The Conservatives and Devolution

At last, David Cameron has answered the devolution question – in part at least. A Conservative government in London wouldn’t block a request to hold a referendum on full legislative powers for the Assembly if one was requested by Cardiff Bay. Conservative Assembly Members are overjoyed. Like the Labour MPs in 2007, Conservative MPs have been marginalised. This is a big step forward for a Conservative Party in Wales that 10 years ago opposed any form of devolution. These are small steps but welcome ones.
But before we get too carried away, it should be noted that Cameron still doesn’t “get” devolution. When asked about the referendum Cameron said

“But my own view is let’s roll up our sleeves and deal with the real priorities – jobs investment, getting the economy going – that is what I think people in Wales care about most of all.”

The standard answer from a politician that can’t think of a valid reason to oppose something is to claim that it isn’t what real people are talking about. It’s somehow not important. But devolving legislative powers in areas where the Assembly has responsibility IS important. Cardiff Bay can’t implement policy without going through a long and convoluted process of asking for powers which delays much needed reforms. To return to Mr Cameron’s point, the Welsh Government’s policies to create jobs and attract investment are hampered by the LCO process.
Perhaps Mr Cameron should speak to people who are on waiting lists for rented housing about whether the constitutional settlement is important. It’s kept them waiting for over 2 years for measure which would help get them somewehere to live. Peter Hain’s finest achievment is causing homelessness and unemployment. That is what I think people in Wales care about most of all Mr Cameron

Y Ceidwadwyr a Datganoli

O’r diwedd, atebodd David Cameron y cwestiwn ar ddatgnoli – i ryw raddau. Na fyddai llywodraeth Ceidwadol yn gwrthod cais am refferendwm a ddatganoli pwerau deddfi llawn i’r Cynulliad petai Bae Caerdydd yn gofyn. Mae Aelodau Cynulliad Ceidwadol yn llawen – maen nhw wedi cael eu ffordd ac fel Aelodau Seneddol Llafur yn 2007, mae Aelodau Seneddol Ceidwadol wedi colli’r dadl. Ond unwaith eto, mae’r arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr wedi dangos ei fod e ddim yn deall datganoli.  Dywedodd

“But my own view is let’s roll up our sleeves and deal with the real priorities – jobs investment, getting the economy going – that is what I think people in Wales care about most of all.”

Ateb safonol gwleidyddion sydd ddim o blaid rhywbeth ond sy’n methu cyfiawnhau eu safbwynt yw bod y bobl ddim yn gweld y peth yn bwysig. Ond mae rhoi pwerau deddfi llawn i’r Cynulliad yn bwysig. Mae’n llawer mwy anodd i’r llywodraeth yng Nghaerydd weithredu polisiau sy’n creu swyddi a denu buddsoddiad heb fod y pwer gyda yno. Mae’r system presennol sy’n trosglwyddo pwerau pob yn dipyn yn golygu fod y broses o greu deddfau yng Nghymru yn llawer rhy hir. Dwedwch wrth y bobl sy’n aros am dai rhent fod y setliad cyfandoddiadol ddim yn bwysig Mr Cameron. 2 flynedd ar ol cyhoeddi polisi, nid oes modd i Lywodraeth Cymru wethredu arni. Mae’r system LCOs yn creu diwaithdra a chadw pobl ar restrau aros am gartrefi. That is what I think people in Wales care about most of all Mr Cameron

Newid Agweddau

Cyhoeddwyd y newyddyddion wythnos hon fod Jane Davidson, Gweinidog yr Amglychedd am godi tal ar fagiau plastic siopa untro o 2011 ymlaen. Er bod cynllun gwirdoddol wedi lleihai y nifer o fagiau a roddwyd allan gan y cwmnioedd oedd yn cymryd rhan o bron i 50%, nid oedd y gweinidog o’r farn bod modd lleihau yn sylweddol eto heb orfodaeth.
Nid ym hwn yn “dreth” fel mae rhai wedi honni. Ni fydd y llywodraeth yn cael ceiniog o’r tal – bydd y siopau yn casglu’r arian yn yn cael eu annog i’w defnyddio tuag at gynlluniau o les i’r amglychedd.
Mae rhai wedi ymosod ar y cynllun gan ddweud na fydd lleihai defnydd o fagiau plastic untro yn gwneud unrhyw wahaniaeth i’r amgylchedd. Dwi ddim yn cytuno. Dwi wedi ceisio a defnyddio bagiau cotwm am y 4 mlynedd diwethaf, a dwi wedi sylwi bod fy agwedd wedi newid o ganlyniad. Mae mynd a’r bag i’r Co-op wedi dod yn beth naturiol, a dw bin sbwriel (a’r bin ailgylchu) ddim yn llawn bagiau pastig bellach. Dwi ddim yn gwybod faint o blastic sydd wedi arbed o ganlyniad, ond mae 4 bag pob wythnos o’r Co-op a 3 fag pob wythnos o’r dref yn olygu ‘mod i wedi safio 1,400 o fagiau – cyfraniad bach i leihai sbwriel a’r defnydd o olew ond un wedi gwneud heb unrhyw arberthiad ar fy rhan i.
Efallai na fydd codi tal 15c ar fagiau plastic ddim yn mynd i drawsnewid yr amglychedd dros nos, ond mae gwneud i ni feddwl am y ffordd rydym yn defnyddio deunydd untro yn gam mawr ymlaen tuag at newid ein meddwl tuag at wastraff. Unwaith eto, mae Cymru yn arwain y ffordd.

Changing Attitudes

Jane Davidson, the Minister for the Environment announced this week that a charge will be raised on one-trip plastic bags from 20100 onwards. The minister believed that while a voluntary scheme had reduced the number of bags handed out by participating retailers by nearly 50%, further significant progress wasn’t possible without legislation. This is not a “tax” as some have charged – the government won’t get it’s hands on the money – it will be collected by the retailers and they will be encouraged to use it for environmental benefits.
Some have attacked the proposal, saying that reducing the number of one-trip bags in circulation will make no significant difference to the environment. I don’t agree. I’ve tried to use cotton bags for the last 4 years and I’ve seen my attitude change in that time. Taking a cotton bag to the Co-op has now become second nature and my bin (and recycling bags) are no longer full of carrier bags. I don’t know how much plastic I have saved but a quick caluclation of 4 bags a week from the Co-op and another 3 from other sources add up to over 1,400 bags over the period. That is one person’s contribution to reducing rubbish and oil use with pretty much no sacrifice.
Perhaps a 15p charge on bags isn’t going to change the world overnight but it will make us think before we pick up another one. Over time, the change in attitude will be the main effect, and once again, in Wales, we’re leading the way.

The future of the Post

As I write this I’m listening to the news that Royal Mail employees are going on strike tomorrow. The strike is likely to have far-reaching effects on businesses, individuals, the government and the Royal Mail itself.
Personally, I’m not sure that striking is going to have any positive effect on the general malaise in the Royal Mail, but I can understand the frustration of CWU members. They see the Royal Mail losing money, losing share of a shrinking market and struggling under a defecit in the pension scheme. They also see Royal Mail management and the sole shareholder, the government, ingnoring the main cause of these problems.
The government and Royal Mail’s senior management blame the lack of modernisation (read cuts) for these problems. Real modernisation is needed (read investment) but the underlying cause of most of Royal Mail’s problems is the so called “Postal Market”. While the Royal Mail is required to maintain a universal daily service it’s competitors are under no such obligation and cherry pick the profitable business, leaving Royal Mail with  the loss-making and difficult work. Worse than this, these compeitiors don’t even delivery the mail themselves, but dump it on the Royal Mail for the “last mile” – from the local sorting office. This is of course the most expensive bit of the work as Royal Mail has to maintain a comprehensive network of sorting offices and the charge for this, set by the postal regulator, is less than the cost of delivering each letter. That means that for every TNT or “UKMail” letter that drops through your door courtersy of your postie is a subsidy for these international giants from Royal Mail and the taxpayer.
The government’s answer to this problem is privatisation. Hardly a surprise given the “Labour” government’s obsession with the private sector and “markets” but is there any reason why Royal Mail’s senior managers can’t see the elephant in the room? I suppose if your only shareholder is hell bent on destroying the business there isn’t alot you can do, but I always thought that directors were meant to look after the company’s interests! The board’s of Royal Mail’s compeitors certainly are.
If we must have a “postal market” (and I can’t really see whay we need to) it needs to be a fair one. If TNT and “UKMail” aren’t prepared to invest in a network of local sorting offices, post boxes and post offices they shouldn’t be able to cream off the buisiness that underpins the universal service on which we all depend.

Dyfodol y Post

Dwi’n gwrando ar y newyddion fod gweithwyr y Post Brenhinol yn mynd ar streic yfory ar y radio. Mae’r streic yn debygol o gael effaithiau pellgyrhaeddol – y byd busnes, unigolion, y llywodraeth a’r Post Brenhinol ei hunan.
Yn bersonol, dwi ddim yn siwr os yw streicio y peth gorau i’w wneud, ond dwi’n deall rhwystredigaeth y gweithwyr. Mae nhw’n gweld y Post Brenhinol yn colli arian, colli canran o farchnad sy’n lleihai a gweithredu dan bwysau diffyg cynllun pensiwn a rheolwyr sy’n gwrthod cydnabod gwir sylfaen y broblemau hyn.
Mae’r llywodraeth a’r uwch reolwyr yn rhoi’r bai am y broblemau ar yr undeb a’r gweithwyr am beidio a moderneiddio (torriadau mewn iaith arall). Mae eisiau moderneiddio go iawn (hynny yw buddsoddiad) ond, fel dwi wedi dweud eisoes, strwythur y “marchnad bost” sy’n gyfrifol am broblemau’r Post Brenhinol. Rhaid i’r Post Brenhinol gynnal gwasanaeth dyddiol i bob cyfeiriad ym Mhrydain a derbyn pob llythyr sy’n cael ei bostio, lle bod cystadleuwyr yn cael dewis y busnes sy’n gweud elw ac yn cael dympio llythyron ar y Post Brenhinol i’w dosbarthu am ffi sy’n llai na chost y gwaith. Edrychwch ar faint o lythyron sy’n dod trwy’r drws gyda marcio “UK Mail” a “TNT”. Mae’r Post Brenhinol yn sybsydeiddio’r cwmniau masnachol hyn am bob lythyr sy’n dod trwy’r system.
Ateb y llywodraeth (a’r Blaid Geidwadol) yw brefateiddio ond oes ‘na unrhyw rheswm call pam na all yr uwch reolwyr weld yr eliffant yn yr ystafell? Mae’n anodd efallai os y perchennog y cwmni (y llywodraeth) yn awyddus i’w dinistrio ond mae cyfarwyddwyr TNT a “UKMail” yn sicrhau y fargen gorau i’w cwmniau eu hunain.
Os oes rhaid cael “marchnad post” (a dwi ddim yn gweld pam fod eisiau hynny), rhaid ei fod yn un deg. Os nad yw TNT a “UKMail” yn fodlon cynnal rwydwaith o swyddfeydd dosbarthu a dosbarthu’r llythyron maen nhw cael eu talu amdano na ddylaen nhw gael tanseilio’r gwasanaeth cyffredinol trwy dwyn y busnes sy’n ei gynnal.

Agenda Cyfarfod Mis Hydref – October Meeting Agenda

7pm Presentation by Sue Hurds – Citizen’s Advice Bureau Manager Aberystwyth
7pm Cyflwyniad – Sue Hurds – Rheolwraig Cyngor ar Bopeth Aberystwyth

7.30pm
Monthly Meeting / Cyfarfod Misol
Police matters / Materion yn ymwneud â’r heddlu

AGENDA

Prayers / Gweddiau

1. Chairperson’s Welcome / Croeso gan y Cadeirydd
2. Apologies / Ymddiheuriadau
3. Disclosure of Personal Interests / Datgelu buddiannau personol
4. Confirmation of the Minutes of the meeting of the 24th September 2009 / Cadarnhau Cofnodion y cyfarfod a gynhaliwyd ar yr 24ain o Fedi 2009
5. Matters Arising  / Materion sy’n codi
5.1 Consideration to the Bequest/ Ystyriaeth i’r Rhodd mewn Ewyllys
5.2 The Town Council’s New Website (Cllr. R Phillips) / Safle ar y We Newydd (Cyng. R Phillips)
5.3 Parc-yr-Orsedd Petition (Cllr C Thomas) / Deiseb Parc-yr-Orsedd Petition (Cyng. C Thomas)
5.4 Traffic Issues / Materion Traffig
5.5 Charter Agreements between Community and Town Councils and the Local Unitary Authority : Aberystwyth Town Council: response / Cytundebau Siarter rhwng Cynghorau Cymuned a Thref a’r Awdurdod Unedol Lleol – Cyngor Tref Aberystwyth: ymateb
5.6 Legislative Competence Order – decision to support / not support / Gorchymyn Cymhwysedd Deddfwriaetholpenderfyniad i’w cefnogi/peidio â chefnogi
5.7 Town Council’s Notice Board (Cllr Wilson) / Hysbysfwrdd y Cyngor Tref (Cyng Wilson)
5.8 The Recycling Bins / Biniau Ailgylchu
5.9 Sign St. Germain-sur-Moine (Cllr Phillips) / Arwydd St. Germain-sur-Moine (Cyng Phillips)
5.10 Sign Clos Glyndŵr / Arwydd Clos Glyndŵr
5.11 Shelter Cymru: feedback – Information matters to rural communities’ package. / Shelter Cymru: adborth – Pecyn Gwerth gwybodaeth i gymunedau gwledig.
5.12 New Town Entrance Sign – Carmarthenshire Border / Arwydd Newydd Mynedfa y Dref- Ffin Sir Gâr
5.13 Hunger Lunch – feedback  2-10-2009 / Cinio ar gyfer yr anghenus – adborth 2-10-2009
5.14 Consultative meeting with the CCC 16-11-2009 7pm Victoria Hall – questions requested beforehand / Cyfarfod Ymgynghorol gan GSC 16/11/2009 7pm – Neuadd Fictoria – cwestiynau i’w cyflwyno ymlaen llaw.
5.15 Overflowing Wood-Chip from the flower beds, Sainsbury Car-park : (Mayor) / Gorlifiad Sglodion pren o’r gwelyau blodau maes-parcio Sainsbury (Maer).
5.16 AGM One Voice Wales: 10/10/2009 (Cllrs D.Williams & R.Phillips) Feedback / CBC Un Llais Cymru 10/10/2009 (Cyng.D.Williams & R.Phillips) Adborth
5.17 Remembrance Sunday – Arrangements 8/11/2009 at 11am / Dydd Sul y Cofio – Trefniadau 8/11/2009 am 11am
5.18 Other matters arising / Materion eraill sy’n codi
6. Correspondence / Gohebiaeth
6.1 Temporary Closure of High Street Lampeter – 10/12/2009 3-9pm- Christmas Fair / Cau Stryd Fawr Llambed dros dro 10/12/2009 3-9pm – Ffair Nadolig
6.2 Ceredigion Area Meeting One Voice Wales 8/10/2009: Feedback (Mayor/ Cllr D.Williams)/ Pwyllgor Ardal Ceredigion Un Llais Cymru : Adborth 8/10/2009 (Maer/Cyng D.Williams)
6.3 Community Toilet Grant Scheme CCC / Cynllun Grant Toiledau Cymunedol CSC
6.4 Lampeter Youth Club Ffilm Canolfan Steffan     4/11/2009 / Clwb Ieuenctid Llambed: Ffilm Canolfan Steffan 4/11/2009
6.5 Other correspondence / Gohebiaeth eraill
7.    Planning Applications / Ceisiadau Cynllunio
Including / gan gynwys
7.1 Site Meeting 2/11/2009 – Eryl, 61 Bridge Street – erection of extension and partial demolition of dwelling / Cyfarfod Safle – 2/11/2009 – Eryl, 61 Stryd y Bont Llanbedr PS -  codi estyniad a dymchwel rhan o annedd.
8.    Finance / Cyllid
Inc/Gan gynnwys:
To reconsider the donation in aid of the Fireworks’ Display, Round Table / Ail ystyried y cyfraniad ar gyfer yr Arddangosfa’r Tân Gwyllt, y Ford Gron.
9.    Sub-committees / Is-bwyllgorau
9.1 Street Lights / Goleuadau Stryd
9.2 Pavements / Palmantau
9.3 Footpaths inc Parc-yr-Orsedd/ Llwybrau Cerdded gan gynnwys Parc-yr-Orsedd
9.4 CCTV Cameras / Camerau TCC
9.5 The Welsh Language / Yr Iaith Gymraeg
9.6 Maesyderi Field Management Committee / Pwyllgor Rheoli Cae Maesyderi
10.    A.O.B. / U.F.A.
11.    Date of next meeting / Dyddiad y cyfarfod nesaf:

Byddwch yn arwr

Bydd Gwasanaeth Gwaed Cymru yn Llambed dros y 10 diwrnod nesaf ac mae angen rhoddwyr gaed ar frys. Mae’r ctoc o waed yn isel iawn ar hyn o bryd.

Bydd sesiwn rhoi gwaed yn Neuadd y Celfyddydau, Prifysgol Cymru Llambed ar y ddyddiad isod

DYDD GWENER 16 HYDREF-  10.30 – 6.00

DYDD MAWRTH 20 HYDREF-  10.30 – 6.00

DYDD GWENER 23 HYDREF-  1.00 – 7.00

Os bydd angen mwy o wybodaeth, ffoniwch 0800252266

Byddwch yn arwr – rhowch waed!

Be a hero

The Welsh Blood Service will be in Lampeter during the next 10 days and they urgently need donors. Blood stocks are very low at the moment.

They will be in the Arts Hall at the University on the following dates

FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER  -  10.30 – 6.00

TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER  -  10.30 – 6.00

FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER  -  1.00 – 7.00

If you need information, call 0800252266

Be a hero – give blood!

Positive Signs

Plaid Cymru is likely to re-gain Ceredigion at the next general election according to a report by the website Politics Home. UK-wide polls don’t usually go into enough detail in Wales to measure the performance of Plaid Cymru and they certainly don’t measure unusual seats like Ceredigion, where the fight is between Plaid and the Liberals. But this one is a bit different. In Welsh marginals it shows a 9% swing from Labout to the Conservatives and a 7.6% swing from Labour to Plaid. Of course, I’d prefer no swing to the Conservatives, but every cloud has a silver lining. According to Vaughan Roderick,

This site predicts victory for the conservatives in Bridgend, Cardiff North, Carmarthen West and south Pembroke, Gower, Newport West, Vale of Clwyd and Vale of Glamorgan, and for Plaid Cymru in Ceredigion and Ynys Môn.

It doesn’t mention Llanelli and Conwy, but if swings like that are repeated there, there is a good chance that we will see another 2 Plaid MPs after the general election. This is only an opinion poll, and Plaid isn’t taking anything for granted, but it clearly shows that our message is appealing to former Labour voters and that Penri’s hard campainging work across the county is paying dividends.