2022

JAN

Criticised the introduction of recycling charges at DCC recycling centres. 

 

Fought to have a proper consultation for residents that will be affected by proposed new sea defenses. Submitted a formal complaint about that lack of consultation. Appeared on ITV news even to talk about it.

 

Attended a meeting for a project update from RWE Renewables on the proposed extension to the Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm. 

Voted against a council tax rise this year, along with other Plaid Cymru Cllrs ( totallingg 25% in the last five years).

 

I put a motion in, again, that we apply to Welsh Government to fund a new high school in Prestatyn. I was generally shouted at, talked over and insulted by several other Cllrs. Including some from Prestatyn. 

 

I made a step forward though as lead member for education, Hugh Hilditch Roberts, proposed an amendment whereby DCC review their schools to see whether PHS need for refurbishment is any greater than other schools. Which is something I'd already argued for two years ago! 

 

FEB

Spoke out about DCC’s mis-management of contracts with particular reference to the market hall in Rhyl. Turned into a bit of a spat as a cabinet meeting turned into a general slanging match about me.

 

Continued fighting for residents affected by the proposed sea defence . Wascaccused of being ‘disloyal to the council’ by a cabinet member. DCC failed to respond to my earlier complaint.

 

Researched Denbighshires debts, discovered they stood at £241 million.

 

Put a complaint in to the public services ombudsman about DCC’s failure to address my complaint to them.

 

MARCH

Attended an event showing support for Ukraine. 

 

Denbighshire Cllrs voted in favour of creating a new corporate director post today, at around £150’ 000 a year. We weren’t presented with any figures, or evidence of the need, so I voted against it. 

 

Carried out a survey with young people and PHS to discover what the reasons were for a rise in anti-social behavior and what they want from their town. 

Met with PHS head of behavior to discuss working in partnership to set up work to address that. 

 

Had a false dog fouling fine scrapped for a lady in Rhyl. 

 

APRIL

The Election period. 

 

Called the fire brigade out to a huge dune fire. 

Spoke to various agencies after that to look at creating a fire protection plan for the dunes.

 

Was surprised to see Labour and Tory leaflets promising a new high school for Prestatyn after voting against it for years.

 

Received some data I’d been pursuing on dog fouling in Denbighshire. Just as bad as it was under Kingdom, basically a private firm makes a profit but does very little to tackle dog fouling.

 

MAY

Lost my seat!

 

Returned to full time teaching.

 

IN CONCLUSION

 

Everything I fought for, for years, was very quickly dismissed after the elections.

 

The sea defence funding was discovered to have been miscalculated by £8 million. None of the new Cllrs had bothered to meet any of the residents affected, none questioned that mis-calculation.

 

The meeting to review Prestatyn’s need for a new school lasted about five minutes and your new Cllrs scrapped their election promises (aka lies)  in record time! 

 

I passed the data I had gathered on dog fouling to several new Cllrs. I didn’t get any response. 

 

Council tax is currently forecast to go up by another 3.8% this year.