Venue: Siambr Dafydd Orwig, Council Offices, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SH. View directions
Contact: Eirian Roberts 01286 679018
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APOLOGIES To receive any apologies for absence Additional documents: Minutes: Councillors Endaf Cooke, Gweno Glyn, Aeron
M. Jones, Dyfrig Wynn Jones, Linda A. W. Jones, June E. Marshall, Dewi Owen,
Peter Read and Hefin Underwood. |
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The
Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the annual meeting of the Council
held on 12th May, 2016 be signed as a true record. (attached) Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman signed the minutes of the Council's annual meeting held on
12 May, 2016 as a true
record. |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive any declaration of personal interest. Additional documents: Minutes: No declarations of personal
interest were received from any
members present. |
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THE CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS To receive any Chairman’s announcements. Additional documents: Minutes: Condolences Condolences were expressed to the family of Jo Cox, MP, who was recently murdered in horrific
circumstances in Yorkshire and Councillor
Gwen Griffith paid tribute to her. Condolences were extended to the family of the late Professor Gwyn Thomas, poet, scholar and literary
critic. It was noted that the Council wished to express condolences to everyone within the county’s communities who had lost loved
ones recently. The Council stood in
silence as a mark of respect. Congratulations All of the children and young
people from Gwynedd who had been competing
at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Caerphilly were congratulated. Elin Thomas, originally from Llannor, Pen
Llŷn, was congratulated for
representing Wales and singing the Welsh national anthem
at the start of three recent international rugby matches between
New Zealand and Wales, and she was wished
every success for the future. Other Matters Local Government Reorganisation It was reported that Mark Drakeford, Welsh Government's
Cabinet Secretary for
Finance and Local Government, had published a statement on 23 June which confirmed that:- ·
Local councillors
elected in the May 2017 election would serve a five-year term (May 2017
to May 2022) and that this would coincide
with the Welsh Government's
electoral cycle, which was also now five years.
·
Electoral boundaries
would not be reviewed prior
to the election in May, which meant that
75 elected members would continue to serve on Gwynedd Council from May 2017 onwards. More information regarding local government reorganisation would be available by the autumn term. Plaque Unveiling It was reported that everyone
was welcome to attend a ceremony at Plas Llanwnda, Castle Street,
Caernarfon at 11:45am on Friday,
1 July, to unveil a memorial plaque for Major Lionel
Wilmot Brabazon Rees, who was the only person from Gwynedd to be awarded the
Victoria Cross during the First World
War. Commemoration of the Battle of Mametz Wood To mark a century since the Battle of Mametz Wood, the First Battle of
the Somme during the First World War, an invitation
was extended to everyone to
the Official Opening of the
Great War's Memorial Garden at Caernarfon Castle at 12:00pm on Thursday, 7 July. It was noted
that other activities would also be held as
part of the Opening of the Memorial Garden with the North
Wales Rugby Choir and the
Band of the Royal Signals taking part. Council at its Best Ceremony It was noted:- ·
The
Council at its Best Ceremony was an opportunity to celebrate all of the excellent work of the 7,000 staff members who work for
Gwynedd Council to provide
a range of services that make a difference
to the county's residents,
staff members who go beyond their job description to put the people of Gwynedd central to what they do. · The five awards presented during the Ceremony were related to the Council's values namely Value for Money, Positive, Working as a Team, ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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CORRESPONDENCE, COMMUNICATIONS OR OTHER BUSINESS To receive any correspondence,
communications or other business brought forward at the request of the Chairman. Additional documents: Minutes: None. |
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URGENT ITEMS To note any items which are
urgent business in the opinion of the Chairman so they
may be considered. Additional documents: Minutes: None. |
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QUESTIONS To consider any questions the appropriate notice for which
have been given under Section
4.19 of the Constitution. Additional documents: Minutes: (1) Question from Councillor Sion Wyn Jones "Is it possible for the Cabinet Member to make a statement regarding
the lack of grass cutting in Gwynedd?" Response from Councillor John Wynn Jones, Cabinet
Member for the Environment "The Member
is aware of the very difficult financial situation facing the Authority and out
of this Council's decision in its meeting on 3 March, 2016 to implement 49 cuts
to services which included reducing the frequency of grass cutting in some
locations. As a
consequence, we must, unfortunately, accept that this will lead to the
deterioration in the appearance of some locations at certain times of the year
and when there are variances to the growing season as evident this year. The
relevant Department is carefully monitoring the effect of implementing the
changes and is also ensuring that locations where there are concerns regarding
safety are given priority. The Department is also adapting its cutting
programmes in order to mitigate the effect of this change. These adaptations to
the cutting programmes will continue for what remains of the growing season and
the year. I would like to thank Grounds
Maintenance staff for ensuring that the work is being carried out despite the
changes." A supplementary question from Councillor Sion Wyn
Jones "Is the
Cabinet Member willing to consider placing the responsibility of grass cutting
to community and town councils or having a new strategy in the
department?" Response from Councillor John Wynn Jones, Cabinet
Member for the Environment "Of course,
Gwynedd Council is willing to work with community councils in every possible
field, and this is one of those possible fields, but we must be careful not to
hand it over without certainty from the community councils on some matters,
e.g. with regards to public liability insurance and also that they will accept
responsibility should an accident take place and personally I think this is
something that they should seriously consider. I would be willing to discuss
any solution that is better than what we currently do. I congratulate the
department as it has been a very difficult growing season with such changeable
weather and all of us have experienced that in our gardens in general and I
believe that the department and employees who have been at the front line have
undertaken amazing work in recent months." (2) Question from Councillor Aled Evans "Will the
Cabinet Member responsible for planning report on the steps taken to make sure
that linguistic impact statements provided with planning applications under the
LDP are impartial, so that an applicant does not provide such a statement as
part of his submission for permission for any development". Answer from Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Cabinet
Member for Planning (The Cabinet Member's
written response was distributed to the members in advance). "Currently, we are determining planning applications according to the current Local Development Plan and the question is involved with the Local Development Plan, which will hopefully be adopted by the Council in March next year. Therefore, what drives ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATUTORY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES 2015/16 PDF 197 KB To submit
the report of the Statutory Director and Corporate Director (attached). Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted – The Annual Report of the Statutory Director of Social
Services for 2015/16. In her presentation, the Director provided an overview of the performance
of Gwynedd’s Social Services over the past year, highlighting those elements
that had been successful, and also referring to some matters that needed to be
addressed. She also provided a taste of the direction of Social Services for
the future and outlined the priorities for the years to come. She also took
advantage of the opportunity to recognise the guidance and support of Cabinet
Members in the care field, Councillors W. Gareth Roberts and Mair Rowlands. She
thanked all staff, providers and partners for their commitment and hard work in
ensuring that children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families
receive the best possible services. She also thanked everyone who cared
informally for a member of the family or a neighbour, noting that their
contribution was invaluable. Following the presentation, the Director responded to a series of
questions / observations from members in relation to:- ·
Plans
to address the shortage of severe dementia care nurses in South Meirionnydd. ·
The lack of services / problems with services in
South Meirionnydd and how to address those problems in the current challenging
financial climate. ·
Plans
to ensure that the cohort of children who have very complex needs, but who do
not receive a service from Derwen or the Council, received the appropriate
support. ·
Disappointment that there was no reference in the
report to Council arrangements to ensure that adults with autism received
sufficient services. The Director noted that it would not be practical to
include everything in the report, but that she would accept the observation for
next year. ·
Importance of preventative work in the youth justice
field and the need to express the Council's disappointment, through the Cabinet
Member, in the statutory partnerships for reducing the funding available from
them to maintain the service. ·
The number of children who had to go beyond Gwynedd
to receive care. The Director noted that she was unsure of the exact figures,
but she could share them with the member after the Council meeting. ·
The need for members who are school governors to
address safeguarding at their governors meetings and the good work to raise the
awareness of all Council staff about the safeguarding field and the need to
continue to do so. ·
The time it takes to transform services. ·
Impact
of challenges that faced the service on staff morale and turnover. ·
How
to address the other wave of inward migration that would take place, should
condition 50 of the Lisbon Treaty be realised as people returned home from the
continent in order to continue to receive free medical treatment. ·
Recent
news that people with mental illness who referred themselves for treatment at a
local establishment were being turned away. The Director noted that she could
not answer the specific observation but that she could discuss the matter with
the Health Board should the member provide her with examples. · The Social ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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NOTICES OF MOTION Additional documents: |
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Notice of Motion by Councillor Annwen Hughes In accordance
with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.20 of the Constitution,
Councillor Annwen Hughes will propose as follows:- “As Councillors, we are fully aware of
the suffering forced upon many Gwynedd residents due to Westminster
Government's funding cuts. We believe, however, that there is an alternative to
this ideologically driven attack on public services that is having an adverse
effect on local people. The alternative is a levy through a financial
transaction tax on activities that has accelerated the wealth of recent greedy
London bankers to the detriment of the larger population. I would urge Gwynedd
Councillors to support my call on Westminster Government to actively utilise
the financial transaction tax, Robin Hood Tax and use the funds to reverse
ongoing reduction to the central grant supplied to local councils, including
Gwynedd.” Additional documents: Minutes: In light of the current financial market and the result of the EU referendum, Councillor Annwen
Hughes noted that she would withdraw
her motion as there was a need for her to re-examine the matter. |
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Notice of motion by Councillor Mandy Williams Davies In
accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.20 of the
Constitution, Councillor Mandy Williams Davies will propose as follows:- “That Gwynedd Council calls on HSBC Bank to
re-consider their decision to close their branches at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Barmouth and Tywyn and to express our concern regarding the negative
effect on businesses and inhabitants in these key towns within the county.” Additional documents: Minutes: The following notice of motion was submitted by Councillor
Mandy Williams-Davies under Section
4.20 of the Constitution, and
it was seconded:- "That Gwynedd Council calls on HSBC Bank to re-consider their decision to close their branches at Blaenau
Ffestiniog, Barmouth and Tywyn and
to express our concern regarding the negative effect on businesses and
inhabitants in these key towns
within the county." During the discussion, it was noted:- ·
Disappointment regarding the bank's
lack of contact with the town about
their intention. ·
That it was a cause for concern when
services were starting to leave the county's main towns without a long-term plan. ·
Although people's banking methods were changing,
that banks had a duty to the community and that they
should think how they were
going to maintain services and modernise,
without disappearing entirely from the rural towns. ·
Banks listened to their shareholders instead of their customers. ·
Failure to bank money locally could lead
to businesses having to close. ·
There was a need for the Council to contact HSBC to discuss with open
minds and positive suggestions. An amendment to the motion was proposed and seconded,
namely that this Council would
extend an invitation to HSBC bank to hold a discussion on the matter. The proposer of the original motion agreed to amend the proposal on the lines noted
with the consent of the Council and the seconder. A vote was taken on the amended motion, and it
was carried. RESOLVED to accept the original motion, adjusted as follows:- "That Gwynedd Council:- (a)
Calls on HSBC Bank to re-consider their decision to close their branches
at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Barmouth and Tywyn and to express our concern regarding
the negative effect on businesses and
inhabitants in these key towns
within the county. (b)
Extends an invitation to HSBC bank to hold a discussion on the matter.” |