Audit Wales to prioritise work on rebuilding local government accounts process
Audit Wales has said working closely with the local government sector “to share good practice and help rebuild a sustainable and timely accounts process” remains one of its paramount priorities, as it publishes its Annual Plan for 2026-27. Other priorities the watchdog has set out are: Audit Wales noted that 2026-27 will be a year of…
Aberdare man jailed for assaulting officers
A man from Aberdare has been jailed for assaulting officers following an arrest on the Easter bank holiday weekend. Craig Williams, 40, from Aberdare, was sentenced on Monday, April 6, at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court to four weeks in prison. This sentence follows guilty pleas to two counts of assaulting an emergency working and one count…
Upcoming clearance activity at former coal tip site in Trehafod
Residents are advised that vegetation clearance work will begin at the Lewis Merthyr Coal Tip in Trehafod from next week. The large former mining site is located generally to the south of Coedcae Road and south-west of Rheolau Terrace. The local community may notice work activity from Monday, April 13, lasting around three weeks in total. The…
Welsh additional learning needs system suffering from data gaps, watchdog says
Welsh public bodies lack a clear picture of demand, costs and outcomes relating to the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system, making it difficult to assess whether it is delivering effectively for learners, Audit Wales has warned. Writing in a report on children and young people with ALN, the watchdog also said it found the system “under strain”…
Primary school teams battle it out in Caerphilly Cluster League Football Finals
Primary school pupils from across Caerphilly County Borough came together to compete in the Primary School Cluster League Football Finals, showcasing teamwork, skill and a passion for the game. The competition, open to children in Years 5 and 6, followed a structured league format, with teams playing 7-a-side matches in squads of up to 10….
Councils in Wales face risk of “service collapse” without reform, thinktank says
A public policy research organisation has urged the Welsh Government and the local government sector to create a new operating model for councils in Wales, warning that the current model of local government is “no longer sustainable”. In a report published this month, the Wales Centre for Public Policy called on the Welsh Government to address the…
Our nine-point plan for the new Senedd
Open Spaces Society has sent our nine-point plan for the new Senedd to our members in Wales to use when speaking to their candidates in the forthcoming election. Here is the manifesto. (Cymraeg yma) ________________________________________________ The opportunity for people to enjoy open spaces and paths, for their relaxation, health, well-being, and appreciation of nature, has…
Let’s get it right the first time, say NRW? Landowners in Wales urged to get advice before working in rivers and wetlands
Landowners in Wales are being urged to get expert advice before carrying out any work in rivers or streams to avoid costly mistakes, accidental damage and environmental harm that can be difficult to undo. Poorly planned work in rivers and streams – such as removing gravel, reshaping banks or straightening channels – can quickly create…
Welsh police forces target abuse and intimidation ahead of Senedd elections
All candidates in the forthcoming Senedd elections are being issued with guidance to help them respond if they experience intimidatory behaviour or abuse during the election campaign. The guidance document When it goes too far: Joint guidance for candidates in elections provides advice on the actions or behaviours that could constitute a criminal offence, when to contact…
“Persistent delays” in allocating and authorising DoLS applications continue to leave many individuals in Wales unlawfully deprived of their liberty, report finds
More Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications are being submitted across Wales, with a 10% increase in applications to local authorities and a 23% increase in applications to health boards in 2024-2025, a report from watchdogs has found. According to the annual monitoring report by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) on the implementation…