4 South Wales Echo Thursday, 10 November, 2011 Thursday, 10 November, 2011 South Wales Echo 5 NEWS IN BRIEF Eight arrests Did you see Ahmed? in crackdown POLICE trying to piece together the movements on car thieves of a student who was found dead in the Vale of Glamorgan have appealed to the public for help. EIGHT men have been arrested Ahmed Al-Lami, right, was found on October 5 as part of a police operation to on the shoreline near Broughton after disappearing crack down on car thieves. from his home in Treforest between September 24 All are suspected of targeting and 26. He is described as 6ft, of slim build and homes in Bridgend to steal keys had a moustache and beard when he went missing. to high value cars parked on the He was a student at the University of driveway outside. Glamorgan, Treforest, and attended mosques at The eight men, aged between the university and in the Barry area. 22 and 39, are from the Cardiff, Anyone who saw or spoke to Ahmed should Merthyr and Gwent areas. call Porth police on 101. The arrests took place during a ■ Four of the best council attendees, left to right, Adrian Robson, Bill Kelloway,Delme Bowen and Ed Bridges… and four of the worst, left to right, Jane Rogers, Craig Piper, Jonathan Burns and David Morgan series of raids on Friday, November 4, as part of Operation Taste, which is aimed at targeting Soprano sings at Festive market to YOUR CITY COUNCILLORS’ ATTENDANCE RATES – HOW THEY COMPARE those suspected of committing burglaries in local communities. lunchtime concert help therapy centre Councillor Ward Possible Meetings Richard Jerrett Plasnewydd 30 30 Acting Detective Inspector meetings attended Brian Jones Rhiwbina 29 26 Soprano Elizabeth A Christmas Gareth Morgan, of Bridgend CID, RHIWBINA WHITCHURCH Asghar Ali Grangetown 44 31 Margaret Jones Cyncoed 23 22 Atherton and pianist Michael market, organised by Bobath said: “Operation Taste has been Gareth Aubrey Llandaff 25 20 Mike Jones-PritchardWhitchurch & 30 27 Pollock will perform a lunchtime Children’s Therapy Centre Wales, a success in not only targeting Jon Aylwin Cathays 11 11 Tongwynlais concert from 1.05pm on will be opened by Jonathan Evans suspected criminals but also by Rodney Berman Plasnewydd 52 50 Heather Joyce Llanrumney 20 17 November 30 at Beulah URC MP. sending out a clear message to SO, WHO’S Fenella Bowden Heath 30 25 Bill Kelloway Penylan 40 42 Church. Children can visit Santa there our communities. Delme Bowen Creigiau & St Fagans 33 33 Gwenllian Lansdown Riverside 75 Ms Atherton is a Welsh in his Sensory Snow Cave. “This operation has served as a Ed Bridges Gabalfa 48 48 Kathryn Lloyd Cyncoed 11 10 National Opera associate artist The market is at Ararat Church reminder to these people that Patricia Burfoot Penylan 40 37 Duncan Macdonald Rumney 18 15 and has performed as the on Saturday, November 19, their criminality will not be Roger Burley Caerau 35 27 Neil McEvoy Riverside 33 29 Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, between noon and 3pm. tolerated.” Jonathan Burns Llanishen 14 8 Rod McKerlich Radyr 39 34 Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni All proceeds will go to the The eight arrests were mainly Joseph Carter Pentwyn 22 18 Francesca MontemaggiGrangetown 22 18 and Pamina in The Magic Flute. centre based in Whitchurch. for burglaries committed across Paul Chaundy Pentwyn 29 25 David Morgan Grangetown 45 19 the Bridgend area. The suspects WORST FOR Elizabeth Clark Cathays 23 22 Derrick Morgan Llanrumney 80 69 are currently on police bail while Ralph Cook Trowbridge2321 Elgan Morgan Plasnewydd 63 53 investigations continue. Support for the armed forces Richard Cook Canton 28 25 Linda Morgan Whitchurch & 24 15 DI Morgan added: “By keeping Jayne Cowan Rhiwbina 12 12 Tongwynlais A PACKAGE of Government is veterans in key areas windows and doors locked and Gavin Cox Splott 31 22 Ron Page Heath 11 10 not leaving valuables on display support for the armed committed to that are devolved Kirsty Davies Llandaff 26 22 Jacqui Parry Llanrumney 42 32 forces community in increasing the such as healthcare, or within easy reach of a burglar Tim Davies Whitchurch & 27 20 Keith Parry Fairwater 25 19 will significantly reduce the risk Wales has been support we provide to housing and Tongwynlais Ramesh Patel Canton 11 11 launched by the the armed forces education.” of becoming a victim of crime.” John Dixon Adamsdown 31 24 Cathy Pearcy Gabalfa 55 43 ■ Welsh Government. community in Wales. In Wales, there are Contact police on 101 or ATTENDING Brian Finn Ely 11 9 Simon PickardCathays 23 22 Crimestoppers anonymously on The Minister with “This document sets estimated to be at Richard Foley Llanishen 26 25 Craig Piper Llanishen 21 11 0800 555 111. responsibility for the out how we are least a quarter of a Lisa FordFairwater 56 51 David Rees Cyncoed 11 10 armed forces in supporting the armed million members of Cerys Furlong Canton 66 63 Dianne Rees Pontprennau & Old St 27 24 Wales, Carl Sargeant, Fforces in Wales, the armed forces Jacqui Gasson Caerau 47 35 Mellons Display remembers said: “The Welsh their families and community. Susan GoddardEly 66 63 Adrian Robson Rhiwbina 41 41 Russell Goodway Ely 26 17 Jane Rogers Pontprennau & Old St 28 17 South Pole feat Iona Gordon* Riverside 22 Mellons ■ AN EXHIBITION marking Geraldine Grant Trowbridge5953 Ann Rowland-James Llandaff North 11 10 explorer Roald Amundsen’s epic MEETINGS? Delme Greening Butetown 18 17 Freda Salway Penylan 24 23 adventure to the South Pole will CARDIFF’S councillors aremissing to attending council meetings.” Peter Law Brian Griffiths Whitchurch & 46 34 Jaswant Singh Riverside 53 37 15% of council meetings – with some Gabalfa’s Liberal Democrat be held at the Norwegian /RFDO *RYHUQPHQW &RUUHVSRQGHQW Tongwynlais Bob Smith Llanishen 51 45 failing to turn up formore than half, councillor Ed Bridges had the best Church in Cardiff. SHWHUODZ#ZDOHVRQOLQHFRXN Clarissa Holland Splott 11 10 Mark Stephens Plasnewydd 29 29 Cold Recall: Reflections of a new figures have revealed. record, attending 100% of his 48 Martin Holland Splott 25 18 Simon Wakefield Cathays 30 28 Councillors missed a total of 337 meetings clashed with his work. meetings. Polar Explorer will be officially Jacqui Hooper Llandaff North 31 29 David Walker Lisvane 29 26 opened on Sunday, November meetings over 12 months, with just “I wanted to get out of the licensing He said: “Attending meetings is just Nigel Howells Adamsdown 32 32 Monica Walsh Trowbridge2522 NY QUOTE nine of the capital’s 75 councillors committee anyway,” he said. “They one small part of what councillors do. 27, by Tom-Christer Nilsen, the TA Lyn Hudson Heath 38 30 Craig Williams Pentyrch2420County Mayor of Hordaland, boasting 100% records. meet at 10.30am and I have to work But they do give an indication of the Keith Hyde Pentwyn 13 13 Judith Woodman Pentwyn 34 32 Councillors with the worst attend- elsewhere in South Wales.” councillors who take their role ser- which is twinned with Cardiff. John Ireland Rumney 24 21 This year marks the 100th ance rates – including one who missed He added: “During the year my iously and work hardfor the citizens Mohammed Islam Riverside 22 20 Total2,269 1,932 WE WILL BEA 58% of meetings – cited personal mother’s health started to deteriorate we represent.” anniversary of Amundsen’s trek. RM AND SECURE THIS WINTER WITH circumstances. and I was very often called away.” Rhiwbina’s Independent councillor AY WA These included holding full-time Coun Morgan, who is again running Adrian Robson, who attended 100% ST jobs, health issues and caring for in next May’s local elections, said his of his 41 meetings, said the dates were loved ones. attendance had since improved. set well in advance and members with LTD Those councillors with the best re- Other councillorswith the poorest jobs should be there to represent their ORIESR cord, however, last night said full-time attendance records included a trio of constituents. AT jobs should not be used as ajus- Conservative councillors: Craig Piper, Penylan’s Liberal Democrat coun- tification for failing to fulfil council Llanishen (48% missed), Jonathan cillor Bill Kelloway chairs the children WINDOWSONSERV commitments. Burns, Llanishen (43%) and Jane Ro- and young people scrutiny commit- &C 30% Therecords of everycouncillor are gers, Pontprennau and Old St Mellons tee, which had one of the worst MR y& contained in the annual members (40%). attendance records. Membersof DOORS attendance register, published yes- Attempts to contact the three yes- the committee missed 30% of meet- OFF terday. terday were unsuccessful, but Con- ings. Conservator EVERYTHING! It includes scrutiny, full council, ex- servative group leader David Walker – Coun Kelloway, who missed just two ecutive and other committee meet- who missed 11% of his meetings – out of his 42 meetings, said: “Mem- ings held between May 2010 and May said neither councillorsPiper nor bers who sign up to committees Window Specialists 5NJ.NJ this year. Burns were standing next year. should anticipate the likely demands CF5 Grangetown’s Liberal Democrat Coun Walker said the pair both have on their time.” councillor David Morgan ranks as the full-time jobs, Coun Piper at Lloyds Acouncil spokeswoman said: “The Centre, Cardiff, CF5r 5NJ. orde member with the worst attendance bank and Coun Burns as asenior figures only represent a percentage of ery l: 02920 597070h ev Te it record, missing 58% of his meetings – member of the Conservative Party in the work each councillor will un- y, Ely Distributionee w Wa rant 26 out of possible 45. Wales. dertake for their communities. rgyle Gua 6A cked The IT manager, who works “Being a councillor is difficult when “Theydo not reflect the consid- e Ba ranc IInsurancensu Backed Guarantee with every order full-time, missed eight planning com- you are still working,” he said. erable time spent on correspondence, mittee meetings, nine economy and “I had to wait until after I retired. It holding surgeries and dealing with culture scrutiny committee meetings, is a dilemma when attempting to the concerns of their constituents. two full council meetings and all sev- attract youngsters.” “Nor do they include the many en licensing committee meetings. Riverside’s Plaid Cymru councillor other events and bodies whichcoun- Coun Morgan admitted the record Jaswant Singh, who missed 31% of cillorsare asked to attend which was “absolutely shocking”, but said meetings, said: “I have not been well, form an important part of their the mid-morning licensing committee that is the reason, but I am committed roles.”