To consider any questions the appropriate notice for which
have been given under Section
4.19 of the Constitution.
Minutes:
The
Chairman noted that he would encourage members, should they wish to receive
information only, to consult the departments directly. .
(1) Question from Councillor Eryl Jones-Williams
(The member
explained that the One Voice Wales committee had asked him to ask the question
because they had been unable to obtain information from the Council).
"Does the Highway Authority realise what effect its new policy has
in asking community and town councils to take over and / or pay for filling the
salt bins in their wards?"
Response from Councillor John Wynn Jones, Cabinet
Member for the Environment
(The Cabinet Member's
written response was distributed to the members in advance).
"As the councillor has explained why he is asking the question, I
would suggest that he could have contacted the department and he would have
received the same explanation that is in the written response. This is part of
the efficiency savings agreed in December 2014 and that is something for us to
consider."
A supplementary question from Councillor Eryl
Jones-Williams
"Will you
reconsider this and have a proper discussion with the councils?"
Response from Councillor John Wynn Jones, Cabinet
Member for the Environment
"We as a
Department have sent a letter to every community, town and parish council, and
have asked them to consider this and get back to us. That is something that
they can always do and is always open to them and I'm pleased to say that many
community councils have taken advantage of this and have come back to us and
discussion has taken place. Therefore, we encourage every member here who is a
member of a community council to do the same, so that they go back to the
Highways Department and voice their opinion. Some have done that already and
have discussed it intensively. This means that we are going to save £100,000 a
year, which is not an insubstantial sum and I would suggest that is the way
forward."
(2) Question from Councillor Sion Jones
"What
is the current situation with regard to keeping the Aber Bridge, Caernarfon
open?"
Response from Councillor John Wynn Jones, Cabinet
Member for the Environment
(The Cabinet Member's
written response was distributed to the members in advance).
A supplementary question by Councillor Sion Jones
"Can you confirm,
if this bridge is transferred to the Harbour Trust, that the conditions would
remain the same, that the staff would be safe in their work and that the Trust
would not charge a toll on the bridge?"
Response from Councillor John Wynn Jones, Cabinet
Member for the Environment
"Unfortunately,
discussions are ongoing, and at present I can't offer the member any guarantees
at all. All I can say is that this is one of up to fifty things that are under
consideration with the Gwynedd Challenge. I'm very happy that he is showing
such an interest in the Gwynedd Challenge and this matter and I hope that he
will show the same interest in almost fifty other things that we are trying to
come to a sensible decision on. But he must realise that I cannot discuss the
discussions that are currently ongoing in an open Council like this."
(3) A question by Councillor Aeron Jones
(The member
explained that he had brought the question before the Council rather than go
through the relevant department because so many promises had been made to
individuals in Rhostryfan by the relevant department but none had been
realised.)
"What
flood prevention work has the County Council carried out in Rhostryfan?"
(He also asked the
Cabinet Member to give a verbal response as the members of the public who were
present at the meeting had not seen the written response.)
Response from Councillor John Wynn Jones, Cabinet
Member for the Environment
(The Cabinet Member's
written response was distributed to the members in advance).
"This is a
very local matter, if I may suggest. The written response concerns two sites
and I'm happy to share the response with any members of the public, if they
wish. I do not believe that it is of benefit for 75 of us to be discussing such
a local matter and I suggest that this is work that is ongoing and is
progressing. I was discussing the situation yesterday with the Gwynedd
Consultancy Department, which is undertaking the work. I have also had a
meeting this afternoon with friends in the gallery and I have discussed the
situation with them at length. I am worried about what is happening there, but
we are working hard to try and find a solution to the situation, and I am
hoping that will happen as soon as possible under the current
circumstances."
A supplementary question by Councillor Aeron Jones
"Can I have a
firm promise from the Cabinet Member for the Environment that these two
locations are going to be resolved as soon as possible and get a specific date
too, and also is he willing to come with me to see these sites to see the
problems for himself?"
Response from Councillor John Wynn Jones, Cabinet
Member for the Environment
"I am
perfectly happy to go out with colleagues at any time to see what is possible,
but I am a layman. It is much better for
you to discuss with the Department and with the Gwynedd Consultancy Department
to see what exactly the work that has been proposed and scheduled for this issue
is, and I am aware, since yesterday, I agree, but my predecessor was entirely
aware of this and had been visiting the sites before then, and therefore I
guarantee that as much effort as possible will be made to solve this problem in
the near future."
The Chairman noted
that the Cabinet Member was very keen to get any evidence from the member about
any empty promises that had been made.