Here's your Friday update, covering:
- Opening of Parc Mackenzie - a new addition to Cathays Park, named after Wales' first female Professor, Millicent Mackenzie.
- New apartments provide temporary homes for families - 28 apartments are nearing completion in Pentwyn.
- Digital Services Consultation - have your say on how you find contacting Cardiff Council online.
New park opens in honour of Wales' first female professor
A new park, named in honour of Wales' first female professor, Millicent Mackenzie has officially opened to the public.
The park sits behind the National Museum of Cardiff, between Park Place and Museum Avenue, close to what is now Cardiff University and was once the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire where from 1910-1915 Professor Mackenzie was a professor of Education.
Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: "We've come a long way from the days when Millicent Mackenzie had to obtain special permission to continue working after she got married, but the achievements of women are still massively under-represented in our public spaces. Naming this park after Professor Mackenzie is another step towards redressing that historic imbalance."
The revitalised green space, formerly an underused area in the Civic Centre, includes:
- new natural stone footpaths.
- new entrances and stone block seating.
- lighting.
- a new nature themed play area trail with a friendly spider and web.
- rain gardens.
- sculptures.
- pebble seating.
- entrance signs and information boards.
- new trees, meadow areas and planting added to the existing woodland.
New apartments provide temporary homes for families
A new block of 28 apartments that will help Cardiff Council to expand its temporary accommodation for families in the city is nearing completion on the site of a former Morrisons supermarket in Pentwyn.
The new homes, on Pentwyn Drive, comprise 20 two-bedroom apartments and eight one-bedroom apartments in a three-storey building. The homes are being built by Willis Construction for Linc Cymru, a registered social landlord based in Cardiff, with funding support from the Welsh Government's Social Housing Grant programme.
Earlier this year, the Council agreed to lease the block from the association and use them to house families who have experienced homelessness and were being housed in temporary accommodation, such as hotels and B&Bs around the city.
Cllr Lynda Thorne, the Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: "We have worked with Linc Cymru before on a supported living scheme in Llanishen and know the excellent work they do.
"As a council, we are committed to ending homelessness in Cardiff and this new development will give safe and secure accommodation to some of Cardiff's most vulnerable families until appropriate permanent homes can be identified. As a council, we will provide floating support at the site and will be meeting residents regularly."
Have your say on the future of Council's digital services
Thanks to the revolution in digital communications and the proliferation of smartphones and tablet devices, keeping in touch with one another has never been easier.
And, like all local authorities throughout the UK, Cardiff Council has embraced the technology to enable residents to access its services and contact the council online at the touch of a button or two.
Now, as more and more people interact digitally with the council - and more services become accessible - Cardiff Council is keen to hear from those who use the online services about their experiences and is urging them to take part in a city-wide survey.
Cllr Chris Weaver, the Council's Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, said the authority's digital services had already transformed the way it interacted with the public.
"We want our digital services to become even more accessible and provide those services that matter the most to our residents. We know some residents will still need to be able to contact the Council in person or on the phone, but by making it as easy as possible for people to use our digital channels we can make sure we're providing services in ways that suit everyone."