Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Kim Jones, Annwen Hughes and Rhys Tudur.

To receive any declaration of personal interest

There were no declarations of personal interest.

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 30 November 2023 be signed as a true record. 

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 30 November 2023 as a true record.

To provide an overview to Members of the activities of the Gwynedd and Anglesey Community Safety Partnership (CSP) for the period of 2023/24.

1.    To accept the report and the supporting documents, noting the observations made during the meeting.

2.    To support the priorities and the future direction of the work.

The report was submitted by the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being, the Gwynedd and Anglesey Community Safety Partnership Senior Operational Officer and the Assistant Manager for Safeguarding, Quality Assurance, Mental Health and Community Safety. ⁠Attention was drawn briefly to the following main points:

Members were reminded of the need to scrutinise the work of the Partnership in its entirety rather than focusing on any specific body or organisation.

⁠It was explained that the partnership had been formed in line with the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which placed a statutory duty on Local Authorities to work in partnership with the Police, Health Service, Probation Service and the Fire and Rescue Service to address the local community safety agenda. The main responsibilities of the partnership included: Crime and Disorder, Substance Misuse, Reducing Re-offending, reducing serious violence and establishing Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR).

It was noted that the partnership did not have specific funding and relied on regional and national grants. It was explained that the only commissioning undertaken by the partnership was the Domestic Homicide Reviews. Unfortunately, it was explained that the partnership was working on 5 Domestic Homicide Reviews this year and it was noted that the work inevitably had significant and continuing implications on the partnership's resources.

It was recognised that the main challenge currently facing the partnership was the different types of crimes that occurred within our communities. It was detailed that technological developments had increased the opportunities where people could be exploited by Organised Crime Gangs. Furthermore, it was considered that the cost-of-living crisis contributed towards the figures of offences within the community safety field.

It was confirmed that the Partnership was operating in line with an annual plan, that was based on the priorities of the Safer North Wales Board Strategy. It was noted that the priorities for the 2023/24 annual plan were as follows:

·       Prevent Crime and Anti-social Behaviour

·       Tackle Violent Crime

·       Tackle Serious Organised Crime

·       Safeguard and build resilient communities and maintain public safety.

Reference was made to current crime figures noting that violence against the person offences had generally decreased in Gwynedd compared to the previous year. It was also noted that there had been an increase of 15.4% in 'Theft and handling' offences compared to last year, and it was considered that this was the result of more retail offences. It was explained that this followed the statistic that shoplifting had increased 43.2% this year in comparison to last year, with a general increase of 35% across the region. It was detailed that the cost-of-living crisis was being considered as one of the biggest driving forces behind this increase. It was recognised that retail offences were now a priority for the police and substantial work was underway to ensure that these figures improved. It was ensured that residents were informed of any support available, and local food banks where appropriate.

It was reported that several Gwynedd communities were under-reporting incidents within their communities. It was recognised that this was a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To present a Draft copy of the Local Flood Strategy.

To accept the report and to recommend:

·       That more information was required about the maintenance work programme for gulleys and culverts in the Strategy.

·       Consideration should be given to adapting the document so that only the current information is noted about the Local Development Plans under points 4.1.4 and 4.1.5.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Highways, Engineering and YGC, Steffan Jones (Head of Highways, Engineering and YGC Department), Rhydian Roberts (Chief Engineer) and Rob Williams (Water and Environment Service Manager).⁠ Attention was drawn briefly to the following main points:

Members were reminded that parts of the draft local flood strategy had been submitted to the Committee meeting on 30 November 2023. In response to the Committee's observations where it had been suggested that a risk from highway flooding could have a substantial impact on our communities and that the Strategy needed to address these risks sufficiently, attention was drawn to the fact that a new action had been added to the strategy, namely Action 2.3A. It was confirmed that a public consultation would be held on the Strategy for a six-week period, commencing on 26 February 2024. It was ensured that the department was in contact with the Communication service to ensure that as many people as possible responded to the consultation, in order to share local knowledge via a questionnaire or phone call. It was hoped that residents would see the consultation being advertised in their local newspaper and on social media; it would also be uploaded on the Members' website for them to share it with their electors.

It was explained that developing a Local Flood Strategy was one of the requirements of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. It was also detailed that the strategy had to be consistent with the National Flood Strategy published by Welsh Government in 2023.

Members were reminded that the department had submitted the proposal of considering inland and coastal flood risks separately within the new Strategy, at the Committee meeting on 27 October 2022. It was explained that they were being considered separately due to:

·       The nature of the risk and the ability to mitigate them.

·       Difference in statutory and passive roles/responsibilities

·       ⁠Policies and strategies along with differences in the project funding structure by Welsh Government.

Members were guided through the Strategy and attention was drawn to historical matters, area plans, the division of public bodies' responsibilities, actions, financial matters and the strategic objectives of improving understanding and awareness of flood risks.

It was reported that maintaining culverts and gullies was crucial to manage water levels near roads and properties. It was confirmed that it had been programmed to empty the culverts at least once a year with additional attention to locations where difficulties had appeared regularly in the past. It was detailed that culverts with flood risk management, located beyond highway areas, received attention every fortnight in winter and every 4 weeks in the summer. It was updated that two of the culverts were being monitored by installed cameras, which sent messages when water levels were raised and allowed them to receive timely attention. It was elaborated that this enabled the department to take timely and more specific action.

It was explained that the department had a specific e-mail address and a useful app to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To present a review of the County’s roadside maintenance arrangements.

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

2.    That the Committee receives an update in a year’s time.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Highways, Engineering and YGC, Head of Highways, Engineering and YGC and the Assistant Head of Department. Reference was made to the following main points: 

Members were reminded that current arrangements were in place for grass cutting and maintenance of county road verges twice a year. It was noted that the Department operated in any area with a road restriction of up to 30mph and that external contractors operated in other areas of the county. It was detailed that this external contract would end within the year and the Department would be looking into renewing it.

Attention was drawn to several statutory duties to maintain and improve biodiversity and promote the resilience of ecosystems, noting the need for public authorities in Wales to meet them. Section 6 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 was mentioned, which placed a duty on public authorities to make biodiversity a natural and integral part of policies and projects. It was explained that the Department exceeded these requirements in ensuring that it sowed as part of biodiversity trials, as there was no requirement to do so.

It was reported that the Department had been collaborating with the Biodiversity Service to undertake trials along the A499 and A497 road verges in Dwyfor since October 2022. It was explained that the trials would continue in this area for three years to collect data. It was confirmed that the purpose of the trials was to ensure that changes were being made to encourage vegetation and biodiversity and to promote wildlife in the area. It was explained that the eight locations had been selected as they were straight, wide and long and that it was possible to receive and analyse rational data from the trials. It was assured that the results received so far were encouraging as well as the fact that the Department was receiving positive feedback from the public. It was emphasised that health and safety was a priority for the Department and, therefore, there would be no delay in grass cutting near any access or junction due to the trials as trial areas had been restricted to long, straight and wide roads. Members were invited to contact the department if concerns arose regarding any access or junction that needed to be cut more frequently than the current arrangement of twice a year.

It was confirmed that the trials continued to be held and they were growing. It was detailed that other areas in Gwynedd had been identified to extend the trials to Meirionnydd. Attention was drawn to the fact that other bodies adopted the same principles to comply with the statutory duties.

In response to an enquiry about the public's awareness of new risks that could arise such as ticks, it was confirmed that this was beyond the Department's remit but officers would contact the Public Protection Service for additional information.

It was recognised that litter thrown onto road verges continued to be a challenge. It was noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

·       To adopt an amended work programme for 2023/24.

·       To confirm arrangements to identify items to be discussed at the Committee’s meeting in May 2024.

1.    To adopt an amended work programme for 2023/24.

2.    Confirm arrangements to identify items to be discussed in the Committee meeting in May 2024.

The report was presented by the Scrutiny Adviser noting the following main points:

Members were reminded that the Communities Scrutiny Committee's Amended Forward Programme for 2023/24 had been adopted at the Committee's meeting on 30 November 2023.

It was detailed that the 'Article 4 Direction - Public Consultation' item had been programmed for the 18 April 2024 meeting. ⁠It was emphasised that it was necessary to consider what was intended to be scrutinised as the meeting would be held during the period prior to the election of Police and Crime Commissioner, which would be held on 2 May 2024. It was confirmed that the Monitoring Officer had given guidance that the matter should not be scrutinised during the period prior to the election due to the nature of the discussion in relation to introducing an Article 4 Direction.

It was explained that a date had been noted within the draft 2024/25 committees’ calendar, which would provide an opportunity for timely scrutiny before the Cabinet reached a decision on the matter. ⁠It was noted that it was intended to hold the meeting on 16 May 2024, but it was explained that this depended on the Full Council's decision at its meeting on 7 March 2024, when Members would consider the committees calendar.

As a result of this change, it was confirmed that the Scrutiny Adviser had consulted with the Chair to reprogramme the 'Highway Maintenance Manual' item from this meeting (22 February 2024), to the meeting that would be held on 18 April. ⁠It was explained that this would provide an opportunity to give fair attention to the items as three items had been programmed for each meeting.

Due to the lack of time between meetings on 18 April and 16 May 2024, it was proposed that the Chair and Vice-chair identified items for discussion as well as the 'Article 4 Direction - Public Consultation' item at the meeting in May, at their contact meetings with the relevant Heads of Department and Cabinet Members. It was explained that this would ensure sufficient time for the Departments to prepare the reports. It was noted that a report would be submitted to the Committee on 18 April 2024, to confirm the items to be scrutinised in the May meeting.

Members were reminded of the opportunity to prioritise items to be scrutinised for the remaining meetings in 2024/25 at the Committee's Annual Workshop.

RESOLVED

1.     To adopt an amended work programme for 2023/24.

2.     Confirm arrangements to identify items to be discussed at the Committee meeting in May 2024.