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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Siambr Hywel Dda, Council Offices, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SH

Contact: Annes Siôn  01286 679490

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Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet Members and Officers were welcomed to the meeting.

Apologies were received from the Cabinet Member Cllr Craig ab Iago.  

 

2.

DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of personal interest

3.

URGENT ITEMS

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer noted, after receiving permission by the Chair of the Council, that Item 7 - Local Impact Statement in light of the New Nuclear Power Station, Wylfa Newydd, would need to be considered as an urgent item.   As a result, this would not follow the Cabinet's usual schedule and the decision would be exempt from the calling-in procedure and would come into force on the day when the meeting was held and the decision made.

 

4.

MATTERS ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no matters arising from overview and scrutiny.

 

5.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6 NOVEMBER pdf icon PDF 104 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman signed the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 November, as a true record.

 

6.

RESOURCES FOR THE GWYNEDD SECONDARY SECTOR LANGUAGE STRATEGY COORDINATOR pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr. Gareth Thomas

Additional documents:

Decision:

a)    To commit £20,000 of funding from now until the end of March 2019 from the Transformation Fund to fund the Gwynedd Secondary Sector Language Strategy Coordinator. The post will be a means of delivering on one of the commitments in the Council Plan, which will lead to further increase in pupils' social and curricular use of the Welsh language.

b)    To return to the Cabinet with a request for further resources to fund the Gwynedd Secondary Sector Language Strategy Coordinator post from 2019/20 onwards, should the discussions with the regional consortium (GwE) to fund the post in future not prove successful.

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

a)    To commit £20,000 of funding from now until the end of March 2019 from the Transformation Fund to fund the Gwynedd Secondary Sector Language Strategy Coordinator. The post would be a means of delivering on one of the commitments in the Council Plan, which will lead to further increase in pupils' social and curricular use of the Welsh language.

b)    To return to the Cabinet with a request for further resources to fund the Gwynedd Secondary Sector Language Strategy Coordinator post from 2019/20 onwards, should the discussions with the regional consortium (GwE) to fund the post in future not prove successful.

DISCUSSION

 

The report was submitted by Cllr Gareth Thomas.

 

The report was submitted noting that the Language Strategy had been in place for years, and that the primary schools' Language Charter had been rolled-out across Wales. It was expressed that a follow-up to the Language Charter was needed in the secondary schools.  The Coordinator had been appointed in April 2017 to lead on the language strategy and it was added that good work had been done.  Attention was drawn to Ysgol Tywyn where there had been a change of attitude towards the Welsh language, after the coordinator had been undertaking specific work at the school. 

 

It was noted that a year ago, the Cabinet Member had applied for additional resources, based on the same commitment of resources that had been granted to the establishment of the primary schools' Language Charter.  A response had been received at the Cabinet Meeting, noting that the Cabinet Member for Education and the Cabinet Member for the Welsh Language, needed to write to the relevant Cabinet Ministers in Welsh Government, asking them to provide the funding in order to fund the Coordinator's post.  A response had been received from Eluned Morgan AM, referring to the GwE regional consortia.  Following discussions with GwE, it was noted that it would not be possible for the consortia to fund the post during 2018/19.

 

It was expressed that the Council would be able to apply for funding from the regional consortia from 2019/20 onwards, noting that the £20,000 being sought would be used to bridge both periods. 

 

Observations arising from the discussion

-        It was expressed that the response of Minister Eluned Morgan was contentious, considering the fact that the Assembly was hoping to have one million Welsh-speakers by 2050.  Astonishment was also expressed regarding the fact that the Government did not view this as a golden opportunity to develop a Language Charter that was already working in the primary sector.  

-        It was reiterated that the Welsh Language Support Grant had been cut by the Government this year, which showed the Government's lack of commitment to having one million Welsh-speakers. It was added that Gwynedd Council had done the groundwork for the primary Language Charter and that the Government had undertaken the project when it was successful.  Disappointment was expressed in that the Government was not prepared to support and invest in order to develop.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Awdur: Debbie Jones

7.

LOCAL IMPACT STATEMENT IN LIGHT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW NUCLEAR POWER STATION, WYLFA NEWYDD pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr. Dafydd Meurig

Additional documents:

Decision:

a)    To approve the draft statement of local impact in Appendix 1.

b)    To delegate powers to the Head of Environment Department to undertake minor amendments and corrections as necessary to the draft statement and to add relevant evidence to support the direction of the draft statement, prior to submitting the document to the Planning Inspectorate by 4 December 2018.

Minutes:

The item was submitted by Cllr. Dafydd Meurig 

 

RESOLVED

 

To approve the draft statement of local impact in Appendix 1.

To delegate powers to the Head of Environment Department to undertake minor amendments and corrections as necessary to the draft statement and to add relevant evidence to support the direction of the draft statement, prior to submitting the document to the Planning Inspectorate by 4 December 2018.

DISCUSSION

 

The report was submitted and it was noted that despite the fact that Wylfa Newydd was not located in Gwynedd, there remained a need to consider its impact on Gwynedd.  It was added that a DCO Application had been submitted to the Secretary of State in Westminster in order to develop the project.  It was noted that as part of the investigation into the DCO application, there was a need to submit a local impact statement by 4 December. 

 

It was expressed that the 'Local Impact Statement' was a detailed document and that the Council was expressing its support in principle to the Power Station, however, it was emphasised  "that we are not confident that significant matters relating to accommodation, transport, skills and employment, the Welsh language and public services, have been sufficiently investigated and considered".

 

It was emphasised that the draft document detailed these matters. It was expressed that the matters had not only been raised by Gwynedd Council, but by other partners as well; nevertheless, it was noted that no modifications had been considered.  It was added that the company would not monitor any matters until half-way through the construction work, and by that time it could be too late to make any modifications.

 

Observations arising from the discussion

-        It was noted that the document was substantial, and that the Council had clearly expressed its concerns regarding the impact of the development.  The importance of submitting an Impact Statement as part of the discussion was emphasised.

-        It was emphasised that measuring the impact half-way through the construction work would be too late when considering matters such as the Welsh language.

-        It was expressed that the project was huge, and that up to 9,000 people would be on the site.  It was noted that this would double the population, therefore, there was a need for clarity regarding the matters noted.

 

Awdur: Gareth Jones

8.

GWYNEDD COUNCIL PLAN 2018-2023 - BID FOR PERMANENT RESOURCES TO STAFF THE NEW DEMENTIA UNITS AT LLYS CADFAN, PLAS HAFAN, PLAS HEDD A BRYN BLODAU pdf icon PDF 81 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr. W Gareth Roberts

Additional documents:

Decision:

To allocate £808,000 to support the implementation of the Redesigning Care Services priority within the Gwynedd Council Plan 2018-2023 and to meet the requirements of Care Inspectorate Wales in terms of residential homes' staffing rotas.

Minutes:

The item was submitted by Cllr W. Gareth Roberts 

 

DECISION

To allocate £808,000 to support the implementation of the Redesigning Care Services
priority within the Gwynedd Council Plan 2018-2023 and to meet the requirements of
Care Inspectorate Wales in terms of residential homes' staffing rotas.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was submitted and it was noted that it was a pleasure to do so.  It was noted that the Council and the Health Board had been collaborating to ensure that people were being placed closer to home.  It was noted that the Council, after receiving funding from Welsh Government's ILF fund, had been able to adapt parts of residential homes within the county, in order to meet the needs of people with dementia.  It was added that the number of people with dementia was increasing and that specialist care was needed closer to home, not just for the sake of the patient, but for the sake of the families as well.

 

It was noted that work had been completed on three of the residential homes and the department was confident that the work would be completed at Bryn Blodau by the end of June.   It was expressed that the funding application was made for the purpose of funding staff to work in the dementia units.  It was added that £31,000 of the total bid related to the need to respond to the Care Inspectorate Wales's requirements to strengthen rotas across the Council's Residential Homes. 

 

Observations arising from the discussion

-        It was noted that the plan was innovative, and would close the gap that could be seen specifically in the south of the county.

-        It was expressed that not funding the plan was not an option, considering the changing demographic in the county - there was a need to strengthen the provision available.

-        It was added that it was good to share good news, in particular in the current financial climate, noting that this investment would be a boost to encourage development in the private sector.

-        The importance of keeping vulnerable people within their community was stressed.

 

Awdur: Aled Davies

9.

ESTABLISHING A REGIME TO DEAL WITH THE COUNCIL'S DUTIES AS A SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS APPROVAL BODY, UNDER THE FLOOD AND WATER MANAGEMENT ACT,2010 pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Gareth Griffith

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.    That implementing the statutory duties of the SuDS Approval Body
(SAB) is attributed to the Consultancy Service

2.    To delegate the powers of the SAB under Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to the head of the Consultancy Service, with the right for further delegation as necessary.

3.    To delegate the right to the Head of the Consultancy Service to establish a regime which decides on applications in line with statutory legislation and guidance.

4.    To delegate the right for the Monitoring Officer to amend the Delegation Plan within the Constitution to reflect this decision. 

Minutes:

The item was submitted by Cllr Gareth Griffith 

 

DECISION

 

1.    That implementing the statutory duties of the SuDS Approval Body
(SAB) is attributed to the Consultancy Service

2.    To delegate the powers of the SAB under Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to the head of the Consultancy Service, with the right for further delegation as necessary.

3.    To delegate the right to the Head of the Consultancy Service to establish a regime which decides on applications in line with statutory legislation and guidance.

4.    To delegate the right for the Monitoring Officer to amend the Delegation Plan within the Constitution to reflect this decision. 

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was submitted, noting that it was an application to delegate rights for establishing a regime to deal with the Council's Duties as a Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) Approval Body under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, to the Consultancy Department.  It was added that this regime was statutory and that it would come into force on 7 January.

 

It was explained that sustainable drainage systems would be required for every new development of more than one house.  It was expressed that the systems would have to be approved by the local authority and that there would be a need to ensure that a maintenance procedure would be in place which would be funded and safeguarded by means of a legal agreement.

 

It was added that establishing the procedure was statutory under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, and consequently, that it was a statutory field that the Council had to undertake.

 

 

Awdur: Emlyn Jones