Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Elin Hywel and Gruffydd Williams.

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 05 June 2025 be signed as a true record. 

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 05 June 2025, as a true record.

To scrutinise the Climate and Nature Emergency Plan Annual Report 2024/25.

Resolved:

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

2.         To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment that there is a need to revisit the Council's ambition to be net zero by 2030 and that consideration should be given to setting a realistic target for reducing carbon emissions.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for the Environment and the Climate Change Programme Manager.

It was reported that the Climate and Nature Emergency Plan had now completed its third year of operation. Statistics were presented on the amount of carbon being absorbed by Council lands as well as the carbon emissions, explaining that there was an 18,132,729 kgC0ze deficit to reach a net zero carbon position. They elaborated on carbon emissions, including from procurement, during the year 2024/25 and explained that the procurement information was based on financial expenditure in accordance with the Welsh Government's requirements, rather than the actual impact of the developments. They confirmed that discussions were taking place to ensure that the information on carbon emissions is not based on financial expenditure in future, as this led to a false impression of the true situation as the costs of goods continually increased. They also provided an update on carbon emission levels excluding the financial expenditure from procurement, as this gave a clearer and more accurate picture of the Council's actual position.

It was confirmed that all Local Authorities and public bodies in Wales used the same formula for measuring their carbon emissions. It was explained that this system had been in place since 2019 and that that year was being used as a baseline for subsequent years. They expressed pride that the Council's carbon emissions had reduced by 32% since 2019. They acknowledged that the statistics for the year 2023/24 showed an increase of 4% and explained that this increase stemmed from having to use more gas to heat the Council's buildings due to cold weather.

It was noted that work had been undertaken on several of the Council's buildings, for insulation and ensuring they contributed less to carbon emission levels. They confirmed that there was not a full year's worth of data available at present to be able to analyse the data from that work, but it was likely to be included in future reports.

During the debate, the following observations were made by the Members:-

In response to enquiries for further information on how the Council was encouraging greater biodiversity within the Land Use section of the Emergency Plan, the Programme Manager confirmed that a roadside wildflower scheme was contributing to this aim. It was elaborated that the plan to plant more wildflowers had begun during the National Eisteddfod campaign in Boduan in 2023 and they confirmed that the Council had plans to extend it to the Meirionnydd area in the future. It was ensured that the seeds for wildflowers were planted during the autumn season, and they also emphasised that no weed-killers with harmful chemicals were used. It was confirmed that analytical work was underway to measure how much carbon this project was absorbing and data on how much it contributed to biodiversity levels. In response to the comments, it was suggested that the Council look into conducting a pilot on the Foamstream weed-killer, like other authorities, as it was a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To scrutinise the arrangements for gritting and salt bins.

Resolved:

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

2.         To support the Highways, Engineering and YGC Department's proposal to send letters to Community and Town Councils to confirm the salt bin arrangements and send a copy to County Councillors.

3.         To recommend to the Highways, Engineering and YGC Department that safe access to school lands in inclement weather should be considered as a part of the gritting routes' review.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Highways, Engineering and YGC, along with the Head of Department of Highways, Engineering and YGC and the Dwyfor Area Engineer.

It was noted that it had been three years since the management arrangements for salt bins had been scrutinised, as part of the Winter Support Service. The members were reminded that the winter maintenance period ran from 1 October to 30 April annually, confirming that the services included the gritting of first and second priority routes as well as the provision of salt bins. It was highlighted that there was flexibility with this timetable as it was possible to continue gritting later in the year, and the service's arrangements were reviewed following the winter period to see if there were lessons to be learned and to respond to any challenges that had emerged over the winter.

They updated the Members that the Service had adopted a Gritting Vehicle Monitoring System since November 2024 to record the routes. It was explained that this technology was key to ensuring that all roads on the circuits were gritted and for ensuring the safety of the drivers of the gritters as they could be tracked live and the service could see if any vehicle had gotten into difficulties. They emphasised that the workforce was doubled for those periods where snow was forecast because the work was carried out in the dark and in potentially dangerous circumstances. It was reported that positive feedback had been received from staff about this technology and it was hoped that similar technology could be used to support the Council's other areas of work.

It was elaborated that the first priority when planning the circuits was given to those routes where the roads were used by school buses. It was added that a number of factors were taken into account when designating roads as first priority for gritting, such as high traffic, providing at least one access to the emergency response centres, emergency admissions, or roads that were class 2 or 3 county roads with approximately one access to towns and villages.

It was explained that the Council, as the Highways Authority, was responsible for providing a winter service on all public highways adopted by the County. It was elaborated that the Council also treated the County's trunk roads on behalf of the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency. As well as the part of the A55 managed by UK Highways A55 Ltd.

It was reported that all salt bins in the county had now been numbered and that work was underway to ensure that their location was visible on Map Gwynedd on the Council's website, so that residents and Community Councils could report the number and location of a particular salt bin if a problem arose.

It was confirmed that the Council received a winter weather forecast provision and advisory services from MetDesk. It was elaborated that this service ran for 24 hours a day from 1 October to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To submit the Committee’s draft work programme for 2025/26 for adoption.

To adopt the Communities Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme for 2025/26.

The report was presented by the Scrutiny Advisor.

She reminded the committee that all Council members, co-opted members, Cabinet Members, Heads of Department and the public had been invited to suggest potential items for scrutiny during the year 2025/26.

The members were updated that the potential items for scrutiny that had been received following this invitation had been discussed during an informal meeting of this Committee on 10 July 2025. She highlighted that some of these items had been suggested at the Chair and Vice-Chair's liaison meetings with the relevant Heads of Department and Cabinet Members, items that required follow-up following recent scrutiny as well as some annual items. She noted that two items had been suggested by Council members.

She explained that every effort had been made to prioritise a maximum of three items for each meeting when drawing up the draft forward programme for 2025/26, to ensure that there was sufficient time to scrutinise all matters and to add value. However, she acknowledged that this had not been possible on all occasions as four items had been scheduled for one meeting. The Members were asked to ensure their availability to be present for all items. It was confirmed that the item 'New Local Development Plan - Preferred Strategy' had been identified as a reserve item.

It was reported that this Committee had a role to scrutinise the work of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board. It was noted that two items had been scheduled to be scrutinised, namely:

·       Annual Report 2024/25 – Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board (18 September 2025)

·       Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board Progress Report (19 March 2026)

It was noted that it was not possible to present the 2024/25 Annual Report to this meeting as scheduled as it would not presented to the Board until December 2025. It was explained that if one of the items that had been scheduled for the January 2026 meeting were to slip, the Progress Report could be scrutinised at that time rather than in the March 2026 meeting which would free up more time to scrutinise the other items during the March 2026 meeting.

She drew attention to the Committee's draft work programme which had been included as part of the documentation for the meeting. She emphasised that it was a live programme that would be reviewed continually to ensure that the right issues were being addressed.

RESOLVED

To adopt the Communities Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for 2025/26.