Question Time

The first question from the audience was concerned with the lack of experience of some of the candidates, and she was also concerned about people standing for the town council who lived outside the area.
Ros Garratt said that she lived about 300 yards outside the boundary, and Rob Golesworthy said that he lives in Llanigon, but works in Hay (at Golesworthys, obviously). Both of them made the point that people who do not live within the boundaries of Hay use the town for shopping, and work, and the doctor, and so on, and so have an interest in the town.
The second question was addressed to those who were standing for the Town Council and the County Council - they were concerned about the conflict of interests that might arise.
Mary Fellowes said that she had worked with county councillors who just did that job, and county councillors who combined that position with a seat on the town council, and in her opinion, it worked better when the two jobs were combined. Gareth Ratcliffe, of course, is our county councillor at the moment, and also has a seat on the town council.
Someone else asked how conflicts of interest were resolved.
Rob Golesworthy explained that councillors must declare their interests, and withdraw from discussions in those cases, so that the decision makers are not compromised. It can be difficult in a small town, where people are often members of several different committees. However, this is a legal requirement, and councillors who do not do this can be fined or even, in serious cases, sent to prison.
Malcolm Smith, an ex-Mayor of Hay, asked why Rob Golesworthy was standing for the County Council in Gwernyfed, and Mary Fellowes was standing for the County Council in Bwlch.
Rob said that he lives in the Gwernyfed area, and feels he's got something to offer in both Gwernyfed and Hay.
Mary said that she is only a "paper candidate" in Bwlch. The person who was going to be the Conservative candidate there dropped out at the last minute, and she agreed to her name being put forward just so there was a name on the ballot paper.
The next question was about the venue for Council meetings - should meetings be held in a bigger hall, such as the Parish Hall where we all were. (there was applause for this).
Rodney Mace said that it also concerned him that the Council Chamber is not wheelchair accessible, being upstairs, even though there is legislation which says that council meetings should be accessible to all.
Tim Organ asked the candidates what their vision for the future of Hay was.
Ros Garratt works in the community and voluntary sector, where it is important to get different groups together and find a consensus view, and she thought that Hay Together could do this for Hay. She also talked about how a local plan had to fit in with regional plans and European funding, mentioning the Powys Regeneration Partnership.
Johnny Kramer had actually been to the Hay Together meeting, and he said the response had been amazing, with about fifty people coming together at the last meeting. He said the Town Council should be taking a lead in this, but the electorate has to tell the council what their vision is so the council can act on it. Communication is vital.
Ellie Spencer said that there are lots of reasons to come to Hay (not just the books) and publicity is needed for all the good things that are here. Tourism is essential to the success of the town.

We then moved on to Health Care in South Powys. The questioner is a carer, and was horrified at the prospect of Llewelyn Ward in Bronllys Hospital being moved into the proposed care home which would be built next to the doctors' surgery if the plans for the new development go ahead. She said that Bronllys Hospital was needed, and that there had been consultation, but what had been agreed was being eroded down to ten beds which wouldn't necessarily be NHS staffed. She wanted to know what the Town Council were going to do about this.
Rodney Mace said that the fear of a new supermarket had taken people's minds off what was happening with the NHS - and we needed to be more vigilant, and have better communication.
Rhona Muirhead said that the Forest Road deal was so complicated, with BUPA offering a million pounds, but only on certain conditions, and the doctors being involved in the care of patients if the care home was built. She asked why an 80 bed care home was needed anyway, when Bronllys is already serving the area.
Mary Fellowes said that the town council hasn't ignored health issues. Karl Showler has been to every meeting on health matters which was accessible by public transport, and reported back to the town council. The Bronllys issue has been going on for years - she remembered Dr Wrench doing a bed push to raise money. The County Council keep changing their proposals, so (again) we have to stay vigilant.
Rob Golesworthy praised the Bronllys League of Friends, and talked about the new day care centre on the end of Llewelyn Ward. He wants Bronllys to stay - his parents went there - but he added that he wants to keep all options open.
Rhona Muirhead, going back to the development plans, asked if they mentioned Bronllys to the town council whent the County Council put the proposals forward. Rob Golesworthy replied that they hadn't realised that there was a threat to Bronllys.

And I think that's enough for Part Two. Part Three coming shortly!