Garndiffaith & Varteg Ward
Community Councillor Giles Davies
Born in 1967 at County Hospital at Panteg, I attended Brynteg Nursery, St. Francis RC Primary School and finally St. Albans High School Pontypool until I left in 1983, I then started my career at ICI Fibres Mamhilad until it closed in 1994.
After jumping from job to job, I decided to settle at Lucas in Cwmbran, which later became ArvinMeritor, up until recently was Deputy Senior Steward for the site and a Branch committee member for the local Transport and General Workers Union.
As many local people will know, I'm following in the steps of my parents getting into local politics, as my father was County Borough Councillor for this area and also Mayor of Torfaen. My mother a Community Councillor and Chairman of Pontypool Community Council.
My interests include walking, I was a member of Pontypool Ramblers for several years.
I have a 10 year old daughter who attended St. Francis RC. Primary School until it closed recently, I am currently living in Talywain.
Born in 1967 at County Hospital at Panteg, I attended Brynteg Nursery, St. Francis RC Primary School and finally St. Albans High School Pontypool until I left in 1983, I then started my career at ICI Fibres Mamhilad until it closed in 1994.
After jumping from job to job, I decided to settle at Lucas in Cwmbran, which later became ArvinMeritor, up until recently was Deputy Senior Steward for the site and a Branch committee member for the local Transport and General Workers Union.
As many local people will know, I'm following in the steps of my parents getting into local politics, as my father was County Borough Councillor for this area and also Mayor of Torfaen. My mother a Community Councillor and Chairman of Pontypool Community Council.
My interests include walking, I was a member of Pontypool Ramblers for several years.
I have a 10 year old daughter who attended St. Francis RC. Primary School until it closed recently, I am currently living in Talywain.
Why I became an Independent
During June after spending 20 years with Labour I decided after much thought to leave the Party and become Independent, many rumours have spread to why I left, but the reason was that I become sickened by MP Expenses, not just Labour, all parties.
Spending a year learning about my new role as Councillor, I started to see the waste of public money in local government, whilst local people in my community took a hit in Job losses and pay cuts and increased bills, including myself.
Although I was offered 3 visits to our Twinned Towns, I turned each down as I counldn't justify the costs involved to the Tax Payer, although thinking I was saving money, I found I was only freeing up a place for someone else to jump in and go!
The only way I could see to try and change this was to become Independent so I could voice my concerns and not be tied to the party whip.
This wastage of PUBLIC MONEY is why the Community Council MUST wake up and look at ways to reduce costs, whilst keeping the same level of service for the community.
Pontypool Coalition Group Formed
As a member of Pontypool Community Council I helped to form a Coalition Group within the Council. Our objective is to question, monitor and query all issues and budgets in order to stop wastage thereby giving Pontypool tax-payers value for money. We also want to ensure that money allotted to the council is being used to benefit ALL areas covered by Pontypool Community Council.
Spending a year learning about my new role as Councillor, I started to see the waste of public money in local government, whilst local people in my community took a hit in Job losses and pay cuts and increased bills, including myself.
Although I was offered 3 visits to our Twinned Towns, I turned each down as I counldn't justify the costs involved to the Tax Payer, although thinking I was saving money, I found I was only freeing up a place for someone else to jump in and go!
The only way I could see to try and change this was to become Independent so I could voice my concerns and not be tied to the party whip.
This wastage of PUBLIC MONEY is why the Community Council MUST wake up and look at ways to reduce costs, whilst keeping the same level of service for the community.
Pontypool Coalition Group Formed
As a member of Pontypool Community Council I helped to form a Coalition Group within the Council. Our objective is to question, monitor and query all issues and budgets in order to stop wastage thereby giving Pontypool tax-payers value for money. We also want to ensure that money allotted to the council is being used to benefit ALL areas covered by Pontypool Community Council.
The Coalition
Pontypool Community Council has never had an opposition group before, things were just discussed in the unofficial Labour Group meeting once a month and then rubber stamped the following day at Full Council.
We felt that this was unfair so decided to form the Pontypool Community Coalition Group to challenge the Labour Group, agreeing to work together to highlight the Councils spending plans and help move the Council forward by ensuring they provide better services along with value for money.
As individuals we were no threat to the Labour controlled council, but as a group we can channel our efforts together and fight back.
Did You Know?
£499,616.00 is the amount you paid to run the Community Council this year
£3000 is put aside each year for Councillors to visit our Twinned Towns.
Every £10,000 we can save in the Net Budget will decrease the band D council Charge by 87.2 pence.
£54,315.00 went towards Rent and services of the office.
The Chairman of Pontypool Community Council is paid an Allowance in accordance with S34(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 of over £2500 for their year in office.
We felt that this was unfair so decided to form the Pontypool Community Coalition Group to challenge the Labour Group, agreeing to work together to highlight the Councils spending plans and help move the Council forward by ensuring they provide better services along with value for money.
As individuals we were no threat to the Labour controlled council, but as a group we can channel our efforts together and fight back.
Did You Know?
£499,616.00 is the amount you paid to run the Community Council this year
£3000 is put aside each year for Councillors to visit our Twinned Towns.
Every £10,000 we can save in the Net Budget will decrease the band D council Charge by 87.2 pence.
£54,315.00 went towards Rent and services of the office.
The Chairman of Pontypool Community Council is paid an Allowance in accordance with S34(5) of the Local Government Act 1972 of over £2500 for their year in office.