(Title Image: National Library of Wales)
National Library job losses avoided following extra funding
The Welsh Government has announced a funding package worth £6.2million for the National Museums and National Library.
There had been fears over as many as 30 job losses with a petition launched in the last few weeks, but the funding has seemingly postponed any major changes subject to a review of the library’s operations.
Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism & Sport, Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Ind, Dwyfor Meirionnydd) said: “Since the publication of the findings of the Tailored Review in November 2020, the Library has progressed significantly with the action plan to implement the Review recommendations – this momentum and a focus on what needs to be done has allowed us to develop the necessary implementation budget.”
Lockdown restrictions to last another three weeks as hopes raised over primary school return
Following the latest three-weekly review of Covid-19 regulations, the Welsh Government decided to maintain Tier Four restrictions for another three weeks to ease pressure on the NHS.
New case numbers and infection rates are now below the threshold needed for Tier Three, but an extension was deemed necessary to ensure bed occupancy rates in hospital can fall to a more manageable level.
One major change to the regulations is that two people can meet outdoors for exercise.
A phased return for primary school pupils is being prepared following spring half-term on 22nd February, while students studying vocational qualifications will be prioritised for a phased return to further education colleges.
Minister defends Welsh Government record on second home ownership
Local Government & Housing Minister, Julie James (Lab, Swansea West), recently issued a statement outlining what the Welsh Government has done to address excessive second home ownership in parts of the country.
The Minister cited the application of council tax premiums and a higher rate of land transaction tax as key measures introduced to deal with the problem. Second home ownership is said to be pricing local people out of their own communities and leading to the slow decline of rural towns and villages.
The Minister said research was underway to correctly map and analyse the range of second home ownership. Also, work has started on plans for statutory holiday accommodation register which would include short-term lets.
Ann Jones standing down; Suzy Davies withdraws from Bridgend constituency race
Deputy Presiding Officer, Ann Jones MS (Lab, Vale of Clwyd) has become the latest senior MS to announce they’re standing down at the next election.
The former fire service control room manager has represented the Vale of Clwyd constituency since the first Senedd election in 1999.
In 2010, she introduced regulations requiring all new-build properties in Wales to have fire suppression systems – which was decried at the time but is now considered an important fire safety feature in light of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Elsewhere, Suzy Davies MS (Con, South Wales West) withdrew her candidacy for the Bridgend constituency, days after she was placed fifth on the regional list. Both outcomes will likely mean she won’t be re-elected in 2021, which generated shock and disappointment across the political spectrum due to the high regard the member is held in.
Suzy Davies is the latest “moderate/liberal” Conservative to either stand down voluntarily, be deselected or fail to be selected as the party pivots towards a more devo-sceptic British nationalist position as part of a broader hollowing-out of their intellectual base.
