This is the report by the Councillor named below regarding their key activities over the year ending 30 th April 2013. It is provided for the information of all constituents and for no other purpose.
Completion instructions: Councillors are free to include as much or as little information as they wish in each section, however the report is to be kept to this
2 page maximum format.
Councillor: Keith Chaplin
Party: Labour
Ward: Abertillery
Section 1 – Roles and Responsibilities
Apart from attendinf full council meetings in my first year I have sat on four committees including Education & Leisure Scrutiny Committee, Regeneration
& Environmnet Committee, Planning Committee and the Democratic Services
Committee where I have been appointed vice-chair of the committee.
The scrutiny committees and full council meet on a six weekly basis, whilst
Democratic Services Committee which only meets as and when required. My attendance for the following committees is shown below:
Council – 10 meetings attended
Education & Leisure Scrutiny Committee – 6 meetings attended
Regeneration & Environment Committee – 9 meetings attended
Planning Committee – 5 meetings attended
Democratic Services – 1 meeting attended
During this year in addition to being a member of the Council, I was also a council respresentative on the following outside bodies.
South Wales Fire & Rescue Authority – 7 meetings attended
Board member for Tai Calon – a number of meeting and briefing sessions attended
School governor for both Queen Street School and Abertillery Primary School
– 2 meetings attended.
Section 2: Constituency Activity

During the year I continue to handle many individual residents concerning a wide range of topics, including crime and disorder, environmental issues, housing problems, road safety, highways, planning and health issues.
Together, and in association with my ward colleagues, I have attended a wide range of local meetings, (including Police and Communities Together meetings and Community First meetings) and have liaised with a variety of local groups.
I have also made a number of council donations to help support a number of local organisations.
Section 3: Executive and Scrutiny Activities
As a member of the Education & Leisure Scrutiny Committee I have spoken on a number of issues and scrutinised decisions on a range of issues from school performance and the development of new schools through to scrutinising the performance of leisure services.
As a member of Regeneration & Environmental Committee Scrutiny
Committee I have spoken on a number of issues and scrutinised decisions on a range of issues from performance and fly tipping, waste, recycling, through to plans to regenerate out towns and communities.
I have also attended various informal meetings with officer. There are always meetings to be held informally with officers of the council to gather information and to share views on the different issues that affect the ward.
Section 4: Training and Development
I have attended a number of training sessions to hep supplement the local government knowledge, I already have as a result of being a local government officer for over 23 years.
The training sessions have attended include:

Council constitution

Questioning & Listening Skills

Member Induction Informal Open Day

Corporate Assessment Report of the Wales Audit Report

Code of Conduct

Emergency Management

Planning Enforcement

Data Protection & Information management

Section 5: Initiatives, Special Activities and Issues
During the year I have worked closely with the Abertilley Churches
Together grou to help the inaugural Christina Funday and Lighthouse event. Helping the group, the group managed to raise several thousands of pounds of funding to help stage the successful event in August. As well as raising funding I also worked with the Churches Together group and officers of the Council to address issues that would be expected in holding such an event.
During the year I participated in a task and finish group with officers at
BGCBC to develop a common allocation policy for housing within the
County Borough.
It was a real honour to attend and lay a wreath during the Remembrance
Day Ceremony geld last November.
Signature of Councillor: K Chaplin
Date: 31/10/13