£500 payment for NHS and social care staff
Bridgend County Borough Council has welcomed news that Welsh Government will provide NHS and social care staff with bonus payments to mark their front-line contributions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Each staff member will receive a one-off payment of £735 per person which, after tax and national insurance contributions have been accounted for, will provide them with a full bonus of £500.
Announcing the payment, Minister for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething said: “Over the last year, Wales’ NHS and social care staff have shown a remarkable amount of commitment and courage from the initial outbreak of the pandemic right through to the current second wave.
“They will have suffered the impacts of the pandemic on their physical and mental health wellbeing in both their personal and professional lives. This payment expresses our gratitude to our NHS and social care workforce for their extraordinary contribution in keeping Wales safe.”
The Leader, Cllr Huw David said: “This bonus is going to benefit almost 222,000 people in Wales including more than 103,600 social care staff, 90,000 NHS Wales staff, 2,300 deployed students and 26,000 primary care staff.
“It follows a £500 special payment for care home and domiciliary care workers which was announced last May in recognition of work carried out through the first wave of the pandemic, and is sure to be warmly welcomed by staff who have been at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic since day one.
“Councils and trade unions are awaiting information on how the scheme will be delivered, so look out for more details soon.”
Council continues to invest in county borough’s roads
Resurfacing works are being carried out on roads across Bridgend County Borough as part of the council’s investment into the local highway network.
Using funding from the council’s Capital Programme and an additional £500,000 recently allocated by Welsh Government, repairs are underway or planned on numerous roads, including major resurfacing works on one of the county borough’s busiest routes – the B4281 to the west of Aberkenfig.
Resurfacing works are planned on sections of the following streets:
- A4063 Bryn Terrace (Cymmer Hill), Caerau
- Hermon Road, Caerau
- Maesglas, Pyle
- Sychbant Avenue, Maesteg
- Maple Terrace, Maesteg
- Cae Bach, Llangeinor
- Tydraw Crescent, Pyle
- Sunnybank, Pyle
- West Street, Aberkenfig
- Meadow Street, Aberkenfig
- Heol Simonston, Brackla
- Heol Bradford, Bettws
- Penllwyngwent Industrial Estate
A further £1.5million has been allocated to be spent on resurfacing works later in 2021-22 with locations to be finalised by the end of this month.
Cllr Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “The council is investing millions of pounds into the highway network to make improvements for communities across the county borough.
“Areas where work is needed are identified by the council’s highways inspectors who use a series of assessments, condition surveys and skid-resistance tests while also taking into account issues raised by the public and local councillors.
“Every effort is made to limit disruption while highway improvement works are carried out.”
Residents urged to Love Wales by caring for environment
Bridgend County Borough Council is joining forces with Keep Wales Tidy to support Caru Cymru (Love Wales), the biggest ever initiative to eradicate litter and waste.
Caru Cymru aims to inspire residents to take action and care for the environment by making good habits second nature, from taking litter home and cleaning up after dogs, to recycling ‘on-the-go’, reusing and repairing
The Deputy Leader, Cllr Hywel Williams said: “The council is proud to work alongside Keep Wales Tidy as part of our ‘Love it…don’t trash it!’ project, which involves community councils and schools in Porthcawl, Cornelly, Pyle, Kenfig Hill, Cefn Cribwr and Brackla, encouraging residents to take pride in their community and help keep it litter-free.
“We will soon launch a digital version for schools in the Ogmore Valley and will continue to work with Keep Wales Tidy to set up new litter hubs when coronavirus restrictions allow so volunteers can have access to
equipment for litter picks.
“We are also planning to introduce more dog waste bag stations for pet owners if they have forgotten them on a walk and colourful bins to discourage people from dropping gum on the floor.
“By coming together to create a clean and safe environment, we can build stronger, healthier communities and make a positive difference to our planet.”
Speaking about the campaign, Lesley Jones, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy said: “Every person in Wales has a part to play in eradicating litter and waste which can cause so much damage to our communities and to our natural environment.
“I’m proud to be part of an initiative which brings people together, and provides the tools, innovation and support needed to make a positive difference. Caru Cymru is not an exclusive club – everyone can join in.”
Residents in Bridgend County Borough and across Wales are being encouraged to join the new movement and can visit Keep Wales Tidy’s Caru Cymru website to find out more.
Caru Cymru has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-20, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Census day is nearly here
With March 21 just a few days away, the 2021 Census is in full swing in Bridgend County Borough.
Letters have been sent to residents with a code explaining how they can complete their form online, and some responses are already coming in.
Operating in line with the Government’s latest Covid-19 guidance, field officers will be contacting those who have not responded and will offer help and advice to those who need it. They will also remind people that their census response is required by law.
The Leader, Cllr Huw David said: “The census, which is run by the Office for National Statistics, is a once-in-a-decade survey that will help local authorities and governments to decide how services are planned and funded in the future.
“This can include things like doctors’ surgeries, housing or new bus routes. Charities also use census information to help get the funding they need and businesses use it to decide where to set up, which creates job opportunities.
“It asks questions about you and your household to build a picture of us all. It looks at who we are and how we live. There’s no other survey that gives as much information about our society and future needs.
“I would urge all residents to get involved on Census day – Sunday, March 21 – it takes just 10 minutes per person to take part and if you can’t get online, there are paper forms available. Now is the time to make your mark on history.”
Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said: “A successful census will help give the best picture of the needs of everyone living in England and Wales.
“It helps us understand what our society needs now and what it will likely need in the future. We’ve had a fantastic response so far, with many already completing the questionnaire on their laptops, phones and computers.”
The questionnaire includes questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. For the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over about sexual orientation and gender identity.
In Wales, households will also be asked about their Welsh language skills. And those who wish to complete the census in Welsh can do so both online and in paper form.
Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.
To complete your census, or to find out how to get help, visit the census website or call 0800 169 2021.
Local census facts
At the time of the last census…
- 139,178 people lived in Bridgend County Borough, including 6,383 students
- 237 people worked as IT specialist managers, 28 were vehicle paint technicians, 35 were coal mine operatives and there were 97 biological scientists and biochemists
- More than 42,000 (69%) used a car or van to drive to work, although nearly 5,000 walked to work
- Bridgend was made up of 174 different ethnicities
- There were 49 households with eight or more people
- 312 people said they were Jedi Knights