Issue - meetings

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, Councillor Jina Gwyrfai will propose as follows:-

Given that

a)    Agriculture is one of Wales' main industries, and that a high percentage of Gwynedd's economy is linked to agriculture,

a)    the stability of the family farm is a vital and invaluable contribution to the preservation of the Welsh language in our Welsh-speaking communities.

b)   The agricultural industry in Wales is currently able to make a valuable contribution to the food stock of the 'United Kingdom' in an age of increasing uncertainty, although the stock is low.

This Council notes with regret that the Inheritance Tax Act poses a threat to the traditional farming unit, to the economy of the country and to the Welsh countryside, especially to the Welsh-speaking areas.

(At least two farmers are known to have committed suicide since the announcement of the Act and families and related local workers and businesses face collapse if the Act comes into effect in 2026.)

I therefore call on Cyngor Gwynedd to bring pressure to bear on the Welsh Government to take the following actions-

i)                    pressurise the Westminster Government to recognise that the farming industry is crucial to the UK's security strategy, and to exclude family farms that produce food from the new tax when it comes into force.

i)                    make a plea to the Welsh Government to commission research to assess the impact of the Act on the Welsh economy and Welsh-speaking communities; also to implement adequate mitigation measures to protect the agricultural industry which is so crucial to the future of our country's rural communities.

Given that

a)    Agriculture is one of Wales' main industries, and that a high percentage of Gwynedd's economy is linked to agriculture

b)    the stability of the family farm is a vital and invaluable contribution to the preservation of the Welsh language in our Welsh-speaking communities

c)    the agricultural industry in Wales is currently able to make a valuable contribution to the food stock of the 'United Kingdom' in an age of increasing uncertainty, although the stock is low

This Council notes with regret that the Inheritance Tax Act poses a threat to the traditional farming unit, to the economy of the country and to the Welsh countryside, especially to the Welsh speaking areas.  (At least two farmers are known to have committed suicide since the announcement of the Act and families and related local workers and businesses face collapse if the Act comes into effect in 2026.)

I therefore call on Cyngor Gwynedd to bring pressure to bear on the Welsh Government to take the following actions:-

i)                     pressurise the Westminster Government to recognise that the farming industry is crucial to the UK's security strategy, and to
exclude family farms that produce food from the new tax when it comes into force.

 make a plea to the Welsh Government to commission research to assess the impact of the Act on the Welsh economy and Welsh-speaking communities; also to implement adequate mitigation measures to protect the agricultural industry which is so crucial to the future of our country's rural communities.

Submitted - the following notice of motion by Councillor Gwynfor Owen under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, and it was seconded:-

Following the revelation that improvements to the Oxford to Cambridge railway line have been changed from an England only scheme to an England and Wales scheme, and also in the wake of the paltry sum announced in the Westminster Government's spending review of £450m over 10 years, Cyngor Gwynedd is calling on the Welsh Government to demand that the entire Wales Rail Network is devolved to Wales as a matter of urgency. This Council is of the view that Gwynedd and Wales are missing out significantly on investment due to being tied to England on these issues. We believe that Wales should have the same rights as Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The member set out the context to his motion, noting:-

·       He did not accept that Welsh railways were part of the English and Welsh rail system, and as a result paid for the costs of updating railway lines in England, which cost millions while Wales received £0.5m over a 10-year period.

·       It was stated that the Westminster Government indicated that this had been requested in Wales with the Minister stating that it would improve the connection between Wales and Liverpool and Manchester.

·       It was emphasised that railways in Wales had been underfunded for decades and would be underfunded for years to come.

·       It was highlighted that cuts had hit Gwynedd with cuts to Cambrian Railway trains being a prominent example.

·       It was expressed that the system was changing, for railways to be devolved, for Wales to receive the money it owed to secure the improvements that needed to be made to make the railway fitting for the country. 

RESOLVED to adopt the motion, namely:-

Following the revelation that improvements to the Oxford to Cambridge railway line have been changed from an England only scheme to an England and Wales scheme, and also in the wake of the paltry sum announced in the Westminster Government's spending review of £450m over 10 years, Cyngor Gwynedd is calling on the Welsh Government to demand that the entire Wales Rail Network is devolved to Wales as a matter of urgency. This Council is of the view that Gwynedd and Wales are missing out significantly on investment due to being tied to England on these issues. We believe that Wales should have the same rights as Scotland and Northern Ireland.