To the residents of Blaenau Gwent,
It’s been a while since I last wrote, and this is due to the pre-election period in Wales leading up to the recent Senedd and Police & Crime Commissioner elections. You will be aware that these elections took place, and that the Welsh Labour Party were successful in reforming a Government, with Mark Drakeford re-elected as the First Minister. Alun Davies is the returning Member of the Senedd for Blaenau Gwent, and the Police & Crime Commissioner for the Gwent area is Jeff Cuthbert. I hope to work with them in their respective roles for the benefit of people in Blaenau Gwent.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved with the organisation of the election here in Blaenau Gwent, both at polling stations and count venues, for making sure we ran a safe and smooth election despite the very different circumstances this time.
In terms of Coronavirus a lot has happened over the past few weeks as Wales continues the journey out of lockdown, with restrictions being eased in stages. In Blaenau Gwent we have very successfully reduced our incidence rate and positive cases, which given where we were just a few months ago is truly fantastic news. This is down to a number of factors but mainly due to all your efforts – thank you for helping to keep your fellow residents safe. As restrictions ease I’d encourage you to continue to be cautious and always assess the risk. We will all be aware of the variant from India, as well as some other emerging variants, that appear to be spreading rapidly, and public health teams are working hard to try and keep on top of this.
Another important tool in keeping numbers low has been our Council teams working in partnership with health colleagues in continuing to respond to the Pandemic, ensuring that our communities are kept safe and that people have the support they need. The Gwent Test Trace Protect Service continues to perform really well in reaching contacts and providing advice and support.
Over the past few weeks businesses in Blaenau Gwent will have been relieved to be able to open their doors again, and I’d encourage you to continue to support your local town centre traders.
It is likely we will continue to have measures in place for quite some time which will help us live alongside Coronavirus, such as self-isolation; testing; and other preventative measures such as face coverings and hand hygiene. Let’s continue to observe these things so that we can all move forward together.
For the latest information on restrictions in Wales go to - https://gov.wales/coronavirus
The vaccine programme continues at great speed, as I write over 2 million people in Wales have received a first dose. A big thank you to all the amazing staff and volunteers for making this happen so quickly and making it a safe, easy process for those attending their appointments.
Our schools continue to be open, and thanks to the efforts of everyone involved are safe spaces for learners and staff.
In other news - we will shortly be holding the Annual General Meeting of the Council, where the Leadership of the Council, the Executive Committee and Chairs of meetings, included scrutiny committees, are confirmed. We will agree a new cycle of meetings for the year, allowing us to conduct the business of the Council in an open and transparent manner.
We’re continuing to deliver our Budget, which protects and looks to improve key frontline services for our residents. It’s a Budget that will help us build financial resilience for the years ahead.
Finally, please remember to continue to look out for each other. Remember, if you are struggling and have no support, or you are concerned about someone living in your community, do not hesitate to get in touch with us on 01495 311556.
Let’s continue to work together to #KeepWalesSafe
Thank you.
Councillor Nigel Daniels
Leader Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
• The NHS COVID-19 app is used alongside traditional contact tracing to notify users if they come into contact with someone who later tests positive for coronavirus. You can download the NHS COVID-19 app from the App Store or Google Play Store. For more information on the NHS COVID-19 app visit www.covid19.nhs.uk
• For the latest information on council services go to - https://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/resident/emergencies-crime-prevention/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-information/
• Please follow us on:
Facebook – @blaenaugwentcbc
Twitter - @BlaenauGwentCBC
• The latest advice & guidance can be found here:
https://phw.nhs.wales/
https://gov.wales/
https://www.gov.uk/