April 2025
Notice of vacancy in Office of councillor
Monmouthshire County Council urges immediate action to save Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.
Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) expresses deep concern over the potential drying up of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal, a cherished and vital asset to South East Wales The canal, renowned for its beauty and regularly voted as one of the most picturesque in the UK, delivers significant social, economic, and environmental benefits to the region.
MCC stands with all organisations and individuals urging for a solution to be found now that water abstraction from the River Usk has been reduced.
The council calls upon the Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to find a solution before the current concerns become a reality.
Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, stated, “The idea of allowing this canal to run dry is unacceptable. It is far too important an asset to jeopardise. We will collaborate with all organisations to secure the future of one of Wales’ greatest treasures.”
Monmouthshire County Council remains committed to preserving the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal and ensuring its continued contribution to the well-being of South East Wales.
Peter Fox MS/AS for Monmouth updates residents on the issue.
Peter Fox would like to update residents further, although you may have already heard the news that a temporary solution has been reached. The Canal and River Trust has announced an emergency short term supply of water for the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Peter Fox has been vocal in the Senedd over the past month and has been active in calling for a long term solution and ideas to protect the canal; ensuring it remains useable for all. On Friday Peter met with stakeholders, businesses and residents of the canal to discuss the ongoing petition by Cllr Jan Butler. The trust has acted to stave off the prospect the canal could run dry in the coming days following restrictions to its supply from the River Usk, and a dryer than normal start to the 2025 season. The impact of the limited supply is being seen already, with levels dropping dramatically in recent days.
A copy of a press release from Glandwr Cymru can be viewed here and he will keep you further updated with progress.
February 2025
January 2025
Public Health Wales is looking at how a new lung cancer screening programme can be introduced in Wales.
We want to hear from you if you are: Living in Wales , Aged 50 – 75 years and are a current or previous tobacco smoker
You can tell us what you think about lung cancer screening by completing our survey. It will take about 10 minutes to complete.
Your answers will be stored anonymously. This means we will not ask your name, and you will not be identified. By sharing your views, you can help shape this new service. Thank you for your support.
For further information: screening.engagement@wales.nhs.uk and phw.nhs.wales/screening
Monmouthshire County Council launches Let’s Talk Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire County Council is excited to announce the launch of a new platform to strengthen connections with residents and gather valuable feedback.
Let’s Talk Monmouthshire is a digital platform designed to provide a welcoming environment for discussions about local policies, community issues and services.
The platform will serve as a central hub for various engagement activities, discussions and consultations being run by the council.
In addition to the online platform, Let’s Talk Monmouthshire will be represented through face-to-face events, forums, people’s panels and printed materials, ensuring that all residents and partners can engage with the council.
Let’s Talk Monmouthshire aims to make it easier to engage with the wide range of service areas within the council. It will also encourage collaboration with local community groups to tailor services to their needs.
Residents are encouraged to visit www.letstalkmonmouthshire.co.uk to register and become part of the Let’s Talk community.
By joining, you will be among the first to receive important updates regarding consultations and events as soon as they happen.
From Thursday 23rd January, residents will also be able to provide feedback on the council’s draft budget saving proposals for 2025-26.
Monmouthshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Equalities and Engagement, Cllr Angela Sandles, said: “Let’s Talk Monmouthshire is more than a new website. The platform will allow us to further our residents’ opportunities to engage with us on the issues and policies that affect them. As a council, we are dedicated to listening to our residents, ensuring that services are run in a way that is needed within the community.
“Let’s Talk Monmouthshire will also enhance the offline opportunities for residents to provide their views through face-to-face events and forums.
“We are also looking forward to being able to share updates on how residents’ views have been listened to, to help shape policy and services.
“This is your community, your voice. Let’s Talk Monmouthshire.”
The council is dedicated to capturing the diverse perspectives of Monmouthshire’s communities and is eager to share the various ways residents can engage through this new platform.
Consultation now open on Monmouthshire County Council’s Draft Budget for 2025-26
Monmouthshire County Council’s public consultation of its draft budget proposals for the 2025-26 financial year is now open.
This budget supports the most vulnerable and disadvantaged residents while prioritising essential neighbourhood services.
With a proposed net revenue budget of £216 million — an 8% increase from the previous year — the draft budget includes significant increases in funding for Social Care and Health (10.6%) and Education (10.7%). Additionally, more than £2 million will be directed towards capital investment in vital infrastructure, including highway improvements, building on last year’s investments.
Key funding sources include a substantial grant from the Welsh Government, alongside an average indicative council tax increase of 7.8% to support services.
The consultation will close on Saturday 22nd February, and residents are encouraged to share their feedback on the draft budget proposals. This input is crucial for ensuring that the council prioritises the most valuable services for its communities.
Council Leader Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, said: “The next four weeks provides our residents the opportunity to give us feedback on our draft budget proposals for 2025-26. As an organisation, we are committed to protecting our most vulnerable residents and services important to all our residents. Please take a look at our proposals and provide your feedback.”
Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Ben Callard, continued: “The consultation period will allow residents to engage with us in face-to-face and online engagement sessions, as well as provide feedback through our survey. We want to hear your views. If you wish to sign up for engagement sessions, please do so through Let’s Talk Monmouthshire.”
“We look forward to seeing you there.”
To view the draft budget proposals, provide feedback, or sign up for an engagement session, please visit the council’s dedicated consultation website: www.letstalkmonmounthshire.co.uk.
Paper copies of the survey are also available from any leisure centre, community hub or library in Monmouthshire.
Free training session for community members and professionals which gives you a great insight and understanding in to what it is like to live with and care for someone with dementia
Blood Donation Session in Usk
The Welsh Blood Service is holding a blood donation session at the Usk Memorial Hall on Friday 31st of January. It currently have 73 appointments available. One donation can save up to 3 adult lives and 6 babies. The Welsh Blood Service needs 350 donors to come forward every single day to supply hospitals in Wales.
Book your lifesaving donation
Monmouthshire County Council publishes Draft Budget for 2025/26
Monmouthshire County Council has published its draft budget for the 2025/26 financial year, focusing on protecting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged residents.
With a proposed net revenue budget of £216million, an 8% increase from the 2024/25 budget. The draft budget prioritises essential neighbourhood services which are critical for maintaining the quality of life in the communities and preserving our environment for future generations.
In a commitment to enhancing frontline services, Social Care and Health funding is set to rise by 10.6%, while Education funding will increase by 10.7%.
Additionally, more than £2million will be allocated for capital investment in crucial infrastructure, focusing on highways improvements, building upon the previous year’s investment of £1million in these essential areas.
Key funding sources include a 62% grant from the Welsh Government, while the remainder will be raised through council tax. To support these services, the council proposes an average council tax increase of 7.8%.
This budget increase is made possible by the support from the Welsh Government and from the new Westminster Government, which has resulted in an additional £5.1million this year after adjustments.
The council is in continuing discussions with the Welsh Government so that a further increase in their funding can assist in closing a continued gap between projected revenue and expenditure.
Monmouthshire County Council Leader, Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, stated, “Our residents expect and deserve a balanced budget for 2025/26, and we are working across the organisation to achieve this. The budget we publish today protects the key services our residents need, focusing on protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.”
“I am working tirelessly to cover some of the budget gaps through ongoing negotiations with the Welsh Government, but we also need to consider other proposals to provide the best services possible to our residents.”
Beginning on 23 January 2025, residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback to the council on the draft budget. This feedback is essential in the budget-setting process, ensuring that the council prioritises the most valuable services for the community.
Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Ben Callard, said: “Open and robust scrutiny and challenge is an essential part of the budget setting process and something we place great importance on as your Cabinet representatives. Your views are vital to the budget setting process. These proposals are not set in stone, and your feedback will help us ensure a fair budget while protecting core services.”
To view the proposals, please visit: https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=144&MId=6305
Police and Crime Commissioner survey
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Jane Mudd, is asking residents to have their say on the police budget for 2025, as well as a number of other issues.
Have your say on policing in Monmouthshire
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent is asking residents to have their say on policing in Monmouthshire.
Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible for holding the Chief Constable to account for the delivery of local policing services, setting the police’s yearly budget, and commissioning services to support policing priorities.
Have your say – https://bit.ly/GwentPolicebudget2025
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru has issued its proposals for the 2026 Review of Senedd constituencies
The Report has been published and can be viewed on the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru website. The deadline for response is 13th January.
The Commission would welcome any comments which you may wish to make on the Revised Proposals. The 4-week consultation period begins on 17 December 2024 and closes on 13 January 2025 and any representations should be sent to consultations@dbcc.gov.wales or in writing to DBCC, 4th Floor, Welsh Government Building, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ. The Commission will also accept submissions through its consultation portal at https://senedd2026.reviewswales.wales/.
December 2024
Have your say on our Green Infrastructure Projects
Monmouthshire County Council has been working with Town and Community councils and residents to develop green space enhancements for nature and people through the Gwent Green Grid and Local Nature Partnerships.
This year, the focus is on enhancing green spaces in Goytre, Llanover, Usk, Llangybi, and Raglan, along with selected sites in Llantilio Pertholey, Abergavenny, and Monmouth.
Shared Prosperity Fund and Welsh Government Local Places for Nature Fund have supported the design and provided the funding for the practical delivery of these initiatives across 15 sites.
Green Infrastructure encompasses creating and managing vibrant green spaces, including projects such as native tree planting, meadow and woodland management, and establishing wildlife-friendly habitats, including ponds and wetlands.
We are eager to hear from local communities and invite residents to share their opinions on proposed biodiversity enhancements. The council has consulted community councils and held public meetings, but further feedback is essential.
Residents can participate by visiting the Monlife website and completing a short questionnaire before the deadline of midnight on Friday, January 17th, 2025. To take part in the questionnaire click on the this link. Green Infrastructure Projects Questionnaire.
The community council is involved with one of the green development spaces in Llangybi Park. The diagram below shows the proposed plans for the park.
Learn how to perform CPR in an emergency
Members of the council have met with an NHS executive who has provided information about an NHS online tool that member of local communities can access in order to learn CPR at home. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid procedure that involves chest compressions and rescue breaths to help someone who has stopped breathing and whose heart has stopped pumping blood.
Members of the community can scan the QR code on the posters or visit the British Heart Foundation website. You will be taken to an online resource where you can learn CPR in the comfort of your own home in a little as 15 minutes using your mobile phone or tablet as a learning tool.
October 2024
Monmouthshire County Council
Proposed 40mph Speed Limit on R106 Usk to Llangybi – Informal Consultation
We’re asking for your thoughts!
Councillor Fay Bromfield raised concerns about traffic speeds on the R106 between Usk and Llangybi (locally known as Usk Road). We’ve studied the area and propose lowering the speed limit from 60mph to 40mph. This would extend existing 40mph speed limit and create a smoother transition to the 20mph area in Llangybi.
Here’s why we’re considering a change:
- The road’s layout may not be safe for speeds above 40mph.
- Traffic data shows most drivers already travel around 40mph.
- Homes and businesses along the route could benefit from a slower speed limit.
- Fewer speed limit changes would make things simpler for drivers.
However, there are also arguments against a change: - There haven’t been many accidents on this road in recent years.
- New signs might not look great in the countryside.
What do you think?
Before we decide to progress this proposal to the statutory TRO legal process, we want to hear from you! This is an informal consultation, so your feedback will help us understand public opinion on the matter.
How to Share Your Thoughts:
Visit our website
or Scan the QR code below to access the online form.
(Please ensure select “Informal Consultation – Proposed 40mph Speed Limit R106 Usk to Llangybi” in your submission)
Thanks for your help!
Monmouthshire County Council – Traffic and Road Safety
Download a map of the area affected by the consultation,
Monmouthshire County Council Replacement Local Development Plan – an update.
As part of the Replacement Local Development Plan preparation process, the Council invited landowners, developers and the public to put forward ‘Candidate Sites’ to be considered for development, redevelopment or protection in the Monmouthshire RLDP. Monmouthshire County Council have published a Candidate Site Assessment Report 2024 The purpose of this report is to outline the findings of the Candidate Site Assessment process for the consideration of land for development and protection in the Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP). It provides an overview of the candidate site assessment process from the Second Call for Candidate Sites to the proposed Deposit Plan allocations. The three sites in Llangybi submitted for the Replacement Local Development Plan have now been filtered out so will not go forward in the final proposed plan. Full details on page 31 of the above report.
Changes to the recycling and waste collection schedule. A message from the county council
Changes to the recycling and waste collection schedule across Monmouthshire have come into force as of this morning. From 21/10/2024, recycling and waste collection days in all areas of Monmouthshire will change. These collection day changes are required to enable the council to provide all residents with reusable recycling bags and improve our round efficiency. We continually review our service to ensure we are as efficient as possible. The time of day your waste is collected may also change, so please ensure you place your waste out by 7am. Your collection dates will be available to view online, either by downloading the My Monmouthshire app or visiting https://maps.monmouthshire.gov.uk/
September 2024
Monmouthshire County Council launch residents survey
Monmouthshire County Council is conducting a residents survey on everyday life in Monmouthshire. The council wants to hear from you about living in Monmouthshire, your experience of your local area, your views on the council’s services, and how we can improve things to make Monmouthshire an even better place to live.
The survey will be open to residents between 13 September and 31 October. It asks questions about the quality of the local environment as well as satisfaction with services such as education, social care, transport, recycling, libraries and leisure centres. The survey hosted by Data Cymru is part of their National Residents Survey, designed to support local councils in increasing their understanding of performance and perception
August 2024
The survey hosted by Data Cymru is part of their National Residents Survey, designed to support local councils in increasing their understanding of performance and perception.
Usk Parking Review Survey
Residents are invited to respond to a parking review survey in Usk. Usk Town Council has launched a survey ahead of Monmouthshire County Council’s review of Car Parking Charges in the county. In Usk, our car parks have always been free. The survey is open until Friday 5th September. If you hear of a neighbour or friend that would like a paper copy, they are available from the Hub and Sessions House or if they are willing you can enter their details online for them on their behalf using the link below.
Fly-tipping
The council has been asked to promote a national campaign to reduce fly-tipping. Fly-tippers often advertise on Facebook and online. Before paying someone to take your waste away, always check they are registered to remove waste with Natural Resources Wales. If your items are found fly-tipped, you could still be fined! You can check the licence number online at naturalresources.wales/CheckWasteLicence
June 2024
Audit notice Notice of appointment of the date for the exercise of electors’ rights Llangybi Fawr Community Council
Audit notice Notice of appointment of the date for the exercise of electors’ rights Llangybi Fawr Community Council
Each year the annual accounts of the community council are audited by the Auditor General for Wales. Any interested person has the opportunity to inspect and make copies of the accounts and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts etc relating to them for 20 working days on reasonable notice. Full details of how residents can exercise their rights can be found by downloading the full notice.
Public Spaces Protection Order 2024 (Dog Controls) Monmouthshire
On the 10th April 2024 approval was given for a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Dog Controls in Monmouthshire. This new Order will apply in Monmouthshire for a 3 year period, from the 1st June 2024 to the 31st May 2027. This follows an extensive review and consultation which was completed in 2023.
Full details of the new order can be found in the published document (225 pages) – Click here
A reference list for the affected sites can be found on the Monmouthshire CC website.
The Order introduces 5 types of restrictions. It is an offence to contravene any of these restrictions. Find out more the Monmouthshire County Council website.
Previous notices
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