Organisations in Blaenau Gwent to Receive Donations from Councillors’ Salaries

ORGANISATIONS from around Blaenau Gwent are set for a share of just over £6,500 which has been donated from the salaries of county borough councillors.
This is just over half of the money that is in the presiding members fund as it stood at the end of December.
At a meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council on Thursday, January 25 councillors received a report recommending that 13 organisations received donations from the fund.
The council agreed to set up the fund in May 2022 and that it would receive wages that Blaenau Gwent Councillors wish to give up.
At the time councillors were unhappy that they were being forced to receive a wage increase while the cost-of-living crisis was causing pain to many Blaenau Gwent residents
Council leader, Cllr Steve Thomas said: “This is to agree how the presiding member’s fund be allocated in support of communities in Blaenau Gwent.
“The balance of the fund is £11,720 and this report makes some initial proposals for use totalling £6,594.”
Cllr Thomas added that how the balance of £5,126 would be shared out would be decided at another council meeting in “February or March.”
He pointed out that a list of the organisations that will receive money was included in the report.
Cllr Wayne Hodgins asked a question about the term “unused budget” being used in the report to describe money in the fund.
Resources chief officer, Rhian Hayden explained that each year money is set aside in the council’s budget to pay councillor’s salary, allowances, and expenses.
Ms Hayden said: “If members voluntarily forego any of that remuneration, there is an underspend against that budget.”
“It was agreed that any underspend against that budget coming as a result of members foregoing part of their salary would be transferred into the presiding members fund.”
She added that any underspend in allowances or expenses from that pot did not go to the fund.
Cllr Hodgins: “It’s fair to say that the total in that fund is money that members have decided to put in from themselves.
He added that when he saw the words “unused budgets” he wants to ask about it.
“We’re very budget focussed at this time of year aren’t we,” said Cllr Hodgins.
Councillors unanimously approved the proposal.
The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) set councillor’s wages,
Councils have no choice but to pay the salary and councillors can write to the head of finance at their local authority to say if they want to “forego” part of their wages.
The organisations that will benefit from the finding are:
Head for Arts – Llanhilleth pumping station mural project – £1,200.
St George’s Church, Tredegar – to support a visit to Uganda to help children’s education – £540.
Deighton Primary School in Tredegar – allotment project – £1,200
Local Places For Nature Project at Cwmcelyn to compliment Biodiversity works – £75.
New Cwm Institute – building maintenance £283.39
Tredegar Miners Memorial Group – contribution for Memorial Gates £500.00
Nantyglo Community Interest Company – to establish a garden or growing space around Attlee Road – £2,160.
Abertillery branch of The Royal Welsh Regiment. – St David’s Day commemoration event – £75
Llanhilleth Bowls Club – an initiative to widening participation – £75.
Zion Miners Chapel – wildflower garden project – £100
Aberbeeg Community Centre – Happi Cafe project – £75
Swffryd Community Centre – cost of living support – £75
Brynithel Community Centre – cost of living support – £75
Briery Hill Allotments – for general maintenance – £160 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​