The proposed council tax increase would see bills for a band D property increase by £68.35 a year, or £1.31 a week. At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, council leader Cllr Peter Fox welcomed a 3.9 per cent increase in funding from the Welsh Government in its provisional settlement, but he said the authority still receives the least funding per person in Wales. “It was slightly refreshing for the first time in many, many years to see us receive around the average settlement which is a far better position than last year,” he said. But Cllr Fox added that “a high percentage of not a lot is still not a lot”.
A MINOR injuries unit should be reintroduced at Chepstow Community Hospital, councillors have said. A motion which won cross party support at a full council meeting, calls on Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) to bring back the unit, which it closed in 2011. The health board closed the unit based on staff levels and patient demand, but says there are “no plans to revisit the decision”. Put forward by councillor Armand Watts, the motion congratulates the health board for the opening of Grange University Hospital ahead of schedule. “This council recognises and agrees with the heath board’s strategic reconfiguration of its minor injuries units back into our local community hospitals across Gwent,” it says.
People in Chepstow have to travel 19 miles to their nearest minor injuries unit in Newport which Cllr Watts said is the “furthest point to travel for that specific service across Gwent”. Council leader, Cllr Peter Fox, gave his support to the motion, describing Chepstow hospital as a “little jewel in the crown” which he said “could do so much more”. “There’s an opportunity here for them to think again around how they can use that provision better for our community,” he said. Labour group leader, Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, said reintroducing the minor injuries unit made “complete sense” as it would ease pressure on A&E services and people would be treated locally.