Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from:

·       Rhys Llewelyn (Cyfeillion Llŷn) with Seimon Jones substituting.

·       ⁠Robert Parkinson (National Trust) following restructuring, with Guto Roberts as a new member, present for the first hour of the meeting.

·       ⁠Dewi Evans (Aberdaron Community Council)

·       Councillor John Brynmor Hughes

·       Sianelen Pleming (Pistyll Community Council)

            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 Chair shall propose that the minutes of this committee, held on 02 July 2025, be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the last meeting of this Joint Committee held on 2 July 2025 as a true record.

To provide an update on the Llŷn AONB capital projects.

The report was presented by the Llŷn AONB Officer and the Countryside Warden – Llŷn AONB, highlighting the following key points:

It was explained that all the projects presented in the report were funded through the Welsh Government's 'Sustainable Landscapes Sustainable Places' grant scheme available for Welsh Designated Landscapes - National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It was further explained that the Welsh Government had set themes for the grant for 2025-27 namely 'Promoting biodiversity and nature restoration', 'Facilitating decarbonisation' and 'General improvements relating to access, infrastructure and visitor pressures'. Members were guided through the successful projects delivered by the Llŷn AONB during the current financial year, and it was confirmed that further information would be available to the public through the Llygad Llŷn newsletter.

Planting Native Trees

It was reported that planting native trees such as oak, blackthorn, hawthorn, holly, hazel, silver birch and other species, offered significant environmental benefits such as creating habitats for wildlife, absorbing carbon from the environment, purifying and managing water and providing a sustainable resource for the future.

It was recognised that the Llŷn AONB Unit had faced a challenge in finding suitable locations to plant these trees, as there was insufficient suitable land available under the Council's ownership. It was explained that officers had worked with the National Trust to obtain permission to plant trees at Tŷ'n Parc, near Plas yn Rhiw. Natural Resources Wales officials were also thanked for assisting the project, in the hope that the scheme could be continued in the coming year on Natural Resources Wales’ lands.

It was confirmed that the work had been carried out this year at Plas yn Rhiw and Tŷ'n Parc (Rhiw) in addition to areas near the cemetery and community garden in Nefyn, and everyone who had undertaken the work were thanked.

Non-native Invasive Species

It was explained that this project was a follow-up to research carried out on the non-native invasive species that were harmful to the native wildlife of the Llŷn AONB, in an attempt to eradicate them as they posed a threat in some places. It was stressed that this project was challenging as the non-native invasive species were to be found in several areas across the AONB.

Particular attention was drawn to work carried out to dispose of Himalayan Balsam in areas of Pistyll and Penllech, and Natural Resources Wales were thanked for their co-operation. However, it was noted that this species had been found in other areas such as Nefyn, where it was out of control as the budget to eradicate the species had been  used in areas where there was confidence that it could be eradicated, rather than attempting to eradicate it in areas where the situation was out of control.

Similarly, it was confirmed that work had been carried out to remove Japanese Knotweed, drawing particular attention to the work carried out in the Trefor area. It was explained that eradicating this species was considered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To inform and update members on the progress of the Tirlun Byw project.

The report was presented by the Llŷn AONB Activities Officer. The following main points were outlined:

It was explained that Tirlun Byw was a project jointly funded by Natural Resources Wales and Cyngor Gwynedd for a period of three years up to 2027. The project's aim was to promote the AONB as a living landscape, by providing activities for people who work, live or visit here. It was noted that the project responded to several objectives such as the AONB Management Plan, Welsh Government's Natural Resources and Well-being objectives as well as the priority areas of the Cyngor Gwynedd Plan 2023-28.

Data was presented on the activities that had taken place over the past year and participant numbers. Photographs of those events were shown to provide a taster of the activities. Copies of poems were provided which had been composed as part of a project undertaken by local schools with the help of Meirion Macintyre Huws to promote the dark skies and their importance within the AONB. It was confirmed that the project had received very positive feedback from the schools.

Some other upcoming events were highlighted, such as the invasive species information session on 30 April and an information session on running successful guided tours on 14 May.

It was confirmed that it was intended to prepare a work programme for the 2026/27 year and suggestions were welcomed for suitable events to be held during that period.

During the discussion, the following observations were noted:

In response to an enquiry, the Llŷn AONB Activities Officer confirmed that it was hoped that the poems composed by school pupils as part of the project would be published in an edition of the Llanw Llŷn community paper. However, it was confirmed that they could not be published in the Llygad Llŷn newsletter because they would need to be translated as the newsletter was published bilingually. However, there would hopefully be another opportunity in the future to publish these poems.

In response to an enquiry, the Llŷn AONB Activities Officer confirmed that members of this Joint Committee could be invited to these activities via a calendar meeting request instead of by e-mail if they so wished, and members were asked to contact the Activities Officer.

In response to an enquiry, the Llŷn AONB Activities Officer emphasised that every effort was being made to ensure that all activities were conducted bilingually. However, it was acknowledged that there had been one event where the presenter did not speak Welsh and there had not been sufficient time to translate her presentation and therefore the event had been held in English.

It was noted that an information session on the Welsh names of trees, flowers and birds would be beneficial as part of the work programme, and that if this was not possible, that a page should be created on the website containing all the information so that those names were not lost.

          DECISION

          To accept the report, noting the observations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To update members on the Sustainable Development Fund for the current financial year (2025-26) and inform members of changes to the Fund’s administration as a result of amendments to the Framework document published by the Welsh Government, and to select new members for the Sustainable Development Fund Panel.

The report was presented by the Llŷn AONB Officer. Attention was drawn to the following main points:

It was explained that the report provided information on the Sustainable Development Fund's situation for the current financial year, 2025-26. It was confirmed that there was a total of £95,000 in the Fund at the start of the financial year, and it was noted that a large proportion of the funding had been allocated to local projects in the area, namely:

·       1st Mate Llŷn Maritime Museum (£4,506)

·       Llŷn Flexi Bus (£25,000)

·       Nefyn multi-use paths (£11,450)

·       Enlli Solar Power (£9,572)

·       Llanbedrog Playing Field (£22,145)

·       Porthdinllaen Rowing Club (£750)

·       Decarbonisation of Rhiw village hall (£2,250)

·       Menter Rabar (£4,995.37)

·       Aelhaearn Nature Garden (£1,000)

·       Website for Tafarn y Fic, Llithfaen (£2,439)

The total amount allocated to these projects was reported to be £84,107.37. The joint committee members were reminded that the AONB Unit was entitled to claim a grant of £9,500 for the administration of the fund. It was confirmed that the true total amount of money that had been allocated from the fund was £93,607.37, if all projects claimed in full by the end of the financial year.

It was a matter of pride that £95,000 had been allocated by the Welsh Government to the Fund for the 2026-27 financial year, and it was confirmed that a meeting should be held soon to consider new applications that had been received.

It was noted that the Welsh Government had published a revised Framework Document which contained several significant changes to the governance of the fund, such as:

·       60% of the Fund's budget was required to be earmarked for projects that address or respond to the nature and climate crisis and biodiversity losses.

·       Emphasis is placed on collaborating with other landscapes, the voluntary sector and communities along with other partnerships

·       Information about the Fund must be included on a regularly updated website, with access to the application process and further information. It was confirmed that the Llŷn AONB was already acting in accordance with this.

·       Changes to Membership - it was explained that there must be between 3 and 5 members on the Fund Panel, with a requirement for each Member to serve for a minimum of two years and a maximum of 4 consecutive years. The need to review the membership every 2 years was noted. It was emphasised that all members were required to attend any training organised by the Welsh Government in order to be aware of their priorities.

·       It was confirmed that the Panel was accountable for its decisions and must be able to provide justification for its decisions. It was noted that decisions would be published on the website.

It was confirmed that these changes would be effective from the 2026-27 financial year onwards, citing the urgent need to amend the membership of the Panel. Members were reminded of the Panel's membership of the Panel, and it was noted that Councillors Angela Russell and John Brynmor Hughes could continue  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To inform members on the State of the Llŷn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Report.

The report was presented by the Llŷn AONB Officer.

It was noted that the intention of the report was to receive a full and clear picture of the state of the area including the landscape, nature, people, work, historic environment, language and culture. The report would form the basis for the review of the new AONB Management Plan, as the current plan had become outdated.

Members were reminded that the first report on the state of the AONB was developed in 2014, with a review of it undertaken in 2021. It was noted that the Joint Committee had submitted several comments on that report and had decided to update the document in order to receive up-to-date information. It was confirmed that Craggatack company from Cumbria had been appointed to develop a new report, following a tendering process.

It was explained that the State of the AONB Report presented at this meeting was based on information gathered in 2025, with a wide range of information covered, including: location, pollution, renewable energy, flooding, natural and cultural heritage, habitat designations, the language and culture as well as people and health issues.

It was hoped that the development of the AONB Management Plan would continue following receipt of information from the State of the AONB Report. It was explained that the process of carrying out that work would be undertaken by commissioning individuals and consultants, dependent upon the receipt of budget assurances.

During the discussion, the following observations were noted:

Concern was expressed about the need to protect traditional houses and cottages within the AONB, and it was proposed that the Joint Committee write to Cyngor Gwynedd's Planning Policy Committee to highlight the need to introduce stricter policies to protect them so that new owners were not free to demolish them for no reason. In response to the comments, the  Planning Policy Team Leader confirmed that the Planning Policy Service was currently undertaking a period of public engagement on a draft of the Planning Policy and encouraged members of the Joint Committee to submit their observations through the consultation to ensure that they received due consideration, and that they were included within the proposed policy.

Parts of the report were considered to be very comprehensive, such as the data on planning applications and information about Dark Skies. However, it was considered that there was room for improvement in dealing with the economic impact of caravan and camping sites, renewable energy, schools, language and culture and second homes. It was felt that these areas had not received due consideration within the report. Consideration was given to whether all the information necessary for the development of the report was available to the company.

Concern was expressed that incomplete information had been included by the company in compiling the report, drawing particular attention to a part of the report which confirmed that there were only 8 caravan sites and 1 campsite in Gwynedd in 2025. Similarly, the information presented about settlement numbers and sizes was also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.