0:00:02 > 0:00:04Welcome to the programme. Tonight's headlines:
0:00:04 > 0:00:06It emerges the cost of a four year dispute
0:00:06 > 0:00:07over pay rises for these officials
0:00:07 > 0:00:10at Caerphilly Council is nearing ?3 million.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Riot police out in Newport last year.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15There was significantly more anti-social behaviour per person
0:00:15 > 0:00:18in Gwent than the rest of Wales.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22And we're on the buses to find out how your daily journey could change
0:00:22 > 0:00:25with the proposed Metro for North East Wales.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Good evening.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Three senior staff members at Caerphilly Council are on leave
0:00:45 > 0:00:47on full pay four years after an investigation
0:00:47 > 0:00:50claimed they'd given themselves pay rises,
0:00:50 > 0:00:54a move the Wales Audit Office called unlawful.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Tonight, it's emerged the cost of paying them and the legal fees
0:00:57 > 0:01:02involved is set to rise to nearly ?2.8 million.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Here's our political editor Nick Servini.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08It's the longest running pay dispute of its kind in Welsh local
0:01:08 > 0:01:11government at the moment and tonight the cost is heading
0:01:11 > 0:01:15towards the ?3 million mark.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18This story began four years ago when the council's three
0:01:18 > 0:01:21most senior officers, the chief executive
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Anthony O'Sullivan, his deputy Nigel Barnett and the head of legal
0:01:23 > 0:01:26services Daniel Perkins, had large pay rises approved
0:01:26 > 0:01:32in a meeting that wasn't open to the public.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34The assistant auditor general for Wales, Anthony Barrett,
0:01:34 > 0:01:38decided to investigate and didn't like what he saw.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41In March 2013 he published a report saying that there were inadequacies
0:01:41 > 0:01:45in the way of Caerphilly Council worked out chief officer pay.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48He said it had acted unlawfully.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51The officers were suspended and charged by police
0:01:51 > 0:01:53with misconduct in public office.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Eventually the case arrived at Bristol Crown Court,
0:01:56 > 0:01:58but not for long.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00After a two-year investigation a judge dismissed the case,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04saying there wasn't enough evidence for a jury to find the men guilty.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08The leader of the Plaid Cymru opposition group at the council says
0:02:08 > 0:02:12this story has become a doorstep issue for council taxpayers
0:02:12 > 0:02:16across the county borough.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18It's been never-ending.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Unfortunately, there is no end in sight even now.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22This could go on until after the election.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25I was talking to somebody today who thought it might go
0:02:25 > 0:02:27on for another 12 months.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30It is ridiculous that you can get into this sort of situation
0:02:30 > 0:02:33with costs escalating out of control.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36One Labour councillor claimed that while it's been a long-running
0:02:36 > 0:02:38problem for his party, Plaid Cymru can't wash its hands
0:02:38 > 0:02:40of the affair either.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43The deputy leader of Plaid Cymru was on the committee that
0:02:43 > 0:02:45met in September 2012.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48He knew about it.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51If he had said something sooner we could have dealt with it
0:02:51 > 0:02:53in September 2012 instead of when the story broke
0:02:53 > 0:02:55in December 2012.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57But you know Labour run this council and it's Labour that
0:02:57 > 0:03:00will have to face up to most of the responsibility here.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03And Labour apologised for this issue to the public in December 2012
0:03:03 > 0:03:06and then took steps to reduce the amount of pay that was
0:03:06 > 0:03:09awarded at the time.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11Caerphilly Council has now begun its own investigation into the officers.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14In a statement it said it was important to note that
0:03:14 > 0:03:17a portion of the costs were incurred during the police investigation
0:03:17 > 0:03:20which lasted for two years.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23During this time the council was advised that it was unable
0:03:23 > 0:03:25to undertake its own proceedings and therefore the timescales have
0:03:25 > 0:03:30extended beyond what was originally anticipated.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Typically, internal disciplinary matters don't have much traction
0:03:33 > 0:03:39with the public but when this one costs the equivalent of ?32
0:03:39 > 0:03:42for every household in the county borough it's the kind of thing
0:03:42 > 0:03:45people talk about and it's the kind of thing that could become a central
0:03:45 > 0:03:49issue as Labour and Plaid Cymru fight it out to take
0:03:49 > 0:03:59control of this authority in the upcoming council elections.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01There was significantly more anti-social behaviour per person
0:04:01 > 0:04:04in the Gwent Police force area last year than the rest of Wales.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06That's according to a report by the police watchdog.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Dyfed Powys Police also needs to improve when it comes to keeping
0:04:10 > 0:04:15people safe and reducing crime.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Jordan Davies has more.
0:04:18 > 0:04:19The thin blue line.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Our police.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24But how effective are they at protecting us from crime?
0:04:24 > 0:04:26And incidents like this.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Fires started in a busy Newport street.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Antisocial behaviour.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33The police watchdog says there was more antisocial behaviour
0:04:33 > 0:04:36per person in Gwent in the twelve months to March last year
0:04:36 > 0:04:40than anywhere else in Wales.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42I meet residents groups and we encourage them
0:04:42 > 0:04:45to report areas of crime.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48I am not too worried about the figures.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52We want to reduce them of course and we will accept ways of doing it
0:04:52 > 0:04:55but it is a partnership matter.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57With this report we're able to produce a simple
0:04:57 > 0:04:59policing map of Wales.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Dyfed Powys has the most to do.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Its officers sometimes don't have the skills to deal
0:05:04 > 0:05:05with the cases their working on.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10And crucially the force needs to improve its investigations.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13I accept the report and understand we do have areas for improvement
0:05:13 > 0:05:16but I am motivated to try and respond to the report and look
0:05:16 > 0:05:18for areas we can improve and hopefully get to a position
0:05:18 > 0:05:27where Dyfed Powys Police has more positive reports in the future.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29North Wales Police needs to get better at protecting
0:05:29 > 0:05:32vulnerable people.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35There are also more organised crime groups per person in its area
0:05:35 > 0:05:38than anywhere else in Wales, influenced by the Midlands
0:05:38 > 0:05:41and Liverpool.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Gwent Police is said to have a limited understanding
0:05:44 > 0:05:47of the organised crime in its area.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51And South Wales Police did well in all of four key categories.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Although, it could improve the way cases are handed over.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57This policing expert says forces are trying to adapt
0:05:57 > 0:06:00to changes in crime.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04What they have flagged up is a need for an increase in the number
0:06:04 > 0:06:07of detectives rather than uniformed police officers.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12When you're talking about child protection, these are complex
0:06:12 > 0:06:15and difficult cases to tackle.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18We have seen a decline in the number of detectives in the police service
0:06:18 > 0:06:22over the last 15 years.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner says he's
0:06:25 > 0:06:26encouraged by this report, but says there's always
0:06:26 > 0:06:29more that can be done.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33Three of the forces were found to be good overall at keeping people safe.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35South Wales being the best, Dyfed Powys requiring
0:06:35 > 0:06:38the most improvement.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42Overall it paints a good picture of policing in Wales,
0:06:42 > 0:06:48but with room for improvement.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Five fire engines are at the scene of a fire at a recycling plant
0:06:52 > 0:06:53at Llandow in the Vale of Glamorgan.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56South Wales Fire and Rescue Service says around 2,000 tonnes
0:06:56 > 0:06:59of rubbish are alight.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04The fire is the fourth at the site in the last few years.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06A tribunal has heard allegations that Cardiff councillor
0:07:06 > 0:07:09and Assembly Member Neil McEvoy made "a threat"
0:07:09 > 0:07:12against a council official.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15The Adjudication Panel for Wales is considering whether the Plaid Cymru
0:07:15 > 0:07:17AM for South Wales Central has breached
0:07:17 > 0:07:20the council's code of conduct.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Mr McEvoy denies the allegations.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25New standards for teachers in Wales have been unveiled
0:07:25 > 0:07:27by the Education Secretary.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Kirsty Williams says the current standards are outdated and no
0:07:30 > 0:07:32longer fit for purpose.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35They set out who can be a teacher or headteacher and what is expected
0:07:35 > 0:07:38of them as they develop.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41The consultation runs until May.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44I want to raise the status of the teaching profession in Wales.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47I want all of our best and brightest students to go into the profession
0:07:47 > 0:07:51and once they become teachers I want them to continue to be the biggest
0:07:51 > 0:07:54learners in the classroom.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57The standards that we have at the moment are outdated and no
0:07:57 > 0:08:00longer fit for purpose and they don't marry with my vision
0:08:00 > 0:08:03for our school workforce.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06?50 million has been committed by the Welsh Government
0:08:06 > 0:08:08for the development of a Metro transport network
0:08:08 > 0:08:10in North East Wales.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13They say it is vital to grow the economy and sustain links
0:08:13 > 0:08:15into the north west of England.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Earlier our reporter Roger Pinney met the Economy Secretary Ken Skates
0:08:18 > 0:08:21in Rhyl and decided to test the existing system by travelling
0:08:21 > 0:08:27there from his home by public transport.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Waiting for the 9.05 and at the bus stop some more regular
0:08:30 > 0:08:32users of the service.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Is the bus normally on time?
0:08:34 > 0:08:36Quite good sometimes.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Midday is not a good one.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Yes, not bad.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43They are awkward times though, aren't they?
0:08:43 > 0:08:45This is the first one at 9:05am.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47Yes, the times don't suit employment.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Starting or ending it.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52And there already one of the problems of using
0:08:52 > 0:08:54buses in rural areas.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56They are not frequent, they don't always get
0:08:56 > 0:08:59you where you want when you need to be there.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01And so to the second leg of my journey by rail
0:09:01 > 0:09:04from Colwyn Bay along the coast to Rhyl.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06This is the mainline linking with regular stops
0:09:06 > 0:09:10in North Wales to the north-west of England and London.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13And in Rhyl you step off the train straight into a newly
0:09:13 > 0:09:16revamped bus station.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18There's integration for you.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21So what do users make of it?
0:09:21 > 0:09:23The location of the bus station just outside the train
0:09:23 > 0:09:25station is very convenient.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27What would encourage you to use the trains?
0:09:27 > 0:09:29If you went to Chester for example, would you drive?
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Drive.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Why would you not go by train?
0:09:33 > 0:09:35It's easier to drive.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Arriva, which operates the rail station, has just
0:09:39 > 0:09:41spent ?2.5 million on it.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44The idea is to make links between rail and bus
0:09:44 > 0:09:46as seamless as possible.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48There is even a touch-screen journey planner.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50They say it's the first in Wales.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53They call this rather grandly the Rhyl Interchange.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55It will be a key hub in the even more grandly named
0:09:55 > 0:09:57North East Wales Metro.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00And that conjours up all sorts of images doesn't it.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03But can it ever be more than a name?
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Think Metro and you probably think of the tube or at
0:10:06 > 0:10:08the very least a tram.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10But that isn't what's planned for north-east Wales.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Rather, better integration between existing trains
0:10:12 > 0:10:15and buses through ticketing.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17The two systems operating as one.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22Long-term, an electrified railway with improved cross-border links
0:10:22 > 0:10:25into Liverpool and Manchester.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29But isn't calling it a Metro simply windowdressing?
0:10:29 > 0:10:31That's not true.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33This will receive a considerable amount of investment.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37I have already stated that ?50 billion is going to be used
0:10:37 > 0:10:41for the first phase of development of the North East Wales Metro.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46It is a major long-term scheme which will unlock the potential
0:10:46 > 0:10:49of the economy and meet the expectations of people who wish
0:10:49 > 0:10:52to use public transport but at the moment find there are too
0:10:52 > 0:10:54many barriers to doing so.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57If the problem is to be solved both in terms of collectivity
0:10:57 > 0:11:01into the Northern Powerhouse, as it's called, and also HS2
0:11:01 > 0:11:04when it comes to Crewe, that's the kind of benefit
0:11:04 > 0:11:06we are looking for.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09The expenditure is therefore very likely to be worth it.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12In both directions the best part of 50,000 people make
0:11:12 > 0:11:16the cross-border journey everyday, mostly by car.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Whatever you call it, the challenge for public transport
0:11:19 > 0:11:22will be to unlock the cash.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Delivering change will cost more than the
0:11:24 > 0:11:29?50 million committed today.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33Time now for a look at the weather. Here's Sue Charles.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Good evening.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Today has been a blustery but bright one for most of Wales.
0:11:39 > 0:11:40All change tomorrow.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Overcast with outbreaks of rain at times.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44These fronts arrive overnight into tomorrow, bringing further
0:11:44 > 0:11:45wet and windy weather.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47Overnight, cloud thickens, some showers then heavier rain
0:11:47 > 0:11:50pushing in from the south and west overnight.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Southerly winds, not quite as cold as last night.
0:11:53 > 0:11:563C to 7C.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Tomorrow, driest in the north-east but then outbreaks of rain.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Some heavy bursts at times as these fronts spread up
0:12:02 > 0:12:05from the South and West.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Across the UK some brightness across Scotland and the North
0:12:09 > 0:12:12of England but that band of rain pushing up from the south-west and
0:12:12 > 0:12:15moving northwards through the day.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Fairly patchy but cloudy for most.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Highs of 6C in north-east Scotland, 12C in south-east England.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25In Wales the rain moving north-eastwards so dry spells
0:12:25 > 0:12:28in between, but remaining murky and overcast for most.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Brisk winds.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Highs of 7C in Wrexham, 9C in Pembrokeshire.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36We keep this mobile westerly into the weekend with fronts coming
0:12:36 > 0:12:40in off the Atlantic bringing unsettled weather at times and this
0:12:40 > 0:12:43frontal wave developing on Sunday could bring heavy rain.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47So a few bright spells early on Saturday.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50The odd shower, heaviest in the south-west.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Moving northwards.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54But dry weather in between.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Brisk westerly winds.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Highs of 8C to 10C.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Sunday might start drt but we are likely to see some heavy
0:13:01 > 0:13:03rain pushing in from the south-west during the day.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06So after a bright and breezy day today, looking more unsettled
0:13:06 > 0:13:08for the next few days.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Heavier rain tomorrow, some dry spells over the weekend,
0:13:11 > 0:13:17but with rain at times too, especially on Sunday.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19We'll have updates from around 6.25am in the morning in Breakfast.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21But that is Wales Today.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25From all of us on the programme, good night.