Plaid lay out promises if they win control of Caerphilly
ON May 5, residents will get the chance to decide who runs Caerphilly County Borough Council.
There are a total of 69 seats across 31 wards.
Elected councillors form political groups on the council and the group with the largest number has control over the authority. This is usually done along party lines, like Labour or Plaid Cymru, although independent councillors without a party can also form their own group.
Reopening day centres, tackling flytipping and switching the street lights on are some of Plaid Cymru’s “ambitious” pledges for Caerphilly County Borough.
To achieve the pledges, the party has said it will use the £180m that is currently in the council’s reserves pot. The party’s pledges:
Street lights – Plaid Cymru is pledging to switch on all the street lights in the borough that have been off since late 2019.
Council tax – If Plaid Cymru is elected it is promising to freeze council tax for the financial year 2023-24 – this means no increase for residents.
Environment – The party has said it is committed to tackling fly-tipping and litter, in addition to planting more trees and flowers in small green spaces across the county borough.
Employment – Plaid Cymru intends to create more jobs in the area through tourism, supporting small businesses, and reopening day care centres.
Young people – The manifesto states that “our young people are often forgotten” with youth services being cut over the past few years. So, the party is pledging to improve facilities.
Plaid Cymru is putting up 49 candidates.
Where candidates are standing for Plaid Cymru:
■ Aber Valley: Three seats.
■ Charlotte Bishop
■ John Eryl Roberts
■ John Taylor
■ Aberbargoed and Bargoed: Three seats.
■ Chris Bissex-Foster
■ Paul Ted Edwards
■ Ken Houston
■ Abercarn: Two seats.
■ Illtud Jones
■ Jill Jones
■ Argoed: One seat.
■ Shane Parsons
■ Bedwas and Trethomas: Three seats.
■ John Anthony Leek
■ Daniel David Tudor Llewellyn
■ Blackwood: Three seats
■ No candidates.
■ Cefn Fforest and Pengam: Three seats.
■ No candidates.
■ Crosskeys: One seat.
■ Chris Cook
■ Crumlin: Two seats.
■ Mike Davies
■ Claire Morgan
■ Darran Valley: One seat.
■ No candidates.
■ Gilfach: One seat.
■ Elaine Meredith.
■ Hengoed: Two seats.
■ Donna Cushing
■ Teresa Parry
■ Llanbradach: Two seats.
■ Gary Enright
■ Colin Mann
■ Machen and Rudry: Two seats.
■ No candidates.
■ Maesycwmmer: One seat.
■ Garin Rhys Davies
■ Morgan Jones: Three seats.
■ Martin John Downes
■ Mike Prew
■ Mark Andrew Robotham
■ Moriah and Pontlottyn: Two seats.
■ Alyn Davies
■ Rhodri Morgan
■ Nelson: Two seats.
■ Eifion Dafydd
■ Aled John
■ New Tredegar: Two seats.
■ No candidates.
■ Newbridge: Three seats.
■ Lyn Ackerman
■ Rhys Mills
■ Wayne Morrisey
■ Penmaen: Two seats.
■ Kevin Jones
■ Andrew Short
■ Penyrheol: Four seats.
■ Greg Ead
■ Jon Scriven
■ Steven John Skivens
■ Lindsay Geoffrey Whittle
■ Pontllanfraith: Three seats.
■ No candidates.
■ Risca East: Three seats.
■ Matthew Farrell
■ Brandon Ham
■ Alan Thomas
■ Risca West: Two seats.
■ No candidates.
■ St Cattwg: Three seats.
■ Catrin Sara Moss
■ Haydn Pritchard
■ Judith Ann Pritchard
■ St Martins: Three seats.
■ Colin Elsbury
■ James Emanuel Fussell
■ Stephen Kent
■ Twyn Carno: One seat.
■ No candidates.
■ Van: Two seats.
■ Jeff Grenfell
■ Lynne Hughes
■ Ynysddu: Two seats.
■ No candidates.
■ Ystrad Mynach: Two seats.
■ Alan Angel.
■ Martyn James.