Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 11^th July, 2024 be signed as a true record.

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

To receive any Chair’s announcements.

To note any items which are urgent business in the opinion of the Chair so they may be considered.

To consider any questions the appropriate notice for which have been given under Section 4.18 of the Constitution.

To submit the report of the Council Leader.

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, Councillor Cai Larsen will propose as follows:-

As we now approach a year since the war in Gaza began, Cyngor Gwynedd states that:

More than 40,000 Gaza residents have been killed by Israel security forces - the vast majority civilians.

Approximately 10,000 people - mostly civilians - remain undiscovered but are almost certainly dead.

Over 90,000 have been injured - again with the majority of them civilians.

Close to 200,000 have died due to the indirect effects of Israel's army campaign.

The vast majority of the 2.2m people living there have lost their homes, or have had to move out of their homes.

That people whose families live in Gaza are among the residents of Gwynedd.

Considering this, and numerous other atrocities happening at present such as Ukraine, Yemen and Maymar, the Full Council calls, as part of the process of annually reviewing the Investment Strategy, for consideration to be given to adding a provision which addresses the principles of safeguarding human rights and respects international law.

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, Councillor Dewi Jones will propose as follows:-

1.      Cyngor Gwynedd states that we believe responsibility for the Crown Estate should be devolved to the Welsh Government. Any profits generated by the Crown Estate, here on Welsh lands and waters, should remain in Wales, for the benefit of our residents and communities. Responsibility for the Crown Estate is already devolved to the Scottish Government.

2.      This Council also states our dissatisfaction that we are obliged to pay annual fees (in the form of leases) to ensure that Gwynedd residents and visitors have access to various sites, including our beaches and other facilities. In 2023, Cyngor Gwynedd paid a total of over £161,000 to the Crown Estate. Lease fees in 2023 ranged from £35 for 'Bangor beach front', to £8,500 for 'Dwyfor beach front', to £144,000 for 'Hafan Pwllheli'. In a period of severe financial hardship for public services, we believe that it is immoral that such fees go towards the maintenance of the British Monarchy and to the coffers of the Treasury in London. This money should remain in Gwynedd to support the people of Gwynedd.

3.      We call on the Chief Executive to make arrangements to open discussions with the Crown Estate regarding the fees paid by Cyngor Gwynedd.  We will encourage the Chief Executive to endeavour to persuade the Crown Estate to delay further invoicing until such time as the Council’s financial situation has improved. We note that the Crown Estate’s profits have more than doubled from £443 million in 2022/23 to £1.1billion in 2023/24.  During the same period Cyngor Gwynedd has seen their budget cut in real terms.

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, Councillor Elwyn Edwards will propose as follows:-

Cyngor Gwynedd is calling on the Westminster Government to hand over the right to the Welsh Government in Cardiff to designate 1^st March of each year as an official national holiday in Wales recognising St David as the Patron Saint of Wales. This is done in the case of the Saints of Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Council also seeks the support of the Welsh Government for this (it has previously stated its support) as well as all County, Town and Community councils in Wales.

In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.19 of the Constitution, Councillor Meryl Roberts will propose as follows:-

Cyngor Gwynedd is fully opposed to the brazen and cruel cuts of the Westminster Government to abolish Gwynedd pensioners' fuel payments this winter. These cuts will mean that at least 85%, namely over 20,000 Gwynedd pensioners, will miss out on fuel payments. To this end, we send steadfast correspondence to Keir Starmer, as prime minister of the United Kingdom, criticising his cruel policy and asking if he can overturn it.