Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Stephen Churchman, Kevin Morris Jones, Linda Morgan, Mike Stevens and Gethin Glyn Williams

To receive any declaration of personal interest

None to note

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 4^th July 2019 be signed as a true record. 

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 4.07.2019, were accepted as a true record of the meeting.

Cabinet Member: Councillor Gareth Griffith

To consider the report of the Head of Environment

The Head of Environment Department presented a progress report on the work of reviewing the public transport provision in Gwynedd along with the next steps the Department would be implementing. It was noted that the review gave the Council the opportunity to trial alternative ways of addressing transport needs. It was reiterated that the existing network had not been developed for decades and there was no evidence that the service had been comprehensively reviewed during this time. It was noted that Transport for Wales would assist in delivering the provision with the vision that Traws Cymru would provide the main transport corridor, with a dependence on local services providing the connections.

It was highlighted that time and effort would be invested to gather information in order to ensure that decisions were based on need and prioritised based on their social value. Information was gathered via a questionnaire and 2021 responses were received. It was reported that the initial work to analyse the responses had been completed and would form the foundation for the next steps

-       review the suitability of the existing transport network

-       ensure that the service meets the need in the most cost effective way

-       prioritise the journeys/routes based on their social value (work commissioned by Bangor University)

In response to an observation by Councillor Gruffydd Williams that the Dwyfor Councillor, in response to a previous review, had requested that the service be protected from cuts and that people be supported to live in the countryside, the Head of Environment Department stated that there was no intention to cut the public transport budget. He reiterated that despite the challenges to maintain the service, the main aim was to meet the need in the most cost effective way.

During the ensuing discussion, the following points were highlighted by individual Members:

·      The strategic review and vision for improving use in the hope that the public transport service would be improved was welcomed.

·      The information gathering systems had been appropriate and that the response to the questionnaires had been encouraging - need to build on this and analyse the data to meet the need

·      The consideration to use fewer large buses was welcomed - this was a constructive step forward

·      Need to ensure that the dial a service arrangements were flexible; that there were solutions to every situation. Suggestion to trial the arrangements to ensure success

·      Need to explain and discuss any changes that were being considered with residents in their communities - suggestion to share the information in the local papers

·      Effective marketing arrangements needed

·      Need to collaborate and support local services, e.g. O Ddrws i Ddrws. Was it possible to use a concessionary travel card on local services?

·      Need to consider the carbon footprint - encourage people to use buses

·      Need to ensure that priority was given to the journey not the vehicle/resource

·      If using smaller vehicles, the impact on large bus companies would have to be considered

·      Need to ensure concessionary travel card holders got all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Cabinet Member: Councillor Gareth Griffith

To consider the report of the Head of Environment

The Head of Environment Department presented a report containing terms of reference and an outline work plan for the Communities Scrutiny Committee Task group to assist the Service with the work of analysing a range of options for managing parking in Gwynedd. It was highlighted that the intention was to assess the possible options to increase the income from car parks and consider whether this could be done without increasing costs for Gwynedd residents.

Members were reminded that four members had been elected to the Task Group at the meeting of the Committee on 4 July 2019 - Councillors Kevin Morris Jones (Arfon), Angela Russell (Dwyfor), Annwen Hughes and Gethin Glyn Williams (Meirionnydd).

APPROVED - The terms of reference and outline work programme for the Task Group

Cabinet Member: Councillor Gareth Griffith

To consider the report of the Head of Environment

The Assistant Head of Environment Department presented a report requesting that Members provide comments on the key findings of the Annual Monitoring Report (Draft) before submission to the Joint Planning Policy Committee, the Cabinet and then Welsh Government.

            It was explained that the monitoring report was an important evidence base for reviewing the Local Development Plan. Over time, the monitoring report could show trends, identify any policies that were delivering and those that were not, and highlight any gaps or policy shortcomings. It was noted that the Local Development Plan had a monitoring framework that had been agreed with the Inspector during the Inspection - it was reiterated that the framework contained 69 indicators that reported on the five themes in the Plan.

            Reference was made to the key conclusions of the monitoring report and it was reported, in considering these, that there was no evidence that the Plan should be reviewed early. A review of the Plan would be held in 2021 unless an annual monitoring report noted otherwise.

            Thanks were given for the information.

During the ensuing discussion, the following points were highlighted by individual Members:

·         A suggestion to present the total number of houses built each year in order to provide context for the report

·         A straightforward, comprehensible "executive summary" was needed that summarised and somewhat simplified the technical and factual information

·                     The increase in holiday homes needed to be brought under control as a result of the constrution of new houses. Although aware that the Cabinet had approved research that could lead to changes in legislation, it was suggested that a link was needed between the annual monitoring review and the research work

·         The review should monitor new builds and not the housing stock

·         The number of houses needed to be revised following the Wylfa B decision. Many of the designations were no longer necessary

·         Need to improve coordination between economic development and housing developments

·         Need to consider the term 'local people'. Other countries such as Italy were developing houses for local people only - a suggestion to look in greater detail at similar schemes

·         The Welsh language must be given due consideration with every development and not only when constructing houses

·         Necessary to consider how to measure the impact on the Welsh language

·         Propose that language statements be completed by suitably approved experts - suggestion that the Council provide guidance on those competent to carry out language statements

·         Suggestion to establish a working group within a year in order to further challenge and generate more detailed analyses

·         Who would respond on behalf of the Council to the consultation on the National Framework by 1 November 2019?

In response to a comment about the suggestion that language statements should be carried out by accredited experts, the Joint Planning Policy Unit Manager stated that the Supplementary Planning Guidance, Maintaining and Creating Unique and Sustainable Communities, which contained guidance on planning and the Welsh language, referred to the need for the statements to be made by a qualified  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.