Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Robert Glyn Daniels, Linda Morgan, Beca Roberts and Rob Triggs.

To receive any declaration of personal interest

No declarations of personal interest were received.

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

None to note.

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meeting of this Committee, held on 19.01.2023 be signed as a true record. 

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 19 January, 2023 as a true record.

To scrutinise the evidence base, the area options and the favoured option for introducing the Article 4 Direction in the Gwynedd Local Planning Authority Area to enable the management of the transfer in use from residential dwellings to holiday use (second homes and holiday accommodation).

·       To accept the report, noting the observations made during the meeting.

·       To recommend to the Cabinet to approve the favoured option in terms of introducing the Article 4 Direction, namely Option 4: The whole of Gwynedd (Gwynedd Local Planning Authority Area)'.

·       To request that the planning policy officers should re-visit the threshold to define over-provision of holiday accommodation and second homes in communities, during the process of drafting the new Local Development Plan.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for the Environment, Assistant Head of Environment Department and Team Leader (Joint Planning Policy Unit, Anglesey and Gwynedd). Attention was drawn briefly to the following principal points: 

-      Members were reminded that three further class uses had now come into effect, namely: 

o   C3 - Main Residence

o   C5 - Second Home

o   C6 - Holiday accommodation

-      It was confirmed that house owners could change the use class of their houses without a planning application and the Article 4 Direction would control this, by adding the enforcement to make a planning application prior to changing the use class of their houses.  

-      It was emphasised that introducing the Article 4 was a way to manage housing stock within areas, and therefore facilitating the ability of local people to buy housing within their communities.

-      It was reported that the process of introducing the direction was new and unprecedented and it was confirmed that the department was in the process of receiving legal counsel for the different aspects of the process.

-      It was explained that the Article 4 direction was not relevant to the Eryri National Park planning authority area. However, officers in the department were working closely with the Park to share benefits/experiences.

-      It was reported that there had been an increase in the numbers that transferred from being a residential unit to being a holiday accommodation business paying non-domestic rates.

-      It was noted that consideration had been given to a series of area options before the officers concluded on the best way of introducing the Article 4 Direction, namely:

o   Option 1: Dwyfor (Government pilot area)

o   Option 2: Community/Town/City Council areas where the current provision of holiday homes is greater than 15% of the housing stock

o   Option 3: Vulnerable Areas (areas under threat)

o   Option 4: The whole of Gwynedd (Gwynedd Local Planning Authority Area).

-      It was confirmed that the officers' research suggested that the favoured option to introduce the Article 4 direction was the whole of Gwynedd (Option 4).  However, it was noted that it was not possible to be certain of the implications to the area. It was assumed that this was the simplest option going forward as there would be no doubt which areas fall under the control of the direction - apart from areas under the planning control of the Eryri National Park area.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. During the discussion, the following matters were raised:

A member noted that he was pleased that the recommendation was clear but was concerned about the possible impact on areas under the excess threshold for second homes and holiday accommodation of 15% of the housing stock.

The Assistant Head of the Environment Department explained that the implementation of the Article 4 direction would not change planning policies and the policies of the Joint Local Development Plan, would continue to be operational following the introduction of article  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To present information on ensuring clean and tidy communities.

To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Highways, Engineering and Gwynedd Consultancy, the Head of Highways, Engineering and Gwynedd Consultancy and the Assistant Head. Attention was drawn briefly to the following principal points: 

-      It was explained that the street cleaning service covered all the public and adopted roads managed by the Council. These have been split into zones in accordance with their use:

o   High-use zones - town centres mainly

o   Medium-use zones - comprise residential areas mainly

o   Low-use zones - comprise the less intensive areas which include rural county roads. 

-      It was confirmed that the waste and recycling collection service had recently been transferred to the Environment Department and this had given officers an opportunity to re-visit how the provision was delivered. The tidying-up service continued to be under the management of the Highways, Engineering and Gwynedd Consultancy Department.

-      It was explained that a review of the service had been undertaken.  Generally, it was recognised that the work of the service was very good, however, there were financial and health and safety matters to be addressed.  It was reported that a timetable had been set to address the routes in the most efficient way by the end of the summer.

-      Details were given that Keep Wales Tidy held an annual independent survey on street cleanliness. 

-      It was explained that the department was undertaking trials of 'Brighter Bins'.  Five bins were part of the trial, and they use solar power and modern technology to make an automatic request to the department to be emptied when they are full.

-      It was discussed that teaching children and the people of Gwynedd, as well as raising awareness of the effects of litter, was part of a process of changing behaviour to achieve long-term environmental benefits.

-      It was reported on the Department's intention to combine street cleaning, enforcement elements and the tidying-up teams as one new Street Scene service.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. During the discussion, the following matters were raised:

In response to enquiries by members, the Head of the Highways, Engineering and Gwynedd Consultancy confirmed that enforcement teams currently faced capacity difficulties that led to a delay in the installation of new dog excrement bins after the department had received requests.   However, it was confirmed that the Tidying-up Teams aimed to distribute bins as soon as possible and confirmed that only a limited number of bins were stored in the Council's possession.

A member noted that some individuals threw litter out of their cars. The member asked would it be possible to be more pro-active in the places where this was a regular problem e.g. lay-bys.  In response, the Head of Department noted that the location mentioned by the member could be looked at to trial such an arrangement.

A member asked if there was a comparison of the costs linked to litter clearance and emptying bins. In response, the Head of Department noted that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.