Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 2^nd of October 2025 be signed as a true record.

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

To receive any Chair’s announcements.

To note any items which are urgent business in the opinion of the Chair so they may be considered.

To consider any questions the appropriate notice for which have been given under Section 4.18 of the Constitution.

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance.

The following was agreed for the 2026/27 financial year:

·       That Cyngor Gwynedd allows NO discount on class A second homes, in accordance with Section 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (i.e. no change).

·       That Cyngor Gwynedd allows NO discount and RAISES A PREMIUM OF 150% on class B second homes, under Section 12B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (i.e. no change). 

·       That Cyngor Gwynedd allows NO discount on homes that have been empty for 6 months or more and RAISES A PREMIUM OF 150% on homes that have been empty for 12 months or more, under Section 12A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992) (i.e. increase the premium from 100% to 150%).

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance.

Resolved:

1.     That Cyngor Gwynedd's Local Scheme for the year commencing 1 April 2026 continues as it was during 2025/26. Therefore, the following conditions (a - c below) regarding the continuation of the discretionary elements would continue: 

a.     to apply a 100% disregard for war disablement pensions, war widows’ pensions and war widowers’ pensions, for both pensioners and working age claimants.

b.     Not to increase the extended reduction periods for pensioners and working age claimants from the standard four weeks in the Prescribed Scheme.

c.     Not to increase the backdated period for pensioners and working age claimants from the standard three months contained within the Prescribed Scheme.

2.     Where appropriate, to delegate powers to the Head of Finance Department, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to make minor amendments to the scheme for 2026/27, on condition that it will not change the substance of the scheme.

To submit the report of the Council Leader.

Cyngor Gwynedd's Annual Performance Report and Self-assessment 2024/25 was approved and adopted.

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Legal Services.

The amended Internal Resolution Procedure was adopted.

(A)  NOTICE OF MOTION BY COUNCILLOR BECA BROWN

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

We would like to welcome the publication of the Child Practice Review on 4 November, noting our deep thanks to chair, Jan Pickles, for her careful work, and so too to the panel and to the North Wales Safeguarding Board.

We would like to note the title of the report, which is Our Bravery Brought Justice. It is important that we always acknowledge the title when discussing this report, as it pays a well-deserved tribute to the bravery of children – children who were supposed to be safe in their schools, and children who ended years of horrific offending by one of the most powerful men in this county. We owe them a great deal. Our thoughts are with them, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their remarkable determination and resilience.

We as a council are committed to learning all the lessons that come from the report, but beyond that, we are committed to looking at any relevant issues that have fallen outside the remit of the CPR, which looked at the case of this offender in the period from 2017 to September 2023.

We therefore call on the Cabinet to consider what further independent investigations are needed to address matters outside the boundaries of the CPR. We are fully alert to the fact that further work needs to be done and ask the Cabinet to work tirelessly to identify what is yet to be achieved. 

We once again express our sincere apologies to the children who have suffered harm, and we pledge to leave no stone unturned to ensure, to the best of our ability, that 'never again' means 'never again'

(B)  NOTICE OF MOTION BY COUNCILLOR NIA JEFFREYS

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

Propose that the Council

1. Notes: that suicide figures in Wales registered in 2024 were 15.7 per 100,000 people which was an increase on the figure for 2023, which was 14.0 per 100,000.

There are several factors associated with suicide, including: poverty, unemployment, mental and physical health problems, grief, abuse, loneliness, relationship problems, alcohol and substance misuse etc.

We also note that suicide is the leading cause of death of young people up to the age of 35 according to the Papyrus charity, because young people rarely die from other causes.

Middle-aged men between the ages of 30-44 in Wales are most likely to commit suicide. 76% of deaths by suicide were men. There is a correlation between poverty and suicide, with 15.8 in 100,000 suicides occurring in deprived areas, and 8.6 in 100,000 in the least deprived areas.

126.7 in 100,000 are unemployed.

Suicide is preventable, and support is available.

2. Believes: That the people of Wales have a right to live  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11.

1.     Letter from the Welsh Government in response to Cllr. Gwynfor Owen’ Notice of Motion to the 3 July 2025 Council meeting regarding devolution of the Welsh Rail Network.

2.     Letter from the Welsh Government in response to Cllr. Rhys Tudur’ Notice of Motion to the 3 July 2025 Council meeting regarding the language shift seen in Gwynedd.