To consider any
questions the appropriate notice for which have been given under Section 4.19
of the Constitution.
Minutes:
(The Cabinet Members' written responses to the questions had been
distributed to the members in advance).
(1) A
question by Councillor Sion Jones
"What
powers do community councils and councillors have to determine which tenants
get social housing in our community?"
Response - Cabinet Member for Housing,
Leisure and Culture, Councillor Craig ab Iago
"I believe that this is one of the subjects
that creates the most frustration for councillors. We are all aware of cases in
our wards where people need houses and we find that the house, or houses, have
gone to someone from outside our communities. Personally, I would like to see a
housing system being designed here, by us, which is founded on our priorities.
There are several examples across the world and in Europe where the housing
systems let houses on the grounds of things such as ethnic group, language,
local connections - none of which is racist. The United Nations and the
European Union have confirmed this. However, in order to achieve this, we need
the power and we lack that power on the say so of the governments in Cardiff
and London. We are, therefore, in this perverse situation now where Cornwall is
able to achieve far more than we can with their housing system. But, this is
the status quo and we can only do what we can."
A Supplementary
Question by Councillor Sion Jones
"Will the Cabinet Member, with me, write to the Assembly and
Westminster to try to reopen discussions in order to get a more robust and
better system within our community and the Council?"
Response - Cabinet
Member for Housing, Leisure and Culture, Councillor Craig ab Iago
"The truth of the matter is that most
people who get houses have a local connection, but what does a local connection
mean? What is the definition of local connection? This is our problem, we don't
get to define it. Although we would like to have an overhaul of the whole
system, I would say that the Labour Government in Cardiff has shown no interest
in this, neither through planning nor through housing, and if we genuinely want
a new housing system, the solution is in voting for a different party in our
Government. I will, however, do my best to make sure we are able to do all we
can and put pressure on whoever to change the system."
(2) A question by Councillor Owain Williams
"Why have some of the Council's senior officers been refusing a
notice of motion from a Councillor time and again, using lame excuses such as,
the notice had gone to the wrong department in July, and in September, stating
that it was "illegal"?"
Response from the Chair of the Council,
Councillor Annwen Hughes
"The Council's Constitution gives members the
right to submit motions on the proviso that they are about matters for which
the Council has a responsibility or which affect the well-being of the
administrative area of the Council.
The Council adopted a
formal process to ensure the propriety of notices of motions at its meeting in
December 2017. In accordance with the arrangements if the Monitoring Officer is
of the opinion that a notice is not in accordance with the Constitution or
improper for other reasons he will refer the notice together with his opinion
to the Chairman and Chief Executive to decide whether or not to include it in
the agenda.
Rejecting a notice is
highly unusual and certainly not a "time and time again" event. As
might be appreciated careful consideration is given to this step. On the other
hand decisions of the Council can have legal implications as well as the need
to observe the Constitution. This is why these arrangements are in place. The
member who presented the motion will be given a written explanation of the
decision and the reasoning.
Each notice of motion
has to be submitted within a time limit of 10 clear days before the meeting. If
a notice is received outside this limit the member will be informed and it will
be considered for the next Council meeting. As far as is understood no notice
of motion has gone astray in the manner suggested. A notice was received out of
time for the July meeting. The notice on subsequent consideration was deemed
not to meet the requirements of the Constitution and the member was informed in
August.
A supplementary question by Councillor Owain
Williams
"Where did the
notice of motion go if the Monitoring Officer claims that it did not go
missing?"
Response from the Chair of the Council,
Councillor Annwen Hughes
"We will
investigate this and get back to you."
(3) A question by Councillor Dewi Owen
"Does the
Council Leader intend to write to Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for
Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, objecting to any proposals to change
agricultural and rural policies which exist under the Common Agricultural
Policy without a comprehensive and detailed assessment of their possible
effects on jobs and the economy in the county of Gwynedd and trial them on
volunteered farms?"
Response by the Leader, Councillor Dyfrig
Siencyn
"This question is an opportunity for me to
explain to all Council members our intentions on this consultation paper, the
implications of which are far-reaching and very substantial, not only for the
farming industry, but for the entire rural economy. I have led a discussion
with the officers and intend to respond to this paper. I have held discussions with
both unions and have had further subsequent discussions with the officers in
preparing the response. We have also discussed the matter at the Gwynedd and
Anglesey Public Services Board and the response will also be provided from that
Board.
As is the way with this most ineffectual
Government that ever was, namely Welsh Government, it is clear that the
Minister has neither discussed the implications for Future Generations nor has
she discussed its implications with her fellow Minister for the Economy. It
appears to me as though this is just the way it is, Welsh Government silos are
clear for all to see. It is evidence of Welsh Government's disinterest in rural
matters and ignorance thereof, and this has manifested itself many times during
the discussions I have had over the years.
This matter will be discussed at the Welsh Local
Government Rural Forum held in the final week of October and a response will be
sent on behalf of all rural counties in Wales from that forum also. I can,
therefore, assure you that strong responses will be put forward.
No work has been carried out to model the impact
this would have on the countryside, and without considering those impacts, we
have to respond as firmly as we can. I would almost go as far as to tell the
Labour ministers that the possible repercussions from this are as bad as what
happened to the South Wales coalmines many years ago. It is that far-reaching
in my view, and if they do not take seriously that statement, they ought to be
held accountable for their indifference to rural Wales. Thus, we have a
responsibility. In addition, I feel very strongly, not because of the
diminutive sum of money I receive - being the small-scale farmer that I am -
but because of its consequences on the structure of the farming industry, and
subsequent impact on the whole fabric of rural society, including the economy,
social aspects, and the Welsh language, of course.
It is, therefore, one of the most important
papers we should consider. I am aware of the pitfalls, and if I see Lesley
Griffiths anywhere, I will tell her, with frankness, my thoughts on this paper
in its current form. What we have here, of course, is the complete transfer of
the European agricultural policy from Europe to Cardiff. We are now responsible
for Wales' agricultural policy and its rural policies. We may yet remain in
Europe if we get another referendum, but we shall not go chasing that
rainbow! Welsh Government has an
opportunity to grasp rural policies and agricultural policies and consider them
in detail and declare, "these are our plans for agriculture." We
believe that food production is important.
The environment is important but we must have producers on the land to
protect that environment. However, I'm afraid that Welsh Government is capable
of nothing, but of putting forward a proposal to which little thought has been
given. Therefore, rest assured that this
Council will issue a staunch response, and so will any other organisation to
which I belong."