I hold no brief for Plaid Cymru, certainly not on the national scene. Their performance, in coalition with Labour, in the Welsh Assembly Government more than ever convinces me that my party had a lucky escape in not joining them and the Conservatives after the last Assembly elections. However, I admire some of their local members for their tenacity in seeking to improve local government, efforts which transcend mere party politics.

Such is Linda Ware, a councillor in Cilfrew, chairman of Blaenhonddan’s finance committee. This was set up in the teeth of opposition from Labour and my own doubts, seeing where the suggestion was coming from. However, there is little doubt (except from some diehard Labour quarters – witness Cllr Mike Richards’ blizzard of letters in the local press) that the committee has teased out facts and figures which show where improvements could be made to financial performance and accountability. An article in the Neath Guardian, though regrettably concentrating on the most dramatic conclusions of the finance committee, sets out in black-and-white the background to the economic decisions the community council has had to take, and the probable way forward.

There are comparisons with other community councils. None of the figures are made up; they are all in the public domain; and they are attested by the council clerks. The councils are not all that similar, but examining performance in key areas is enlightening. I would like to think that the article would put past arguments to rest, but there are too many whose attitude is: my mind is made up, please don’t confuse me with the facts.

It’s easy to dwell on the negative (Cllr Ware is particularly concerned that every day that Caewern centre is open, or that some of our below-par children’s playgrounds are in use, the risk increases of an accident which could see us corporately guilty of negligence), but I would like to look forward, too. The community has some excellent halls and centres which could be made more use of. Playgrounds are in good settings, and can be made both safer and more attractive. We need more “marketing” of the former and a rolling programme of improvements for the latter. This is not something which can be done all at once, and there is not enough money for planned improvements in 2009/10, but at least we can set in train for 2010/11 and subsequent years.

   Leave a comment