a Swansea nightclub and bar the go-ahead this week to serve drinks until 6 every morning.
It has fuelled fears of an upsurge in violent crime.
The three-member council committee gave it the green light after police failed to give them specific facts and figures on drink-related city centre crime. The details had been requested but were not provided.
They simply said there were increased levels of crime in the area between midnight and 3am when the clubs were open and that extending the opening hours would stretch their resources further still.That wasn't detailed enough for councillors who had asked for them to be much more precise.
It means Barons nightclub and Bar 5 can now change their opening hours from this November. Others are likely to follow with similar applications as well.
Councillor Nick Tregoning, chairman of the licensing sub-committee which granted the licence, said today police had been asked for figures regarding alcohol-related incidents in the city centre 12 months ago.
These had not been received.He added that specific figures relating to Barons and the surrounding area had been requested on July 12 and these had not been received either.
Councillor Tregoning said: "One of the difficulties the licensing authorities are having is that despite the fact we have constantly been asking for figures about crime relating to pubs, we have had none.
"The situation that the licensing committee finds itself in is that there's a presumption in the licensing act towards granting the licence."
He said there needed to be good reason from one of the responsible authorities that shows one of the four licensing objectives - prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, protection of children from harm - would be not be adhered to.
"Unless we're in a position where a specific case has been made, the licence will be granted," he said.
"The licensing committee is quasi-judicial. That means that even if we do not like the Government's policy, we cannot change it."
He added: "I do not want to criticise the police because it's a very difficult job they have to do and they do it on limited resources. But unless they can come to us with detailed and specific figures for crimes it's going to be very difficult for us to come up with an argument against granting a licence."
The other two councillors sitting on the committee - Sylvia Lewis of Clydach and Margaret Smith of Gower - today also both said they had been hampered by the lack of detailed evidence.
Councillor Lewis added: "If the police evidence had been stronger, it might have been different.''
Monday's decision came just 48 hours ahead of a warning by worried judges and police nationally that the new late licences across the UK will trigger a huge explosion of violence.
They say they are worried some British cities may come to resemble squalid foreign party destinations, such as the notorious Greek resort of Falaraki.
Police, asked by the Post why the detailed information had not been supplied to the council, said in a statement: "We were not able to admit the evidence at the time of the hearing."
Councillor Tregoning said it was possible to review the licence at any time if information came up to show one of the four objectives was not being adhered to.
"So if there is a problem with any premises we can look at the licence again," he added.
COALITION 'SCARED' OF POOL DECISION PROBE
© South Wales Evening Post - 11 August 2005
City council leaders are running scared after calls for an investigation into the Pool Sanctuary deal, according to Swansea's Labour councillors. They have dismissed a suggestion that the presiding officer, Lib Dem councillor Susan Waller, carry out the investigation into the signing of the £50,000-a-year, 10-year lease for the former pool hall in The Kingsway, demanding instead an independent inquiry.
The old Labour-run administration signed the deal hoping to use the building as a new home for the city centre Activa gym - lost when Swansea Leisure Centre closed in November 2003.
But they lost power days later and the plans were later dropped by the Lib Dem led-coalition which said it would cost up to £1 million to adapt.
It leaves the city paying the rent plus £12,000 a year in rates for a building the council has failed to lease on.
Labour councillors were to table a motion today calling for a full public investigation into the reasons behind the decision to abandon the plans, which they say were backed by officers.An attempt by the Post to see the documents was denied by the council.
A challenge is being lodged.
Labour leader David Phillips said: "The ruling Liberal Democrat, Independent and Conservative coalition made great political play over the Pool Sanctuary. Now they seem to be running scared.
"We are not going to settle for anything other than an independent investigation." But the Lib Dem, Independent and Conservative coalition has hit back.
Councillor Rene Kinzett, spokesman for the LIC coalition, said: "It is a shocking piece of political opportunism and characteristic hypocrisy for Labour to now be calling for an investigation.
"The old Labour-run council did not do its homework on the state and suitability of the Pool Sanctuary before they signed a lease to use it as a gym.
"Labour were happy to rush into taking the lease as part of a quick political fix, the Swansea administration will not waste more taxpayers' money."
City council leaders are running scared after calls for an investigation into the Pool Sanctuary deal, according to Swansea's Labour councillors. They have dismissed a suggestion that the presiding officer, Lib Dem councillor Susan Waller, carry out the investigation into the signing of the £50,000-a-year, 10-year lease for the former pool hall in The Kingsway, demanding instead an independent inquiry.
The old Labour-run administration signed the deal hoping to use the building as a new home for the city centre Activa gym - lost when Swansea Leisure Centre closed in November 2003.
But they lost power days later and the plans were later dropped by the Lib Dem led-coalition which said it would cost up to £1 million to adapt.
It leaves the city paying the rent plus £12,000 a year in rates for a building the council has failed to lease on.
Labour councillors were to table a motion today calling for a full public investigation into the reasons behind the decision to abandon the plans, which they say were backed by officers.An attempt by the Post to see the documents was denied by the council.
A challenge is being lodged.
Labour leader David Phillips said: "The ruling Liberal Democrat, Independent and Conservative coalition made great political play over the Pool Sanctuary. Now they seem to be running scared.
"We are not going to settle for anything other than an independent investigation." But the Lib Dem, Independent and Conservative coalition has hit back.
Councillor Rene Kinzett, spokesman for the LIC coalition, said: "It is a shocking piece of political opportunism and characteristic hypocrisy for Labour to now be calling for an investigation.
"The old Labour-run council did not do its homework on the state and suitability of the Pool Sanctuary before they signed a lease to use it as a gym.
"Labour were happy to rush into taking the lease as part of a quick political fix, the Swansea administration will not waste more taxpayers' money."
