Hello. We're consulting on the provision of childcare in Denbighshire.

Every five years the Council undertakes an assessment of the childcare available in Denbighshire to determine that:

• Enough childcare is available now and for future needs
• That the childcare being provided is fit for purpose

Childcare means to look after children where parents or carers aren't able to do so full time. This can include:

• Full day care, such as at a nursery or creche for a period of four hours or more
• Sessional day care, such as at a nursery or creche for a period of less than four hours
• Out of school care, such as breakfast clubs and after school clubs
• Childminding services
• Nannies / Au Pairs
• Open access play provision, short-term childcare in a 'play setting' which can include play centres, adventure playgrounds, playschemes and parks

What the assessment found:

The latest Childcare Provision Assessment took place between November 2021 and March 2022. To complete the assessment the Council worked with Welsh Government, schools, private employers, childcare providers and parents/carers of children who might need childcare.

You can download the full assessment document below:

Childcare Provision Assessment 2021-22

To view a hard/paper copy of this document, please visit:

The Oak Tree Centre, Ffordd Las, Rhyl, LL18 2DY

A very short summary of the key findings/concerns can also be read below:

1. Childcare in Denbighshire is difficult to access. The assessment found that although the childcare available was high in quality, it was not adapting to meet the needs of parents/carers and many found that they could not work full time and access appropriate childcare.
    
2. There is low take-up of funded childcare placements. Just over 50% of the available placements were taken up at the time the assessment was conducted.
    
3. Recruiting and retaining staff is an issue. The assessment found that the Covid-19 pandemic had caused a large number of staff to leave the industry and retrain elsewhere, and these staff had not returned as national lockdowns were eased.
    
4. There is a perceived lack of Welsh childcare available. This is largely caused by a difficulty in accessing training through the medium of Welsh, and because Welsh-speaking staff are difficult to recruit
    
5. There is inadequate provision for children with additional needs or disabilities. Parents/carers and childcare providers all felt there is a lack of 1-1 support and provision in general for children with additional needs or disabilities, with a lack of flexibility, affordability and even places available

Note: this feedback activity ran from 12th November 2020 to 31st January 2021. We are no longer receiving responses.

Has Covid-19 changed the way Ruthin thinks about transport?

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has had a massive impact in the way that we all think about many of the most basic things, including how we travel. During the early weeks of the first 'lockdown' (March/April 2020) the Welsh Government noted that many towns had an upsurge in people choosing to walk or cycle as their main means of transport, as well as an increase in air quality as large numbers of polluting vehicles were left at home. Welsh Government were keen to ensure that these positive changes were made sustainable for the longer term. In May 2020, Welsh Government put out a call for expressions of interest from local authorities to bid for funding to make short-term, temporary changes to town centres that would encourage people to travel more actively, and make social distancing measures easier to maintain. Denbighshire County Council prepared and submitted expressions of interest for proposed schemes in Ruthin, Denbigh, Llangollen and Rhyl.

The proposal submitted for Ruthin was to create one-way systems for road traffic in Market Street (traffic flowing downhill) and Well Street (traffic flowing uphill). This would:

• Widen pavements in areas where they are narrow
• Support some pubs, cafes and restaurants in the town centre area to create outside seating areas for their customers
• Encourage and support commuters and residents to choose active travel (walking or cycling) as their main means of getting around town
• Encourage and support commuters, residents and tourists to choose active travel (walking or cycling) as their main means of getting around town

Upon being awarded an agreement in principle for the funding, the Council launched consultations for each of the four proposed schemes - from 10th July to 26th July 2020. The consultation for Ruthin received 606 responses in total, with approximately 81% of respondents supporting the proposals. You can access the consultation and summary reports via the link below:

Finding a 'new normal' for Ruthin town centre (opens in new tab)

The online feedback received 189 responses from residents/visitors and 13 responses from businesses. We would like to thank everyone who has taken part and provided feedback.

You can read the summary report and the detailed data report below:

Ruthin - Community Feedback summary report

Ruthin - Community Feedback detailed data report

In February 2021 the temporary scheme was removed. Denbighshire County Council has no plans to pursue further temporary measures in Ruthin as a response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, but is committed to exploring the future of active travel and sustainable transport as part of its ongoing obligations in fulfilment of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013. 

Hackney Carriage Fare Review 2022 – Public Consultation

The Council is proposing a new revised table of fares for Hackney Carriages licensed by the Council. The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 provides that in respect of the charges for Hackney Carriages, the Council “may fix the rates or fares within the district as well for time as distance, and all other charges in connection with the hire of a vehicle…by means of a table.”

The proposed changes are the first increase since 2018. The amended fares comprise, in summary, of:

• Increased start charge for all tariffs
• Sundays to be permanently Tariff 2
• Surcharge per passenger for journeys more than 4 passengers
• Tariff 1 changes to start and finish times
•  Tariff 2 to start at 6 pm on a Friday and Saturday

Proposed table of fares

Denbighshire County Council

Marriage Act 1949

Civil Partnership Act 2004

Notice is hereby given pursuant to the above that an application has been made by Stephen J Denton for the premises known as Oriel House, Llanelwy for a grant of approval to enable Civil Marriages to be Solemnised/Civil Partnerships to be Registered at these premises.

The application and accompanying plan will be available for inspection for 21 days from the date of this Notice at the office of the

Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services

County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN

Within that time, any person may give notice in writing by completing the survey linked below, or to the address above, of an objection to the grant of approval, with reasons for the objection.

G. Williams

Proper Officer.

Denbighshire County Council

Marriage Act 1949

Civil Partnership Act 2004

Notice is hereby given pursuant to the above that an application has been made by Matthew Jones for the premises known as Tyn Dwr Hall, Llangollen for a grant of approval to enable Civil Marriages to be Solemnised/Civil Partnerships to be Registered at these premises.

The application and accompanying plan will be available for inspection for 21 days from the date of this Notice at the office of the

Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services

County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1YN

Within that time, any person may give notice in writing by completing the survey linked below, or to the address above, of an objection to the grant of approval, with reasons for the objection.

G. Williams

Proper Officer.