March against cuts in Caerphilly. Photo: Socialist Party Wales
March against cuts in Caerphilly. Photo: Socialist Party Wales

Llanelli – Plaid’s broken school promise

Mark Evans, Carmarthenshire Unison retired members branch secretary (personal capacity)

Carmarthenshire County Council, led by Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru, has reneged on its commitment to replace Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Heol Goffa school in Llanelli.

200 people marched, as part of the campaign to get the council to reverse its decision not to fund a new purpose-built school. For years, the council, including the previous Plaid leader Emlyn Dole, gave an undertaking to staff and pupils that a new school that would replace Heol Goffa, which was in a dilapidated state, and not fit for purpose.

The demonstration was attended by parents, pupils, and trade unionists, representing members in the school. Carmarthenshire County Unison, including its retired members branch, were there in force. We had our banners, along with the National Education Union (NEU) and Unite Community.

Unison is the biggest union in the school, and we will campaign until the council fulfils its commitment to build a purpose-built school that retains the expertise and skills of our members.

The council’s decision, we are told, is due to the rising cost. We do not accept this explanation.

If the council had not dutifully implemented Tory central government cuts, passed on by the Welsh Labour government, it would be in a far better position than it is now. The council always finds the money for its pet projects.

The stance of our Unison branch, the previous lobby of the council, and this demonstration, sends a clear message to the council – fulfil your previous commitment to replace Heol Goffa school.

Caerphilly – Labour put private consultants above elderly

Save Meals Direct, Blackwood Miners, and Llancaiach Fawr

Dave Reid, Socialist Party Wales

Hundreds and hundreds marched through Blackwood to oppose Caerphilly Labour Council closing ‘meals on wheels’, Blackwood Miners’ Institute, and Llancaiach Fawr museum –with the loss of 87 jobs.

Caerphilly Council is proposing to end an essential service to the community, and close two South Wales Valleys cultural icons. Not out of financial necessity, but on the advice of a private consultancy firm which profits from cutting our services.

Meals on wheels is about much more than just food. It provides a daily contact for elderly people in the borough, and a check on how they are.

The council says social services will fill that gap. But we all know social services cannot cope with the existing workload.

So, the only way that would happen is if the council increases spending on social services by more than they plan to cut from meals on wheels! Meals on wheels is the cheapest way to provide contact for our elderly.

The council is basically abandoning our elderly people. And this follows the decision of the Labour government to cut their winter fuel allowance.

The Labour government is cutting their heating and the Labour council is cutting their food. Scandalously many pensioners in the UK will have to choose between heating or eating this winter. Labour in Caerphilly is not even giving them that choice!

The Socialist Party has consistently called for the council to carry out the Wales Trades Union Congress (TUC) policy of preparing no-cuts budgets, using reserves, and fighting for funding from the Welsh Labour government and the Labour government in Westminster to retain services.

There is no need for Caerphilly Council to carry out these cuts.  The council’s financial reserves have risen to £192 million, with £90 million unallocated. Just the interest accrued from the reserves would cover the cost of meals on wheels nearly twice over!

Now join campaigners as we lobby two council meetings.

The cuts of £1 million a year have been proposed by consultancy firm Perago, which the councils pay an estimated £1.2 million for ‘help’ with restructuring. The company is actually profiting the more they cut our services. So these fat cats will profit from depriving our pensioners of food.

Caerphilly Socialist Party says:

  • Cancel the cuts – Keep Meals Direct and the venues open. Use the council’s reserves as a temporary measure
  • Build a mass campaign of communities and trade unions to defend all council services and jobs
  • Build a mass campaign with other councils to demand adequate funding from Welsh Labour government and Westminster Labour government
  • For workers’ candidates to stand against all councillors who vote for these cuts
  • Make the super-rich pay for the Tory mess, not our pensioners

Lobbies of Caerphilly Council