The UK Government announced in March that it was ‘opening the door’ to a Growth Deal for North Wales and that it would be looking for the next Welsh Government to devolve powers to the region as part of any future deal. I therefore welcome the ‘Growth Vision’ report calling for this submitted to the UK and Welsh Governments by our region’s Council, Business, University and College Leaders.
I met the Wrexham-Bidston Rail Users’ Association to discuss the need for improved rail connections linking communities and employment locations in north east Wales and north west England, as plans to fully devolve the Wales and Borders Franchise to the Welsh Government from 2017 move forward.
It was a pleasure to join the Glyn Valley Tramway Trust in Chirk at the start of track clearance that begins the restoration of this historic line.
As Chair of the Cross Party Group on Hospices and Palliative Care, I visited the Chief Executive of St David’s Hospice, Llandudno, who has recently been elected as Chair of Hospices Cymru.
In a useful meeting with Remploy Cymru, employment services provider to disabled and disadvantaged people in Wales, topics included their Summit with North Wales public sector organisations and how they have helped 17,000 people into work in Wales since 2010.
I met organisers to discuss North Wales 1st Annual Autism Conference at Glyndŵr University on October 7th.
10th October marks European Fragile X Awareness day and I had a discussion with the Fragile X Society about how to raise awareness of the condition, the most common known cause of inherited learning difficulty.
Other meetings included the Chair of the North Wales Safer Communities Board, to discuss the need for joined up thinking on substance misuse that includes mental health intervention, and North Wales Deaf Association (NWDA), where members of the deaf community told me that they are suffering because of Conwy Council’s decision to cut the services it contracted from NWDA.
I visited Mold Rugby Club to discuss their plans to become a Charity, community asset and the N E Wales Centre of Excellence for Rugby and other Sports.
It was a pleasure to attend Flintshire Local Voluntary Council’s 19th AGM, celebrating volunteering. A big thank you is owed to so many.
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