Your Local Voice Winter 2017

Your Local Voice PLAID CYMRU, THE PARTY OF WALES, STANDING UP FOR YOU IN RHONDDA CYNON TAF

EXCLUSIVE - Labour axe over 1,700 local jobs in RCT A total of 1,771 local people have been made redundant in Rhondda Cynon Taf by Labour since 2014. The number of people affected will be at least double that figure as the workers’ children and partners will also bear the brunt of these cuts.

These staggering figures reveal that our local, frontline staff have been sacrificed in the cuts made by both the Labour Welsh Government and Labour councillors in RCT.

care, meals on wheels, museums and theatre, public toilets, cleaning and environmental health.

Labour’s cuts are continuing this year. To date, a further 163 people have been made redundant in 2016/17 – among them 14 childcare workers, 68 teacher aides and 15 domestic care assistants.

Despite this, the council is employing senior staff on salaries of over £140,000 a year.

In its election manifesto in 2012, Labour said its first priority would be Plaid Cymru has described the situation as outrageous and has “protecting and creating local jobs”. They have broken that promcondemned Labour for refusing to work with them to identify ise. alternative savings to balance the books.

In 2014/15, 978 people were made redundant at the council. A More and more services have been contracted to the private sector, further 630 were made redundant in 2015/16. These figures include like care for the elderly, where the reduction in careworkers’ pay; 76 cooks, kitchen and catering staff and dining room assistants, 181 terms and conditions of employment, in no way reflects the value of teaching assistants, 153 workers in the youth service and 105 their work. No wonder Labour have abandoned their pledge to homecare workers. eliminate child poverty in Wales by 2020. They stand guilty of Jobs were lost in most departments including libraries, parks, street

making people poorer.

PAGE 2: NEW RCT CHIEF SET TO EARN MORE THAN THE PRIME MINISTER

Pontypridd Stay in touch:

plaidpontypridd@gmail.com

@PlaidPontypridd

/PlaidCymruPontypridd

As Labour-run RCT Council increases pay of its chief to £143,000 a year, the Party of Wales says:

“Cut pay at the top not council services!”

Why are our councils paying salaries upwards of £100,000 to senior staff while, at the same time, making deeper cuts to the services upon which our communities depend?

The opportunity is now available to the Labour Minister for local government to tackle bloated pay. He must direct the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales to review all Council Executive Pay so that management costs are universally slashed from their current unacceptable level.

Here in Rhondda Cynon Taff, our council has just appointed a new Chief Executive who will be paid £143,000 per year - roughly the same as the UK Prime Minister.

If the council was performing exceptionally well in all measures, perhaps there could be a justification for a salary that is more than five times the Welsh average. However, we all know that the performance of the council still leaves much to be desired.

executive of a housing association in RCT was £150,000 - a figure approved by a board including Labour councillors.

This May you can choose candidates that believe in cutting This is just the latest in a long line of inflated salaries which fly in the executive pay, not services. Vote for Plaid Cymru - the Party of Wales. face of common sense. Less than a year ago, a salary for the chief

Plaid Cymru success in Assembly election Between the 2015 and 2016 elections Plaid Cymru was the only party to increase its share of the vote in the Pontypridd constituency. The Party of Wales went from 5th place in 2015 to being the main challenger to Labour in 2016, finishing second.

Plaid UP

UKIP Down Labour Down

Conservatives Down

Lib Dems Down

Greens Down

The Party’s growing support puts it in prime position to make the changes needed in RCT. Be part of the movement for change, and join others around you who will be voting Plaid in May 2017. Together, we can bring about the change that is needed.

Protect Wales - Stop London's power grab No matter if you voted leave, remain or didn’t vote at all, there’s no denying that Wales faces a series of challenges as Brexit negotiations to leave the European Union, get underway. With those challenges come also opportunities, and Plaid Cymru is working hard to ensure that the best interests of Wales are prioritised as the discussions progress.

Both the Tories in Westminster and the Labour Welsh Government in Cardiff have been criticised for their contradictory, confused statements on Brexit and the people of Wales remain in the dark as to what kind of Brexit will take place and what its impact will be.

it wants without any information on how residents of RCT and Wales be will affected. Our MPs and AMs will continue to scrutinise what the Government brings forward, and are asking for assurances that our businesses won’t face additional costs; that exports to our key trading partners will remain tariff-free; and ordinary people won’t face cuts to their wages – those are real tangible economic assurances, not meaningless identity politics.

Whilst Plaid Cymru respects the referendum result, the Party is not prepared to give the UK Government a blank cheque and free ride to do whatever

People

Meet some of your local Plaid candidates, looking to stand up for you in RCT’s Council election in 2017

Carole Willis - Pontyclun

Richard Martin - Graig, Pontypridd

“As chair of the Governing Body of YGGG Llantrisant and a former chair of Pontyclun Community Council I know the community well and would be honoured to serve it on RCT Council.

“My family and I have lived in Pontypridd for over 10 years.

I’m standing for election in 2017 because RCT Council can and should be run better.

“Labour have been in power for too long. It is time that the council was run by hard working dynamic Plaid Cymru councillors with fresh new ideas.”

“With the fresh ideas and hard work of my fellow Plaid Cymru candidates, we can make sure our community get the best value for money and end Labour’s gravy train approach to local government.”

Survey In Plaid Cymru, we pride ourselves on being in the community, and working closely with our neighbours for a better society.

We are always open for feedback and we regularly take stock of the issues that are important to our community.

With that in mind, please take a few moments to fill in this survey.

1. What are the main concerns in your local area? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. The condition of the roads in my community are: Very Good

Good

Average

Bad

Very Bad

Average

Bad

Very Bad

Average

Bad

Very Bad

Average

Bad

Very Bad

Average

Bad

Very Bad

3. How are motorists at keeping to speed limits on your street?

Very Good

Good

4. The availability of public transport in my community is: Very Good

Good

5. How would you rate the cleanliness of your community?

Very Good

Good

6. How would you rate the broadband speed at home?

Very Good

Good

7. Irrespective of how you usually vote, which party would you trust the most to get the best deal for Wales in the Brexit negotiations?

Plaid Cymru

Labour

Tory

UKIP

Other

Name: _________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ Post Code: ______________________________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________________________________________________________________ If you would like to be kept informed about the results of all our surveys in the Community, kindly supply your e-mail address: ______________________________________________________________________________ Please return this survey to Plaid Cymru—the Party of Wales, Tš Gwynfor, Anson Court, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, CF10 4AL Information provided here will be stored securely in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Promoted by Plaid Cymru Pontypridd, 52 Heol Merthyr, Pontypridd,CF37 4DD. Printed by Trinity Mirror Printing, Pacific Road, Cardiff, CF24 5HJ