June 2023
Welsh Government: 20mph, a new default speed limit for Wales.
Commencing 17th September 2023, a default 20mph speed limit for drivers will be implemented on ‘restricted roads’ across Wales. This means most 30mph speed limits will reduce from 30mph to 20mph. When you see streetlights, assume that the speed limit is 20mph, unless you see signs that say otherwise.
Further Information is available on the Welsh Government website and the following link:
Roads affected by changes to the speed limit on restricted roads
‘Restricted’ refers to roads which have street lights placed no more than 200 yards apart. They are usually located in residential and built-up areas with high pedestrian activity.
Further information is also available in the following documents:
Communications and Engagement Toolkit (pdf)
Misinformation Fact sheet (pdf)
Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)
June 2023
Wick Community Council Annual Report – 2022/23 (pdf)
The Annual Report (pdf) provides a summary of work undertaken during 2022/23. The report covers areas such areas as Jubilee and Coronation celebrations, Finance, Places for Nature Scheme, Replacement Railngs, Pizza Oven/Section 106 Funding, and the Pavilion and Sports Field lease.
January 2023
Proposed lease and increase to Precept
Wick Community Councillors met with officers of the Vale of Glamorgan Council last month to discuss a proposed lease for Wick Sports Pavilion. We also discussed the possibility of a lease for the sports field, and this was met with a positive response.
Vale Council officers opened the meeting and explained that the Council had no further use for the pavilion, but were hopeful that a lease could be agreed allowing Wick Community Council to manage it.
They also expressed the view that the pavilion would be better served as a community asset managed by the Community Council, as there was an opportunity to manage the building more effectively, engage the community in Wick, and also apply for grant funding, something the Vale Council could not do.
On a less positive note, if a lease cannot be agreed, the Vale Council would close the sports pavilion, and explore options for the land. As a Community Council we believe that residents would prefer to see the pavilion and field retained for community use. By taking a lease on both we are hopeful of safeguarding the building and land from any possibility of future development.
Referring back to the meeting, councillors requested costs for the pavilion that are currently paid by the Vale Council such as electric, water and insurance. These were provided by Vale Council and were discussed at our last meeting in December.
At this time of the year, we have to prepare a budget and agree the precept (a tax collected by the Vale Council on our behalf) for 2023/24. During our meeting the council’s finance officer explained that additional costs for the pavilion would lead to a deficit of £3,000 on our current budget, and added that costs provided by the Vale council were up to March 2022 only, so the deficit could be higher than £3,000 due to increased costs of energy and inflation.
Councillors expressed concern at the meeting regarding how the increased cost would affect residents in Wick. To provide an example based on figures we have from Stats Wales for 2021/22 and the precept rising by £3,000 – for households in band D there would be an increase of £5.55 per year, from £11.09 to £16.64.
Looking forward, Wick Community Council would like to improve the Sports Pavilion and with that in mind, we have built up reserves of £15,000 over the last 4 or 5 years. Once the lease is agreed we will begin to spend that money. Ideas that have been put forward already include new flooring and redecoration. We know that there is a lot of support in Wick for a community cafe, amongst many other ideas that have been put forward by the community.
The Council hope that residents support our ambitions for the pavilion and sports field and share our wishes to safeguard the land for community use. We would also like to remind residents that we are all volunteers and do not receive any payment for carrying out our role as councillors.
We are hopeful that the lease will be be signed before April 2023, so councillors agreed that we should address the 2023/24 deficit now. The precept in Wick is currently £6,000, and would rise by £3000 from April 1st 2023 to £9,000. The amount required to cover the predicted deficit.
This decision to increase the precept has been agreed in principle and will be confirmed by councillors at the next meeting on 19th January 2023.
January 2023
Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales
Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013
Review of Community Arrangements for the Vale of Glamorgan – (pdf) download
The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales are about to conduct a review of the community arrangements for the Vale of Glamorgan. Among the matters the Commission will consider are the boundaries of the current community and community wards of and any consequential changes required to the electoral arrangements of those communities.
Before they begin to formulate their draft proposals, the Commission invite any person or body having an interest in the review to send their initial comments via email to: consultations@boundaries.wales, or in writing to: The Chief Executive, Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales, Hastings House, Fitzalan Court, CARDIFF, CF24 0BL between 01 February 2023 and 28 March 2023.
Further information about the review and the work of the Commission can be found on the Commission’s website: www.ldbc.gov.wales.
Please note that the comments received will be published, however personal information will be redacted.
Shereen Williams, Chief Executive
Wick Community Council 