January Update

I had initially planned to move to a quarterly blog, but the more I learn about the council and my role within it, the more I find I have to write about. Since being elected last March, it has been a steep learning curve—especially as I prepare for my first budget process, which this year is tighter than ever before.

My main motivation for standing for election—apart from being opinionated, slightly maverick, and unafraid to speak my mind (politely)—is my strong belief in democracy as the most peaceful and fair way to govern. However, democracy only works when people engage with it and share their views with their elected representatives. I believe everyone should have their voice heard and that when difficult decisions must be made, whatever the outcome, they can be accepted as fair. If you’ve ever contacted me, I hope you feel that I have represented your views. Likewise, I hope you feel comfortable contacting me in the future if you ever need to.

To that end, we are hosting a Meet Your Politicians event in Rhes Y Cae on 15th February. Simon and I will be there as your councillors, alongside Carolyn Thomas, Hannah Blythyn (MS), and the Flintshire recycling team. I hope you will join us, a frustration shared is a frustration halved!

Music Education

You may or may not be aware, but I am a fierce advocate for music education and its immense power to shape children’s lives. I believe every child should have the opportunity, if they choose, to learn an instrument and experience the joy of music.

This month, I met with Cath Sewell, head of the Music at Theatre Clwyd, who guided me through the high-quality provision offered to Flintshire school pupils. My own children are fortunate to benefit from these lessons, which are delivered by elite musicians who inspire children to want to learn. The service also provides ensembles, allowing students to experience the unique power of playing music together.

If you’d like to sign your child up for lessons, you can do so here.

Bad Weather & Gritting

Thank you for your patience during the prolonged snow and ice this January. The gritters worked day and night to keep the main roads clear.

Flintshire operates two types of gritting routes:

• Priority 1 (P1): Main roads that receive immediate attention during bad weather.
• Priority 2 (P2): Minor routes in and out of villages, which are gritted when resources allow.

To check whether your road is on a P1 route, visit Spectrum Spatial. During severe weather, only P1 routes are gritted initially, but as conditions improved, gritters were able to tackle some of the smaller roads as well.

A huge thank you to the gritting teams, especially those in our ward, who worked tirelessly to keep Flintshire moving!

Theatre Clwyd – A Sneak Peek

I was recently invited to look around the newly refurbished Theatre Clwyd, and it is amazing! I can’t wait for its grand reopening in June, kicking off with a performance of Tick, Tick… Boom!

The new space includes:

• A family area with an arts focus for children
• Well-being spaces
• An outdoor play area
• Stunning views over Moel Famau and the Clwydian Range

Upstairs, the Bryn Williams Restaurant will offer lunch, afternoon tea, and early dining (last service at 7pm). The restaurant flows into an expanded gallery space, featuring a bar and a specially commissioned artwork for the building’s completion.

Behind the scenes, the theatre has had a huge upgrade, including:

• State-of-the-art rehearsal rooms and ensemble spaces
• Set design workshops and a full-height set cloth painting rig—one of the few in the UK
• Costume design and prop workshops
• A redesigned Moonshine Theatre with improved rigging, seating, and lighting
• A private theatre box for that extra-special experience
• Visitors will be able to explore these areas freely, with guided tours also available. The staff even have a stunning open-plan office with a balcony and relaxation room—honestly, I wouldn’t mind working there myself!

Council Business

Last week’s full council meeting was notably pleasant and harmonious—though I suspect that will change as budget debates ramp up next month!

Three Notices of Motion were discussed:

1. Devolving the Crown Estate to Wales.
2. Returning the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund to Wales—something I was happy to second. It’s frustrating that quarries are still required to pay this levy, yet since 2011, the benefits have been taken by Westminster instead of being reinvested in the communities affected by quarrying.
3. Lobbying the Welsh Government for a register of children who never enter the school system—to improve child protection in light of the tragic Sara Sharif case.

That’s all for now—February is already shaping up to be another busy month! As always, I welcome your thoughts, questions, and concerns. You can reach me at any time, and I hope to see some of you at our Meet Your Politicians event in Rhes Y Cae on 15th February.