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Congratulations to talented young journalist Brad Williams, who won the Outstanding Contribution to New Media Award at the Rhondda Cynon Taf Youth Engagement celebration event in Aberdare. Brad, from Mountain Ash, has been writing articles on local news and politics for Rhondda Cynon Taf’s youth website, WICID.tv for the last five years. Since then, he

Disappointed not to be drawn for a topical question on this in the Senedd today. The disruption caused to residents, commuters and local businesses has been substantial and unaccceptable. This is a matter of regional significance and the South Wales Trunk Road Agency’s mismanagement deserves to be held up for public scrutiny.   I have

Cynon Valley AM Vikki Howells has welcomed a Welsh Labour Government initiative to exempt all care leavers under 25 in Wales from paying council tax. The changes will come into force from 1 April 2019, and follows on from a public consultation in which over 90% of respondents expressed their support for the proposals. The

Local Assembly Member Vikki Howells has called for Cynon Valley residents to make themselves aware of rule changes that make it easier for councils to take action against people who give their waste to someone “in good faith” who then fly-tips. The new guidelines, approved by Assembly Members, could see households facing a fixed penalty notice

Local Assembly Member Vikki Howells has welcomed moves towards ending the tax advantages of charitable status for private schools and hospitals. The proposals have been outlined by Welsh Government Finance Minister Rebecca Evans, and follows on from an announcement that the Welsh Government would be consulting on proposals to place independent schools and private hospitals

Cynon Valley Assembly Member Vikki Howells has backed a powerful Welsh Government campaign to help people identify controlling behaviour in relationships.  The Live Fear Free Campaign was launched by means of a hard-hitting new video  promoting “This is Not Love. #ThisIsControl”, available at https://beta.gov.wales/this-is-control. Coercive control is when a person with whom you are personally

by Sean Moses, currently studying towards a Masters degree in Politics in Cardiff University We are currently living through one of the most divisive periods the country has ever seen. The Brexit debate has split the public right down the middle, and perhaps nowhere is this divide more evident than in the way young people

Vikki Howells has welcomed the Welsh Labour Government’s continued commitment to its council tax reduction scheme. The scheme helps hard pressed families in Cynon Valley pay their council tax bills. The announcement will ensure that approximately 300,000 vulnerable and low-income households in Wales will continue to be protected from any increase in their council tax

Local AM  Vikki Howells has welcomed the Welsh Government’s increase in the  amount of money people in Wales can keep when in residential care from £40,000 to £50,000, effective from April 2019. At the Assembly elections in 2016, Welsh Labour pledged to increase the amount of money people could keep (the capital limit) from £24,000

9 year old Cariad Davies, a pupil at Ysgol Gymraeg Abercynon, has been announced as the winner of the 2018 Christmas Card competition held by Cynon Valley’s Ann Clwyd MP and Vikki Howells AM. Cariad came first for her winning design on this year’s theme of ‘Silent Night’, beating other entrants from schools throughout Cynon