Welcome
As a new administration we are listening to our local residents and we are setting our priorities based on
your feedback to improve Blaenau Gwent as a place to live and work.
Financial challenges remain with ever reducing central government budget and there will be difficult decisions to make later this year when we set our budget for the next financial year.
Our immediate priorities since May have included modernising our governance arrangements and to make some financial efficiencies to be re-directed into front line Council services.
The position of Mayor was re-designated and £55,000 worth of savings is being redirected to fund long term borrowing for improving residential roads, streets and pavements. We reduced the number of Executive members from 7 to 5 and reduced the allowances we can claim for senior roles. These choices will also generate savings to re-invest into street cleaning initiatives.
I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Michelle Morris as our new Managing Director. Michelle joins us from Highland Council, one of the largest local authorities in Scotland where she held the position of Deputy Chief Executive and Director, Corporate Development. Her earlier local government career has included senior management positions at Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Swansea
Councils.
We are pleased to attract a candidate of Michelle’s calibre to work with us in Blaenau Gwent. This is a key appointment which is critical in guiding the Council in the coming months and years as local government faces further financial challenges.
Please take some time to read this edition of Connect Magazine which gives you an update on some of the key areas of work by the Council...
Connect - Autumn 2017