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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Zoom

Contact: Natalie Lloyd Jones  01286 679780

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

ELECT CHAIR

To elect a Chair for 2021/22.

Additional documents:

Decision:

To elect Councillor Berwyn P Jones as Chair of this committee for 2021/22.

 

Minutes:

To elect Councillor Berwyn P Jones as Chair of this committee for 2021/22.

 

2.

ELECT VICE CHAIR

To elect a Vice-Chair for 2021/22.

Additional documents:

Decision:

To elect Councillor Glyn Daniels as Vice-chair of this committee for 2021/22.

__________________________________________________________________________________

3.

APOLOGIES

To receive any apologies for absence.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Simon Glyn and Dafydd Owen

4.

DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST

To receive any declaration of personal interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Declarations of personal interest were received from Councillors Elwyn Jones and Annwen Hughes on Item 7 of the Agenda as they were Community Council clerks.

The members weren’t of the opinion that it was a prejudicial interest and therefore didn’t leave the meeting during the discussion on the Item.

 

5.

URGENT ITEMS

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no urgent items to note.

6.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 206 KB

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meeting of this Committee, held on 22ND April, 2021 be signed as a true record. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous committee meeting held on 22 April 2021, as a true record.

7.

SALT BINS pdf icon PDF 254 KB

To report on the current situation.

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

a)    To accept the report and to note the observations received.

b)    That a further report will be submitted to the committee to provide an update on the situation.

 

Minutes:

A foreword was received from Councillor Catrin Wager, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Municipal, reminding the Committee of the cuts made over the years which had led to community Councils taking responsibility for the salt bins.

It was explained that work had been commissioned to look at the provision as there was a sense that it was unfair on more rural community councils or those on different terrain that needed more provision.

The Head of Highways and Municipal Department added that the report highlighted the existing gritting arrangements and arrangements regarding the main priority and second priority roads.

During the discussion, the following observations were made by members:-

- The members were thanked for the report and the Chair and Vice-chair were congratulated on their appointments.

- It was asked whether it would be possible to work with local farmers and contractors in the area so that they had a supply to use and consequently salt bins would not be needed around the area.

- Enquiries were made as to whether town and community councils had insurance cover in the event of accidents when people went to fetch salt, or was this a responsibility of the Authority.

- It was noted that, in some areas, farmers had worked with the Council for years and enquiries were made as to whether this would continue, particularly in areas with steep roads, compared with more level towns.

- It was suggested that it would be fairer for the cost to be divided equally between town and community councils so that there was less pressure on smaller villages that needed to use it more.

- One member reminded the committee that we had not yet experienced a hard winter since this duty fell on town and community councils and enquiries were made about the cost of all the accidents that could occur should there be no supply.

- A question was raised about the £100,000 savings target as this had not been delivered and enquiries were made as to whether there were better options in order to avoid any difficulties for community and town councils.

- A member asked how many community and town councils had committed and whether the Council continued to fill bins in communities that had not committed.

In response to the observations, the Head of Highways and Municipal Department noted the following:-

- It was agreed, if the Council would be addressing the provision, that an opportunity to collaborate and keep the benefit local was needed here, by awarding contracts to local contractors or farmers.

- In terms of insurance, it was noted that the salt bins were there to use at the individual's own risk and so there was no subsequent liability against the community or town council.

- It was noted that if there was any risk, that the responsibility stood  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

TRANSPORT - SOCIAL VALUE pdf icon PDF 190 KB

To update the Committee on the progress to date.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

To accept the report and note the observations received.

 

Minutes:

The Head of Environment Department submitted the report and he began by reminding the Committee of the main matters around public transport, i.e. the cost, over-reliance on specific companies and people's over-reliance on buses. It was emphasised that the bus network had developed recently and it was reiterated that the residents' needs had changed as a result of a change in practices over the pandemic.

A discussion was held on the main matters under consideration when creating the strategic review in question, which included the following:

- Identifying the need in each community as some were wholly dependent on specific routes in order to meet their basic needs.

- The engagement work that had taken place locally in order to use the responses to identify the need.

- Identifying the social value of investing in public transport services.

- The committee was reminded that Gwynedd's position as a more rural area created more challenges around transport needs.

- A discussion was held on encouraging passengers to travel on buses once more following a period of low use.

During the discussion, the following observations were made by members:-

- Gratitude was expressed for the useful information within the report and it was noted that losing services in some communities had been a blow, as many people needed them in order to visit the dentist or doctor.

- It was proposed that there was a need to look at the bus timetable, e.g. offering an earlier service in order to use this for work or education purposes.

- Clarity was sought on the bus timetable and services as mentioned in page 33 of the Agenda regarding the Bus Service number 14 following the University's report.

- Enquiries were made as to whether there had been discussions on the shuttle buses as they finished early, and that later journeys would be advantageous so that towns and

villages could benefit from visitors.

- It was reiterated that later buses would enable people to park in Caernarfon and travel to Snowdonia, rather than park by the mountains.

- Enquiries were made as to whether the timetable reflected the current needs of locals as the buses were passing by half-empty.

- It was reiterated that there was a need to encourage former passengers to return to using the buses and there was a high social value if people used them to go shopping and for similar journeys.

In response to the members’ observations, the Head of Environment Department noted the following:-

- That the department sought to put pressure on Welsh Government to review their timetables, however, they were eager to have a relatively swift journey through Wales.

- It was noted that it should be suggested to Welsh Government that every other T2 service travelled into communities and that the rest travelled more directly through Wales.

- It was explained that a climate change department had been established within the Government and that they were focusing on public transport and on trains and buses in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

PUBLIC SERVICES BOARD ANNUAL REPORT pdf icon PDF 294 KB

To outline the progress of the work of the Public Services Board during 2020/21.

Additional documents:

Decision:

To approve the work programme.

 

Minutes:

The report was submitted by the Council Leader and he noted that the Public Services Board's activities had been greatly affected by Covid, but had now recommenced. He turned to the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board's Programme Manager who guided the Committee through the report and noted the following;

- That the Board had four sub-groups which carried out their work on various roles, and an update was provided on these.

- In relation to the Climate Change sub-group, it was noted that workshops were being held, along with engagement within the community.

- It was noted that the Homes for local people sub-group had ended as other departments had taken the lead, and that the group's work was now complete.

- Reference was made to the work streams under the Mental Health, Adults and Children sub-group, and that the Board was collaborating with the leaders.

- In relation to the sub-group associated with the Welsh language, it was noted that this group now had a leader and so the work had recommenced.

During the discussion, the following observations were made by members:

- A question was asked about why the sub-group relating to housing for local people had ended.

- It was suggested that there was a need to engage with residents about climate change and how to cope with challenges such as flooding.

- The question about houses for local people was reiterated, and it was noted that there was a concern about the lack of houses in more southern areas of the County, e.g. in Tywyn, which faced a housing crisis and had a growing community.

- A question was asked as to whether there was an intention to plant more trees in Gwynedd as a part of the climate change agenda.

- That the Welsh Government requires a courtesy level of Welsh language skills within their jobs. The member added that a more natural use of the Welsh language is needed across Wales.

- That a quota of second homes is needed in Gwynedd because of the loss of housing stock and the reduction in rental properties available.

In response to the above observations, the following was noted:-

- That there was a need to avoid duplication at all costs and that was why a decision was made to end the work on houses for local people. The Council Leader reiterated that a huge amount of work had been done on housing.

- It was noted that we had a lot to learn from residents and that it was intended to go out and hold a dialogue within communities to see what mattered to them. In terms of climate change, it was noted that this was a future discussion topic with residents.

- That the work of the Welsh Language Sub-group regarding ensuring that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

SCRUTINY DRAFT WORK PROGRAMME 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 216 KB

To submit the scrutiny draft work programme 2021/22 for adoption.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

To approve the draft work programme.

 

Minutes:

The draft scrutiny work programme for 2021/22 was submitted to be adopted by the committee following the workshop that was held on the 4th May 2021.

It was noted that there was one adjustment to the work programme since the workshop. It was explained that because of reasons beyond control, the ItemAnnual update on the Community Safeguarding Partnershiphas been moved from the meeting scheduled for the 4th November, 2021 to the meeting schedule for the 13th January, 2022.

RESOLVED

 

 

To approve the draft work programme.