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 6^th October, 2022 be signed as a true record.

To receive any declaration 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.

(a)  To consider any questions from members of the public, the appropriate notice for which have been given under Section 4.18 of the Constitution.

Question by Mr Paul D. Gill (address provided in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution)

“Why is the Council imposing an increase in the Council Tax Premium in an area which is very dependent on the tourist industry and tourist spending locally without independent research and a report thereon to the Council on the effect of such a policy on the local economy bearing in mind that the imposition of the increase will reduce local tourist expenditure putting local jobs and businesses in jeopardy especially at a time of high inflation and energy bills? 

(b)  To consider any questions from elected members, the appropriate notice for which have been given under Section 4.19 of the Constitution.

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance.

1.         To continue the Council's Local Scheme for the year commencing 1 April 2023 as it was in 2022/23.  Therefore, the following conditions (a - c below) regarding the continuation of the discretionary elements would apply:

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 backdate 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 2023/24, provided that it will not change the substance of the scheme.

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance.

For the 2023/24 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 from 2022/23).

·         Allows NO discount and CHARGES A PREMIUM OF 150% on class B second homes in accordance with Section 12B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (i.e. increase from 100% to 150%).

·         Allows NO discount on homes that have been empty for 6 months or more and CHARGES A PREMIUM of 100% on homes that have been empty for 12 months or more, in accordance with Section 12A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (i.e. no change from 2022/23).

To submit the report of the Council Leader.

To approve and adopt Cyngor Gwynedd's Self-assessment report for 2021/22.

To submit the report of the Monitoring Officer.

To appoint Mr Mark Jones as an Independent Member of the Standards Committee for a period of 6 years.

To submit the report of the Chair of the Interview Panel.

To appoint Mrs Carys Edwards as a Lay Member of the Governance and Audit Committee for a period of 5 years.

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support.

To adopt the Petitions Scheme.

To submit the report of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Support.

To accept the information and ask the Head of Democracy Services to use the results as a basis to establish the committees’ calendar for 2023/24 in line with the guidance of the relevant statutory Guidance.

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.20 of the Constitution, Councillor Huw Rowlands will propose as follows:-

“I propose that Gwynedd Council writes to the Governments and relevant train companies, expressing dissatisfaction regarding the standard of train service provided by Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales in Gwynedd, and the negative effect of this on the County’s residents and economy.”

That Cyngor Gwynedd writes to the relevant Governments and train companies, expressing discontent about the quality of the train services provided by Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales in Gwynedd, and the negative impact of that on the County's residents and economy.   

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.20 of the Constitution, Councillor Llio Elenid Owen will propose as follows:-

“The Wales Air Ambulance (WAA) is a vital emergency medical service and it is totally essential for the residents of Gwynedd. Closing their existing sites at Dinas Dinlle and Welshpool and centralising it in north-east Wales will slow down the emergency response to the furthest and most difficult to reach areas. This is extremely concerning for our residents here in Gwynedd. This will also mean that another exceptionally important service is moving from north-west Wales to the north-east, to the detriment of our rural communities.  

The rural nature and secluded roads of our areas here in Gwynedd means that saving lives is challenging, and relocating the WAA will make this an even greater challenge.

This invaluable service must be safeguarded.

I therefore propose that Cyngor Gwynedd calls on the Wales Air Ambulance and relevant bodies to keep the centres at Dinas Dinlle and Welshpool, and build on the services in their current locations.”

That Cyngor Gwynedd calls on the Wales Air Ambulance and relevant bodies to retain the centres at Dinas Dinlle and Welshpool, and builds on the services in their current locations.

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.20 of the Constitution, Councillor Elfed Wyn ab Elwyn will propose as follows:-

“That the Council supports the Welsh Government’s aim to re-open the railways of Wales, to create a railway through west Wales, and to call on them for a scoping / feasibility study of the line between Afon Wen and Bangor.”

That the Council supports the aim of the Welsh Government to re-open the railways of Wales, to create a railway through west Wales, and calls on them for a scoping/viability study of the line between Afon wen and Bangor. 

To submit, for information – letter from the Welsh Government in response to Councillor Elfed Wyn ab Elwyn’s notice of motion to the 6th October, 2022 Council meeting regarding the Prince of Wales title.