Plaid Cymru Credit Union

FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 2009/10

The Auditors for the Credit Union are Williams Ross based at Gwaelod y Garth.  They have audited our accounts for over 15 years and their latest audit shows Undeb Credit Plaid Cymru Credit Union to be in sound financial order.

Once again the amount of money out on loan to our members has increased to £191,197 a figure never exceeded in our existence as shown in the graph. 

The interest from the loans is the main income for UCPCCU union and together with the interest on investments with the Swansea Building Society and the Monmouthshire Building Society it is the only income UCPCCU obtains.  Unfortunately because of low interest rates by the Building Societies the income from this source has been reduced substantially.

The amount of members’ shares (savings) held by UCPCCU has again increased for the tenth year in succession.  At present this sum stands at over £300,000.

As a result of our performance we have again been able to award an interest dividend of 2% which is higher than most High Street Banks and Building Societies for accounts with instant access.

Good news for 2010/11 is loans are again higher and well above our target for the year, with 3 months yet to run it may beat the highest loans made record of 2004/05 that was £124,211

E-mail/Website

All forms can be accessed from the site. Regular updates are now posted on the site. Interesting links are also available to Plaid Cymru AMs, MPs, Jill Evans and many others. All forms can be downloaded from the site.

E-mail address is post@ucpccu.org or ucpccul@btconnect.com. and the website can be accessed at www.ucpccu.org

click here for more info

http://www.ucpccu.org/plaid_cymru_credit_union_english.html

Aberavon MP Hywel Francis claimed back £1,234 or 12 first-class train journeys

Report from http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk 

Aberavon MP Hywel Francis claimed back £1,234 or 12 first-class train journeys (an average of £102) and £386 for three standard fares.

FOUR South Wales MPs spent almost £14,000 of taxpayers' cash on first-class train travel last year, it has been revealed.

Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, Swansea East MP Sian James, Llanelli MP Nia Griffith and Aberavon MP Hywel Francis had a total of £13,646 reimbursed through expenses for first-class train tickets in the past 12 months. Llanelli MP Nia Griffith claimed back £5,374 for 28 first-class train journeys in 2010/11 (an average of £191). She claimed a further £1,209 for nine standard-class tickets, the figures show.

Neath MP Peter Hain claimed back £4,166 for 31 first-class train journeys (an average of £134) and just £5.15 for one standard fare.

Swansea East MP Sian James claimed back £2,871 for 15 first-class train tickets (an average of £191) and £254 for two standard fares.

Aberavon MP Hywel Francis claimed back £1,234 or 12 first-class train journeys (an average of £102) and £386 for three standard fares.

Across Wales, it has been claimed that MPs claimed more than £50,000 for first-class train tickets in 2010/11.

Emma Boon, campaign director at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Taxpayers in Wales will be deeply disappointed by the news that MPs are shelling out on first-class travel so often. On some occasions, a first-class ticket may represent the best value for money, but MPs should be doing their bit to minimise costs and getting value for taxpayers' money.

"The fact that so luxurious travel is being used so often shows that some MPs still just don't get it."

Ms James has defended her claims for first-class fares.

Her spokesman said trains between London and Neath could be busy — even off-peak with a booked ticket — and Ms James prefers to do her parliamentary work in the same environment as other business people.

He said: "If you plan on doing several hours of work beforehand, you're not getting someone working at their best.

"We're talking about a three-hour journey and three hours of work you want to get done.

"Once you get to Parliament your time is pretty much set up.

"It's a conscious choice made by Sian and one she's happy to account for.

"She's pretty insistent she provides value for money.

"The idea is you go below whatever is the standard open class fare. That journey is £320 return, the first-class off-peak is £209."

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) allows claims up to a maximum price of an "anytime standard open" ticket for the journey.

Guidelines say Members of Parliament should have regard to the most cost-effective way to undertake a journey and encourages them to pick off-peak and advance options.

Commuters, who booked yesterday, could travel between Swansea and London Paddington today on an off peak return ticket costing just £83. Alternatively, a National Express coach open return journey between Swansea and London would set you back £46 but takes more than six hours each way.
 

 

Campaign group challenged to run community centre

article from the South Wales Evening Post

RESIDENTS who fought to save their local community centre from closure are being challenged to run it themselves.

Neath Port Talbot Council had intended axing the existing Aberavon Community Centre and incorporating it into the £13.6 million replacement for the Afan Lido.

Now it has been given a temporary reprieve while the possibility of residents taking it over is restored.

The council is already in discussions with the New Sandfields Aberavon organisation with a view to it running Dalton Road Community Centre, which at the moment is also set to be absorbed into the new Afan Lido.

Council head of property and regeneration, Gareth Nutt, said of the Aberavon centre: "If the community is committed to that facility and want it to continue and believe the demand is there, if the community wants to run it our door is open for discussion.

"We will be engaging with the people who use it to see if we can find a way for them to take it forward themselves."

Councillors have now approved a programme for the demolition and replacement of the 50-year-old Afan Lido complex, which has been shut since the blaze in December, 2009.

Bulldozers are expected to arrive on site in September, but the £13.6 million new centre is not likely to be ready until the end of 2013.

The council has ruled out rebuilding the complex, which included the Aquadome theme pool, exactly as it was.

Instead, its plans include a six-lane swimming pool and a four-court sports hall, fitness suite and dance studio, along with a café.

The existing Sandfields Library, Seaway Parade Education Centre and (subject to the talks with NSA) Dalton Road Community Centre will be incorporated into the complex. Neath Port Talbot has emphasised all those facilities were being relocated rather than closed.

Deputy council leader Peter Rees said: "Here is an opportunity for people to come forward with proposals for the Aberavon Community Centre.

"They can take up the challenge and we would welcome that."

paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk

LITTER PROBLEM IN CAEWATHAN SKEWEN ?

Local Plaid Cymru activists Russell Morris and Pauline Fellowes tackling the litter problem in Caewathan.

In response to feedback from the last Plaid Cymru Skewen Voice leaflet we found that LITTER is one of the concerns of local residents.

Russell and Pauline have decided to address this issue by getting hands on involved in litter picking days each month to reduce the litter on our streets in Caewathan.

Local Activist Russell Morris says

” We can all play a part in tidying up our neighbourhood by taking our rubbish home with us for disposal – lets all play our part in keeping Skewen Tidy “

Russell and Pauline who are also volunteers with KEEP WALES TIDY can be contacted by email if you wish to get involved at aberavonplaidcymru@live.co.uk

 
two bags of rubbish collected in 10 mins from the dram road in Caewathan Skewen by Russell and Pauline

Afan Lido may be replaced in Neath Port Talbot by 2013

A new swimming pool, sports hall and community centre that will replace a seafront leisure complex destroyed by fire could open by late 2013.

More than 2,000 people took part in Neath Port Talbot council consultation on replacing the Afan Lido in Aberavon.

It was gutted in December 2009 and clearing the site has been hampered by the presence of asbestos.

The council is preparing to start rebuilding but said a like-for-like replacement was too expensive.

Although many people said they would like to see an identical rebuild, the council said it was costing £700,000 a year to keep the old lido going.

Instead it is proposing a new 25m six-lane swimming pool to replace the Aquadome water attraction and slides that used to exist.
Sports hall

There will also be a four court indoor sports hall and it plans new community facilities to replace existing community centres.

Sandfields Library and Sandfields Lifelong Learning Centre would move to the site once it is completed.

  

Councillors have been told the total project cost had been budgeted at £13.6m.

In a progress report they were told the site had finally been cleared of asbestos in May and work to demolish the remaining structures was targeted to begin in September.

It is hoped planning applications could be submitted by the end of the year with the new centre opening towards the end of 2013.

It said 2,628 people and six groups had been represented during the consultation process.

"Many of the suggestions were of a very detailed nature and particularly from disability groups and individuals around equipment rather than the overall provision," it said.

"Many of the suggestions may be considered within the design, subject to cost effectiveness, including the potential for a health or hydrotherapy suite and details regarding disability access."

above article is from the BBC website

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Ysgol Haf Bala 2011

This is the first Ysgol Haf that we have attended , and in short was fantastic .

Friday kicked off with a warm welcome from JILL EVANS the Party President and then GERAINT DAY gave us an Introduction to the weekend and we also we all got to introduce ourselves to each other.

From the options of activities we chose from , this is the route we took  .

 

Lecture by LEANNE WOOD AM on the Greenprint for Wales   

  The SNP breakthrough . lessons to be learnt ALYN SMITH SNP MEP









We then had Supper - Tea , which i got to say the food was good . Once we had eaten we went for a quiz followed by a gig by DAFYDD IWAN

above video is 1 of 14

 Saturday started with breakfast and once we finished we proceeded to the days first activities , which in our case was Canvassing Basic Guide with GERAINT DAY .




That was then followed by a very interesting :)
chat and discussion by LINDSEY WHITTLE AM















We then went to learn about Treeware with Shaughan Feakes .Which we found very interesting and can see how useful its going to be in helping us in building up PLAID CYMRU in the ABERAVON CONSTITUENCY in the future .

After a tea break it was time to go listen to ADAM PRICE on his lecture Economics of Small Nations which was introduced by JILL EVANS MEP . I think i speak for many others who where at Ysgol Haf in saying "Come Back Home" the guy is amazing .

After Dinner we had a trip to Fron Goch and to Tryweryn where a local gave a talk on the events that happened . I filmed him speaking about Tryweryn however when I got home to upload it to our Youtube Channel you couldn't hear the man talking just a load of muffled noise from the wind howling down the MIC . shame really as it would of been good .

Sunday  started with breakfast again then we then had a talk by Owen Roberts about Local Election Literature . Which was both interesting and helpful in getting ourselves prepared for the 2012 Local Elections .
Followed by a General discussion and feedback with GERAINT DAY .
After Lunch which was another quality meal it was time to go back home , which was a shame as we had such a great time . We already made the decision we are going to the NEXT Ysgol Haf even before this on was over so roll on next time .

Russell Morris