http://www.lgcplus.com/RSS/Wales_RSS.xml en-uk Welsh local authorities have paid out more than £13m to settle claims for damages from people tripping on pavements. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/welsh_councils_pay_13m_for_falls.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/welsh_councils_pay_13m_for_falls.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Simon Ellery 06 August 2008 12:37 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Roadworks%201_resized_70_tcm16-159789.jpg A think tank is recommending that the south Wales valleys have a democratically elected mayor. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/mayor_call_for_south_wales_valleys.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/mayor_call_for_south_wales_valleys.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Simon Ellery 04 August 2008 10:53 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/feature_wales_resized_70_tcm16-1096307.jpg Unison and Unite have suspended their strike action over local government pay pending talks with employers. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/unions_suspend_strike.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/unions_suspend_strike.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Jim Dunton 24 July 2008 14:23 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Unison%20logo_resized_70_tcm16-111000.jpg Unison has complained of intimidation of strikers in Wales amidst hardening member resolve and a lobby outside the House of Commons. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/strikers_intimidated_in_wales.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/strikers_intimidated_in_wales.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Simon Ellery 17 July 2008 15:21 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/unison_westminster_resized_70_tcm16-1735232.jpg Welsh ministers have been urged to drop a proposal to force unwilling councils to collaborate on service delivery. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/06/jointworking_plan_opposed.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/06/jointworking_plan_opposed.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Mark Smulian 11 June 2008 16:36 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Brian%20Gibbons_resized_70_tcm16-477938.jpg Wales’ social justice and local government minister Brian Gibbons wants powers to force councils to collaborate. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/welsh_minister_wants_to_force_councils_to_collaborate.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/welsh_minister_wants_to_force_councils_to_collaborate.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Mark Smulian 09 June 2008 16:15 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/brian_gibbons_resized_70_tcm16-1518463.jpg Further evidence has been produced to support calls for a 'huge' increase in affordable housing in Wales. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/wales_needs_affordable_homes_says_report.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/wales_needs_affordable_homes_says_report.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE LGCplus 04 June 2008 11:34 The Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru have struck a deal to run Cardiff Council as independents run a third of all Welsh councils. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/05/cardiff_coalition_deal.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/05/cardiff_coalition_deal.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Simon Ellery 16 May 2008 16:07 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cardiff_resized_70_tcm16-1347630.jpg Labour has taken a pounding in its south Wales heartland, where, with most results now in, it has lost control of every local authority declared except Neath Port Talbot Council. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/05/labour_decimated_in_south_wales.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/05/labour_decimated_in_south_wales.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Mark Smulian 02 May 2008 17:30 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/feature_wales_resized_70_tcm16-1096307.jpg Labour has lost a clutch of its traditional strongholds in Wales and the Tories have won a key target council following yesterday’s (1 May 2008) local elections. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/05/labour_takes_election_hit_in_wales.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/05/labour_takes_election_hit_in_wales.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE David Blackman 02 May 2008 08:51 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/feature_wales_resized_70_tcm16-1096307.jpg Welsh councils have called on the BBC to reveal its senior managers’ pay rates after a local news programme criticised council salaries. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/04/call_on_welsh_bbc_to_reveal_top_salaries.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/04/call_on_welsh_bbc_to_reveal_top_salaries.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE 24 April 2008 10:32 At least one in 10 people have been claiming benefits for more than two years in 137 council areas, it has been claimed. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/04/benefit_black_spots_named.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/04/benefit_black_spots_named.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Simon Ellery 21 April 2008 13:58 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/commuters_on_train_resized_70_tcm16-1209215.jpg The Welsh Local Government Association has called on the BBC to publish its top managers’ salaries after it criticised payments to council chief executives. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/04/welsh_lga_calls_on_bbc_to_reveal_top_salaries.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/04/welsh_lga_calls_on_bbc_to_reveal_top_salaries.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Mark Smulian 18 April 2008 10:44 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/moneycoins_resized_70_tcm16-149043.jpg Labour has refuted the Conservative Party's claim that it is fielding the most candidates in the local elections in May. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/04/row_over_party_candidates_list.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/04/row_over_party_candidates_list.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Dan Drillsma-Milgrom 10 April 2008 10:44 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Pickles_resized_70_tcm16-1103994.jpg Plaid Cymru has unveiled plans it claims will turn councils into “laboratories of innovation”. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/04/plaid_cymru_unveils_innovation_manifesto.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/04/plaid_cymru_unveils_innovation_manifesto.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Simon Ellery 11 April 2008 11:25 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/IWJ%20Cynhadledd%202007%20-%202_resized_70_tcm16-1097758.jpg The Welsh Assembly Government is providing £21.3m funding for two new state of the art mental health units. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/welsh_assembly_backs_new_mental_health_units.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/welsh_assembly_backs_new_mental_health_units.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE LGCplus 26 March 2008 16:20 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/mentalhealth_resized_70_tcm16-1007092.jpg Local government minister Brian Gibbons has called on people from all walks of life to get involved in the democratic process and think seriously about standing in May’s council elections. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/call_to_widen_participation_in_welsh_local_government.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/call_to_widen_participation_in_welsh_local_government.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE 19 March 2008 12:12 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/pupil%20candidates_resized_70_tcm16-958765.jpg Pooled council and NHS budgets will help create more efficient services according to the Welsh assembly government. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/welsh_councils_and_nhs_bodies_told_to_pool_budgets.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/welsh_councils_and_nhs_bodies_told_to_pool_budgets.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE LGCplus 18 March 2008 16:08 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Brian%20Gibbons_resized_70_tcm16-264474.jpg Council tax in Wales will rise by an average of 3.8% next year, figures from the Welsh Local Government Association show today. This would take the Band D average rate to £860.50. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/welsh_council_tax_increases_by_average_38.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/welsh_council_tax_increases_by_average_38.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE Mark Smulian 06 March 2008 13:16 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/wallet-money_resized_70_tcm16-759411.jpg Some 90% of residents of Wales are satisfied with the services provided by their councils, a survey of public attitudes has found. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/90_satisfied_with_service_from_welsh_councils.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/90_satisfied_with_service_from_welsh_councils.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE LGCplus 05 March 2008 13:06 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Steve%20Thomas_resized_70_tcm16-169821.jpg Excellence Wales awards have been presented to 26 councils, parks and police authorities and fire and rescue services. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/public_services_excel_in_welsh_local_government_oscars.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/03/public_services_excel_in_welsh_local_government_oscars.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE LGCplus 03 March 2008 10:16 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/excellencewaleslogo_resized_70_tcm16-850012.jpg Standards within most areas of education and training in Wales have improved, but the rate of improvement is slowing down in many sectors and inconsistencies remain, according to the annual report of chief education inspector. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/02/report_card_for_schools_in_wales_published.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/02/report_card_for_schools_in_wales_published.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE LGCplus 26 February 2008 16:54 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/child%20writing_resized_150_tcm16-120153.jpg The Welsh Local Government Association has slammed the Welsh Assembly for being too slow in rolling out European funding earmarked for deprived areas. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/02/welsh_assembly_criticised_over_european_funding.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/02/welsh_assembly_criticised_over_european_funding.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE LGCplus 27 February 2008 13:48 The Welsh Assembly Government has launched its blueprint to tackle climate change in a bid to make Wales self-sufficient in renewable electricity within 20 years.  http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/02/welsh_renewable_energy_blueprint_launched.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/02/welsh_renewable_energy_blueprint_launched.html;jsessionid=C53EA9534E7E1711E6AEFD1AF1CCC3EE James Illman 20 February 2008 17:20 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/wind%20turbine_resized_150_tcm16-151051.jpg