04/11/2013 BBC Wales Today

rest of the week. Thank you.

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story: Working and not working.

Only one in nine people on the UK Government's flagship

welfare-to-work scheme in Wales have found long-term employment.

I want to be able to say, I've got a job, I'm happy and I can hold my

head up high. Sue's cleaning job pays the living

wage - tonight why some low paid staff will get a pay rise.

I have worked every hour on the weekend to supply our customers.

132 workers told their jobs are at risk as their aluminium processing

plant near Caerphilly faces closure. Crematoria, care homes, car parks

and public conveniences under pressure as Pembrokeshire looks to

save ?20 million. Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay

says he's delighted with the 1-0 win against Swansea in their first derby

game in the Premier League. And the waves that smashed up

concrete - after the storm - counting the cost of the clean up in

Aberystwyth. Good evening. Only one in nine

people on the UK Government's flagship welfare-to-work scheme in

Wales have found long-term employment. The Work Programme is

also performing worse here than in the rest of Britain. That's

according to a group of MPs at Westminster. They also say

job-seekers here are prevented from going on a range of other

publicly-funded training courses. Here's our political reporter James

Williams. It is a familiar process for James

-looking for work has become a daily chore for the 50-year-old from

Cardiff who has been unemployed for almost 30 years of.

It is stressful and it is not nice when somebody asks what I do for a

living for. He has started the UK government

Work Programme scheme. Without these schemes, no one will

know how to use a PC, have to work, even have to create a CV.

The UK government's action Work Programme is designed to help people

like James. It works by providing work experience and training for a

22 years to help people find and stay in work. The two main providers

in Wales have failed to meet any of the government targets. According to

a report by the Welsh affairs select committee, almost 70,000 people in

Wales were referred during the first few months of the programme and

seven and a half thousand completed several weeks of sustained

employment- roughly one in nine. The worst figures in the whole of

Britain but they weren't dissimilar to the national average.

The performance of the Work Programme in Wales is improving and

the improvements between this time last year has been tremendous for it

is very encouraging. People in Wales have been out of work for many

years. The committee also criticises the

vast government for preventing Work Programme participants from

accessing its own back to work scheme.

The bosses and the government takes the view that they don't want people

on the Work Programme to be taking part in schemes that are funded

through the liver and yet people in England are allowed to.

Jobs growth Wales is not allowed and you thought to do that. I have said

to ministers in London, we will work with them in any way, shape or

manner to enable as many people in Wales to get into meaningful work as

possible for the with an agreement in Wales running at 8%, both

governments have their work cut out to make sure Welsh workers like

James benefit from the UK economy seemingly have turned the corner.

Workers in Wales whose companies volunteer to pay the so called

Living Wage, are getting up to ?400 a year more in their pay packets.

The rate - which is set independently each year, and is

based on the basic cost of living in the UK - is going up 20p to ?7.65 an

hour. That's ?1.34 higher than the National Minimum Wage is now. But

latest figures show one in four working people in Wales still earn

less the Living Wage. Here's our Economics Correspondent Sarah

Dickins. For ten years Sue has been working

as a cleaner. She was on just above the minimum wage are currently ?6 31

and powerful since her employers find up to the voluntary charter to

pay a living wage she has seen her a rise to ?7 45 and hour. After

today's announcement, she will get an extra 20p an hour.

There were certain things I couldn't really afford - little luxuries. Now

by having the living wage, it has made a difference and I can afford

little things went before I couldn't.

266,000 people in Wales and less than the minimum wage. That is a

higher proportion than the UK average. The Federation of small

business says its members are sceptical.

For some small businesses, increasing even small amounts of

wages, along with the cost that go alongside running a business could

mean the difference between that business staying afloat,

irrespective of if it wants to employ some of the new. We need a

general uptake in the economy to take place alongside the change of

policy. The jewellery is the only member in

Wales of an independent 12 months enquiry on the effects of the living

wage. There are so many people on very low

rate of pay and that means people are working very hard and not taking

him enough money to have a decent standard of living.

Sue has benefited from the living wage is her employers signed up. 60

staff members for their wages rise. The company says it makes business

and. Any employer who values the workforce should consider employing

a fair rate of pay. It is the staff that whenever the business and they

achieve the performance that it is the right thing to do.

The whole issue of low pay will be highlighted throughout this week of

campaigners hope to get more employers to signed up to the

voluntary code. 132 workers have tonight been told

their jobs are at risk as their aluminium processing plant near

Caerphilly faces closure. Sapa, the company which owns the factory, says

changes in the market have forced them to consider its future. Our

business correspondent, Brian Meechan, is at the factory in

Bedwas. Brian. Thanks. This factory has been

operated since 1971, providing jobs for the local community near

Caerphilly. It was taken over in September by the company who have

announced today it is contemplating the closure of this site with the

loss of 132 jobs. As the consultation goes on that means an

uncertain future for some of the workers heading into Christmas.

We were told it was going to be done on facts and figures so we thought

we would be OK because we are the best press and we are the ones to

go. The other factories are worse. It is myself and my two sons so the

whole household is reliant on this income. We are all devastated.

56% of the miners come here to work because the factory opened roughly

the same time as the mine shut. My mother and father started working

here for top my brother works here as well.

Kevin is the community resources director for the company. First of

all, why has this been announced today?

It was following a strategic review of our operations in the UK

following the joint venture which began on September the 2nd.

There are many companies as part of your group that this is the only one

that has been looking at for closure. Why is that?

This fits with the UK market as it stands. It is very much a proposal

and we want to enter into discussions in fine detail with our

colleagues. Is this something we hear about

manufacturing jobs a lot, that it is cheaper to do these jobs abroad and

import? That is true but I think one thing I

can tell you if I -- I've been in this industry for about 40 years.

There are less than 15 races left in the -- presses left in the UK, down

from 84 -- down from 80. Worrying news for the workforce here

near Caerphilly and it will be interesting to see what comes out of

discussions in the weeks ahead. The cost of paying for meals on

wheels, car parks and cremations are all set to rise in Pembrokeshire.

It's the latest council to discuss how it plans to balance its books.

The local authority has to make savings of ?20 million over the next

two years. Abigail Neal reports. Last month fortnightly rubbish

collections began in Pembrokeshire - but the cuts won't stop there. Today

a raft of new measures were announced to curb costs. Top of the

agenda was consultation on the future of Sunnybank residential home

in Narberth - one of only two care homes the council owns. It costs

them ?10,000 a week to maintain the ten residents and needs major work

to bring it up to date. It is no supplies that the future of this

care home was being discussed today in light of the budget cuts. Social

care along with education is amongst the council's biggest spenders. The

country needs to save ?20 million over the coming years. This is the

start of that process. Free car parks will be scrapped and parking

charges will go up across the county in a bid to raise income but almost

?153 -- 150 ?3000. -- 150 ?3000. The cost of paying for home help for

elderly people will increase by ?8.40 an hour - although this will

be means tested and capped at ?50 a week. Six public toilets across the

county are to close, the rest will come under the control of community

councils where 20p charges could be introduced. And the cost of

cremation will go up by ?150 on a Saturday to a total of ?750.

The price increase is significant in some ways and yet when you put it in

the larger picture of the price of a funeral, I don't think the increase

is going to make a big difference. On the streets of Narberth today -

many were well aware of these cuts to come.

Rising crematorium prices because people can't afford to live. You

can't afford to die either. I live on a farm and it is harder

because we have more rubbish at the moment and we got to wait and it is

getting annoying. All this comes as senior figures in

Pembrokeshire are under scrutiny over their pension arrangements -

after they opted for a scheme which allows them to pay less tax in the

long-run. In an age of austerity it will not go unnoticed.

86 people charged as part of a large so-called "crash for cash" scheme

could be split into more than a dozen separate trials. It's alleged

car crashes were staged deliberately to defraud insurance companies.

Lawyers are looking at putting six to eight defendants on trial at a

time - to deal with the "unprecedented numbers" involved. 28

people appeared at Newport Crown Court earlier for a preliminary

hearing and were released on bail until April next year.

A high-ranking army officer who took photographs of children as they

changed into their wet suits on a Pembrokeshire beach has been jailed

for 16 months. Lieutenant Colonel Mark Smyth was caught when a

holiday-maker saw him filming a six-year-old girl at Whitesands Bay

near St David's. The judge told Swansea Crown Court his "fall from

grace couldn't have been more spectacular".

Llandaff Cathedral's choir could be cut, to save nearly ?50,000. Seven

posts are at risk of redundancy as the cathedral plans a financial

overhaul to tackle an expected ?81,000 deficit. Adult choristers

would still be used for weekend services and special services.

Parishioners have already been asked to increase their weekly donations.

A new crematorium planned for the outskirts of St Asaph in

Denbighshire could put investors off a nearby business park. The

developers say the crematorium is needed because the nearest ones are

struggling to cope at busy times. But there's opposition from the

business community and from some local people. Here's Roger Pinney.

Glossy and high-tech, the St Asaph business Park but here they are

growing increasingly uncomfortable about the aspect of a new

neighbour, a crematorium. It is inconsistent with what we are

trying to do in developing a park. The concern has been expressed by a

number of members of the business park for full top -- the forum.

The company says it is concerned about image as well. It says it

wants a tasteful landscape to provide a tranquil and attractive

setting and it would be screened by hedges. Not far away, they have the

support of the local Presbyterian mimic the Dutch minister. He said

crematorium are busy nearby, often causing delays.

I lost my father in the last year and as a family we had to wait a

fortnight to go into the crematorium. It was quite a strain

on the family waiting for this to happen.

Future neighbours outside the business community in some

convincing. It needs to be miles away, not just

next to a row of cottages. A couple of fields away, I met a

woman who is typical of many here. She understands the need that isn't

happy about the site. It takes away in the -- takes away

the community spirit. There is to be a public meeting next

week but there are general concerns about a difficult issue. Debbie

should cancel are expected to decide on the plans in the New Year.

Much more to come before 7:00pm: Bragging rights rest in Cardiff

after defeating Swansea in the first Welsh derby in the Premier League.

And Aberystwyth clears up after the storm. Those waves smashed up the

seafront. Could we soon see more timber

homes? At a time when rising energy bills and affordable homes are

rarely out of the news, our environment correspondent Iolo ap

Dafydd has been to look around a prototype of a home which could

provide some solutions. The first of its kind, in idyllic

surroundings in Pembrokeshire. This timber house with solar panels is

valued and ?5,000. The idea is to attract buyers by linking affordable

homes with affordable fuel bills. The main aim is to keep sustainable

communities, keep the cost down for our customers and create something

that is sustainable so sometimes using green technologies is a

cheaper option. What is important is maintaining sustainable costs for

our tenants longer term. Any new house like this one will

need a plot of land and connection to the city and water mains top

incorporating solar panels, the fire could sell fuel to the National

Grid. They are an important part of the

house. We have put it in what is a what's -- eight kilowatts.

House-building is an important driver for the economy so could

timber houses like these the large instruction fans interested as well

as building the usual brick and mortar homes?

I think if the prototype can prove that there is a profit margin and it

could solve affordable housing issues and make sure the supply of

affordable housing gives them a return, I think that would be a

great advantage. Therein lies the crux. Is there enough of a profit

margin for the volume of has told us?

This is currently just a prototype and if 12 of these wooden homes are

to be dealt by a staff of ten next year, insurance companies and

mortgage lenders need to be convinced there is a commercial

future for wooden homes like this as far as offering an affordable home

with lower energies prices. -- with lower energy prices.

You may be celebrating or sulking, depending on where you live, after a

dramatic South Wales football derby. Ashleigh's here with tonight's

sport. Bragging rights rest in the Welsh

capital for the next three months after Cardiff beat Swansea in the

first Welsh derby in the Premier League. The 1-0 victory was

especially sweet for Bluebirds manager Malky Mackay after a month

of behind-the-scenes turmoil at the club. And he has a former Swansea

player to thank for grabbing the vital goal.

It just had to be him. Steven Caulker, the only player on the

pitch who had played for both club, scoring for Cardiff and sinking his

former team-mate. That fact made the joy and the pain all the more deep.

But Steven Caulker kept his celebration in check.

I have to pay my respects to the team that took me in so I enjoyed my

time there. Now I want to get the bluebirds at the table as well but I

want to show respect to the team that took me on.

It was a good goal but of course it is a bit disappointing when they

only had maybe that chance in the whole of the game.

Cardiff city desperately needed a boost after a month where the fans

genuinely feared Malky Mackay would quit his job. When asked after the

game if he had woken just in time, Fiona, Malky Mackay instead listed

others who deserved praise. We have worked hard with the team of

staff and the players that we have brought to the club in the last two

and a half years to get to a point like this. We want to make sure we

are in the same division next year because it puts smiles on the face

of the city. Swansea have also slipped by Cardiff

in the Premier League table. They will also be without their key

striker for the next two matches after he injured his ankle. Their

goalkeeper is suspended for a game after his red card. It wasn't the

jaws that dropped as fans back Swansea watched the game and raffle.

-- unravel. It is a fluke. I think we should

have won. We beat them 3-0 this appear.

South Wales Police say there wasn't a single address at the ground. The

two clubs meet again on the 8th of February but until then, it is not

just the 40 miles separate the two cities but also a single goal.

The Springboks have arrived in Wales ahead of Saturday's opening Autumn

international. The South Africa squad held their first training

session near Pontypridd this morning. They see the match as vital

preparation for the 2015 World Cup. As do Wales, of course. They name

their team tomorrow which, they hope, will finally beat a Southern

Hemisphere side. We have had a love of close lines in

the games against southern hemisphere teams. I would be beside

myself if you were slaughtered 30-0. We have come a long way. A

little bit more concentration at accuracy and we can do right on the

scoreline. But huge embarrassment for Wales'

rugby league team as they exited the World Cup against rank outsiders,

the USA. The joint-tournament hosts now have no chance of making the

quarterfinals after losing 24-16 in Wrexham. Wales will look to save a

bit of face as they play the Cook Islands in Neath next Sunday.

Sprinter Becky James took her weekend tally to two silvers and a

bronze on the final day of the Track Cycling World Cup event in

Manchester. She finished second in the keirin, with boyfriend George

North watching from the stands. Sport Wales Team USN rider Jon Mould

also won bronze in the scratch race. Shaping up nicely for the

Commonwealth Games. I'll see you tomorrow with news of

the Wales team to play South Africa. Jamie.

In Aberystwyth a clearup is underway following Saturday's storm. Huge

waves caused damage to the seafront and council staff have spent the day

clearing sand and shingle from the promenade. Cemlyn Davies reports.

Aberystwyth seafront at 80 mph gusts coincided with a high tide. This

video was filmed by ace wouldn't but he wasn't the only one with his

camera at the ready. Keith Morris felt the full force of the waves.

Suddenly this wave, out of nowhere, four or five times bigger than

anything I have seen in my life hit me from behind and water was coming

right over me. I had the reading my hair and my camera is sent for top I

am soaked -- my camera is soaked. Luckily, nothing hit me. I could

have been out to sea. Local businesses are relieved the

storm didn't cause more damage. There were stones about that high.

It went down all over the stairs. It went all of the top and then it came

through. Apparently, these doors got pushed through.

Today the clearer was well underway. Become says it isn't uncommon for

sand to be washed onto the front but the extent of the damage to the sea

wall as it surprised -- has surprised everyone. Other parts of

Wales were also battered by strong winds over the weekend. 10,000 homes

and businesses in South and West Wales were without electricity after

power lines were brought down. Mumbles was at its picture postcard

best today but this was where the highest wind speed was recorded on

Saturday. The 89 mph gusts took part of the roof off of this building.

It could have got worse. We were lucky that it wasn't raining at the

time and we got most of the stock in the we are one of the fortunate

ones, really. Work on repairing Aberystwyth

promenade is likely to go on for a fortnight following what residents

have described as the strongest winds and highest waves to hit the

town in decades. The storm of November 2013 will be remembered for

many years to come for. So is that the end of the storms for the time

being, Derek? Rain tomorrow will clear to

scattered showers. Dry and GDP of a couple of showers. Cloud will move

up from the south-west and lift temperatures, bringing some rain.

Tomorrow, a powerful jet stream over 200 mph over the Atlantic. So here's

the picture for 8:00am. A cloudy, damp if not wet start for most of

the country. The temperature higher compared to this morning. Drier in

the south-west and west and the wind picking-up. Becoming strong on the

coast. During the morning, the rain will clear. It will dry and

brighten-up. Sunshine for a while but with scattered showers in the

afternoon. Top temperatures eight to 12 and feeling chilly in the wind.

The wind brisk and gusty on the coast. In mid Wales, rain in the

morning will clear. Brightening-up with showers later in the afternoon.

Breezy. Windy on the coast with a high of nine Celsius in Rhayader. So

for Bonfire night, showers are likely but hit and miss. Some places

will be lucky and stay dry. By midnight, though, more widespread

rain is expected. Wet during the early hours of Wednesday. Wednesday

itself is cloudy with rain on and off. Heavy at times with a risk of

localised flooding. Unsettled for the rest of the week. Here is a

preview for. We discuss why a family holiday to

Disneyland turned into a nightmare. And mobile phone thefts. Secret

video shows how some of us have become a soft target for feeds.

Joint is at 730. -- join us at 7:30pm for top join us

at 8pm for an update and