Wales Cardiff Council News

Council Budget 2013/14 as amended, has been carried following a Council vote. #cdfcouncil

From @cardiffcouncil on Twitter: (10:43 pm, Thu 28 Feb 2013)

• Politics
• Cardiff Council

Cardiff Council workers have taken to the streets to demonstrate against plans for millions of pounds of cuts to services.

The authority - Wales' largest - is trying to save £22m to balance its books, but campaigners say the cuts will cost 300 jobs and put extra pressure on the support being given to some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

The cuts are similar to those being planned in countries right across Wales - as our business correspondent Carole Green reports.

• Politics
• Cardiff Council

Cardiff Council will meet to set its budget today. Campaigners against proposed budget cuts will hold a protest outside the meeting.

Proposals to save money include selling Flatholm Island and facilities such as Splott Swimming pool and Cardiff Riding School.

In a statement, the council said the budget proposals have been 'extremely difficult'.

The Council's budget for 2013/14 will be set on Thursday February 28 at the meeting of full Council at City Hall.

Proposing the 2013/14 budget has been extremely difficult as the Council faces steeper cuts than ever before which means some difficult decisions will need to be taken to ensure that our frontline services, such as schools and social services, are protected. We also understand the strong feelings that some of Cardiff's citizens have had on some of the issues the budget proposals have raised.

• Politics
• Cardiff Council

Wales' largest local authority, Cardiff Council, is meeting this afternoon to set its budget for the coming year.

Campaigners are due to hold a rally to protest against cuts to services and jobs losses.

Protest group Cardiff Against The Cuts is arguing that the council should scrap plans to cut £22.5m in spending on services, and cut 300 jobs, describing them as "cruel."

Proposals include cuts to funding for domestic abuse charity Women's Aid, and charity Tros Gynnal, which provides support to vulnerable children.

Ross Saunders, the protest group's secretary, said: "These are cuts that will hit victims of domestic violence, children at risk of sexual or physical abuse, children in foster care, elderly and disabled people and those with mental health problems and learning difficulties."

• Politics
• Cardiff Council

It is extraordinary for the Welsh Government to cherrypick cuts being imposed by their Labour chums in Cardiff Council.

“This sets a dangerous precedent, sending a message to local authorities that if they propose irresponsible cuts to essential services, they will simply be bailed out by the Welsh Government.

A cynic would think Welsh Labour Ministers are putting the narrow interests of their party before the country by bunging their council colleagues £20,000 to help them meet a pre-election vote-grabbing pledge.”

• UK
• Welsh language
• Cardiff Council

Cardiff's annual 'Tafwyl' Welsh language festival is to receive £20,000 in funding from the Welsh Government.

It follows last week's announcement that Cardiff Council would no longer fund the festival, as it attempts to save £22m from its budget in the next financial year.

Festival organiser Menter Caerdydd says the funding will help "secure the future of the festival in its current format".

This is a unique case. This important cultural festival has expanded year on year since it was launched in 2006 and is invaluable in promoting the Welsh language. It has the potential to become a national event in our capital city.

“I recognise that Cardiff’s budget negotiations are still ongoing. However, I have acted now to ensure there is no prolonged period of uncertainty for the Festival organisers, or for those people from outside the capital who are planning to travel to Tafwyl. Over 10% of those who attended last year were from outside Cardiff.

I have come to this decision following a discussion with Cardiff’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas, who I know was working hard to find a sustainable future for the Tafwyl celebration.

Cllr Thomas has committed to Cardiff once again providing support in kind through the supply of the Cardiff Castle grounds and considerable staff time and officer support. Now that the uncertainty for 2013 has been removed, discussions can now focus on how the event develops in future years.

• UK
• Cardiff
• Welsh language

The Council regularly conducts internal audits of performance in Children Services as part of our commitment to make sure everything is being done to the highest standards to safeguard children and young people in Cardiff.

These audits are very thorough, as the well-being and safeguarding of children in care is of paramount importance.

As a result of one of these recent internal audits it was discovered a small number of cases in the Child Health and Disability Team needed further investigation.

Although it is only a small number of cases audited that have caused concern it is important the Council act decisively as any matter of child protection is of utmost priority. Therefore immediate action has been taken to suspend a number of members of staff, as a neutral act, to enable a thorough, independent investigation.

During this time interim management arrangements are in place. We will be making sure that everything possible is being done to quickly resolve this matter ensuring the appropriate investigation is carried out swiftly and thoroughly.

• UK
• Cardiff Council

Cardiff Council has suspended a number of members of staff in its children's services unit pending the outcome of an investigation. The council says it's taken action after a recent audit which found 'a small number of cases in the child health and disability team needed further investigation.'

• UK
• Cardiff Council