Spring 2016 Carms News is produced on recycled paper Local Service Board providing you with news and information from Carmarthenshire News CaYour Lorcal Sermvice Board Carms arthenshire County Council • Coleg Sir Gâr • University of Wales Trinity Saint D avid • Hywel Dda University Health Board • Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service • CAVS • Natural Resources Wales Ac tif Sports & Leisu re offer indoor cy opportunities a cling round the county or shine. , come rain Their spinning classes allo e w you to work at y k own our i p b ace, r throu u gh a o rang y e of n intensi O ties. N to w o need ait for summer to get active - session weather offered morning s are tever the s, afternoons, ev wha weekends. ening and Dire ctor of Public H Carmarthenshire is set to become the cycling ealth for Hywel University Health Dda capital of Wales with more investment being made Board, Teresa Owe “Cycling i n, explained: s an excellent full-b in the growing sport. exe ody cardiovascular rcise to help get The county already has a reputation for being a great your heart rate u increase your blo p and place for mountain biking in the Brechfa, Cwm Rhaeadr od circulation. It ca risk of hea n reduce the rt problems, burn f and Crychan forests, and the Celtic Trail, part of which meta at and boost your bolism, helping you runs along the Carmarthenshire coastline from Loughor to lose weight. As low impact type it’s a in the east to Laugharne in the west. of exercise, it is ea joints than sier on your running or other h Now plans have been agreed for a new velodrome in acti igh impact aerobic vity, but it still gets Carmarthen with investment of £286,000 from the you into shape!” County Council, and £296,000 from Sport Wales. A further £500,000 is being invested in a closed circuit For timetables at a leisure centre near you, facility, a number of sites are currently being considered visit www.actifsirgar.co.uk/en/ in partnership with Welsh Cycling. For more resources to help you get active, There are also plans to expand the Tywi Valley cycleway. visit www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/862/page/64740 ©Olga Danylenko/shutterstock.com County Council praised by auditors for ambitious vision - see page 3 Carmarthenshire’s Capital Investment Around £223million will be invested in Carmarthenshire over the next five years. It includes £77million for new schools, £47million for environmental work, £34million for economic development, and £27million for leisure, which includes a new health and wellbeing centre for Llanelli. The county council is planning to use its capital budget to draw in external funding of over £92million, in order to deliver the ambitious programme. The aim is to stimulate the economy, create jobs, deliver new facilities and boost businesses. A 15-year regeneration plan for Carmarthenshire has also recently been publicised, with six key projects covering the whole county. See page 10-11 Ysgol Gymraeg Ffwrnes Delta Lakes 2 Spring 2016 Big Learning Company News from the Courses opens new office for all Local Service Board alongside the cream of Welsh education, the creative industries and the digital sectors. Well-being of Future “Canolfan S4C Yr Egin is incredibly Big Learning Company - a important, not just for Carmarthen Part-time courses as well as Cardiff-based company that and rural West Wales - the online courses are available to Generations Act specialises in the Education; heartland of the Welsh language - study at Coleg Sir Gâr. Information Communications but for the whole of Wales, as a Courses vary from wine The Well-being of Future Generations Act was passed in April Technology (ICT); Digital and digital gateway to the rest of the appreciation and introduction to 2015 with the intention of improving the well-being of the people Creative Sectors - has recently world, where the best of Welsh bread making to leadership and of Wales. opened a Carmarthen office on talent and content, from education management and tractor driving. It also places Local Service Board on a statutory footing from April 2016 the town’s University of Wales to industry, can find exciting new Online courses vary from social when they will be known as Public Service Boards (PSB). This means that Trinity Saint David’s Campus. market opportunities,” adds Louise. media marketing to languages and Carmarthenshire, along with all the other Local Authority areas in This internationally renowned Gwilym Dyfri Jones, Associate Pro can either be studied by distance Wales, will have to implement certain things in order to comply with the company has already committed to Vice Chancellor at the University learning or many can be accessed Act. Firstly, we have to undertake an Assessment of the Needs of the being a part of Canolfan S4C Yr of Wales Trinity Saint David said: at a local centre. population that we serve. Carmarthenshire will be undertaking its Egin but as the Centre won’t be “This is great news for the Many degree courses can also be Assessment of Need by working with Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire to opening its doors until early 2018, University and for the town’s studied on a part-time basis. ensure a consistent approach across the Hywel Dda area footprint. We Big Learning Company (BLC) is economy. also have a duty to produce a Well-being Plan which will outline how we, keen to establish a base in West “The fact that a company such as as a PSB, will commit to delivering against the seven goals outlined Wales with immediate effect. Big Learning Company wants to within the Act for the people of Carmarthenshire. We will be consulting The company’s CEO, Louise Harris move to Carmarthen, even before For more information please and engaging with both the public and stakeholders over the course of says: "Big Learning Company is Canolfan S4C Yr Egin opens its these two important exercises. calll 01554 748179 or delighted to be associated with the doors, attests its commitment to [email protected] University of Wales Trinity Saint our vision for the development. David and Canolfan S4C Yr Egin - “We look forward to working with The new Carmarthenshire We Want and is especially excited to be Big Learning Company and we website will be launched April 1, 2016. moving to Carmarthen at the warmly welcome the team to Let us know what you think beginning of this highly innovative Carmarthen.” ground-breaking project, working Consultant’s LSB conference life-saving kit Bwrdd Gwasanaeth Lleol Sir Gâr A Llanelli doctor who walked Carmarthenshire Local Service Board out of the Dragons’ Den with empty pockets has continued his hard work to develop a life- saving kit. Consultant anaesthetists David Williams and John Dingley, who are also lecturers at Swansea University, have worked hard since their failed TV pitch to create the technology, inspired by Google Glass, which can be worn to monitor a patient’s vital signs. Their success story shows how a In November 2015, the April Jones inquiry to illustrate collaborative approach to Carmarthenshire Local Service the power of collaborative working, innovation in the NHS can benefit Board (LSB) held a conference and what can be achieved when we patients. attended by over 90 Senior work together, both across public ARCH (A Regional Collaboration Managers across its partner services and the community. for Health) is an unique project organisations with the theme of The event was a mixture of between the Hywel Dda and ‘go together, go far’. workshops and key-note speakers, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg It has been recognised that and the participants found the GD3747 University and Swansea University, providing the best possible public event extremely thought aiming to create a healthcare We hope you enjoy reading Carms News. services can only be done if we provoking. system fit for the 21st Century. If you would like to comment on any aspect of the publication design and deliver things together. Feedback from the event has been Professor Marc Clement, from or to include a feature on the ‘your community’ pages then Chaired by Sarah Jennings, positive with attendees saying they Swansea University, said: “ARCH please contact: Director of Governance, found it “inspirational and will help the region have a global Communications Communications and Engagement motivational.” reputation for innovation, best Carmarthenshire County Council [Hywel Dda UHB], the conference As the LSB changes to the Public practice and healthcare.” County Hall, Carmarthen SA31 1JP gave senior managers from a range Service Board, we will be looking to Email: [email protected] of public services the opportunity run more such events, exploring Tel: 01267 224665 to challenge themselves to find ways to improve the ways in which Web: www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk better ways of doing things. we work together in order to Visit www.arch.wales Rights to photographs reserved; photographs may not be reproduced Superintendent Ian John, Dyfed provide excellent services for our @ARCHProg without prior written permission from the above address. Powys Police, used the example of communities. Spring 2016 3 County council praised by auditors for its ambitious vision Wales Audit Office has given to ensure the council provides Carmarthenshire a clean bill of quality services and an exciting health and praised the council agenda to invest and improve for its ambitious vision. further in future.” Auditors undertook a corporate The report also recognised that the assessment of the council at the end council, in collaboration with of last year which is aimed at partners, was continuing to providing a clear picture of the improve performance across authority’s capacity and capability priority areas; and that the authority to drive continuous improvement.