Agenda item

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

 

 

(The Cabinet Members' written responses to the questions had been published in advance.)

 

(1)       Question by Councillor Eryl Jones-Williams

 

Will Cyngor Gwynedd be making strong representations to get Transport for Wales to change their minds about withdrawing four trains, two each way between Machynlleth and Pwllheli when their new Cambrian Coast Railway Line Tables are introduced in December 2024?

 

This will have a serious effect on locals travelling to and from work locally, and on long
distance rail travel for locals and visitors.

 

Did the decision makers take into account that the Cambrian Coast Railway line had been
closed for three months in the past three years for work to be undertaken on Barmouth Viaduct with no trains running and the replacement bus service being unreliable?

 

Response – Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Dafydd Meurig

 

Thank you for the question.  Obviously, I understand the concern locally regarding this, and as you can see from the response provided, the Council Leader received correspondence from James Price, Chief Executive of Transport for Wales on 10 April 2024 regarding these changes and I responded on 25 April asking for confirmation of the status and highlighting the concerns locally. To date, there has been no reply to that, but I greatly hope that there will be a change, and that these train journeys will be restructured.

 

Supplementary Question by Councillor Eryl Jones-Williams

 

Will the Cabinet Member contact the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates, MS, to point out that the 32 days that are available to respond to the public consultation on the new timetable is not enough?

 

Response – Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Dafydd Meurig

 

I am very happy to do this and to make the point, certainly.

 

(2)     Question by Councillor Llio Elenid Owen

 

What is the latest on the Canolfan Lleu project, the health and well-being hub in Penygroes? When will there be any development and information for the public?

 

Response – Cabinet Member for Adults, Councillor Dilwyn Morgan

 

I wish to thank the Councillor for the question. It is extremely important to have a local member who raises matters that are relevant to our communities – in this case, Dyffryn Nantlle and the residents of Gwynedd more widely.  As the written response notes, Grŵp Cynefin are the ones leading on this pioneering scheme, therefore I felt it was appropriate for us to contact Grŵp Cynefin. The written response includes the information that was received back from the Group, directly from the Chief Executive, Melville Evans – and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on the job and note that we are looking forward to working with him. Therefore, his comments are attached in the written response and there are many facts there, and I think it would be fair for me to read out the written response in full.

 

"Canolfan Lleu is a project that brings partners together to develop a health and well-being hub in Penygroes.  The project is led by Grŵp Cynefin, with close collaboration taking place through the Project Board with the Council, the Health Board and Theatr Bara Caws.  The aim is that the new development will offer a comprehensive mix of health services, housing services, community and cultural spaces that will help people in Dyffryn Nantlle and beyond.

 

There was a delay at the end of the year following the decision not to proceed with the purchase of the current nursery, however, in January 2024 the Project Board commissioned a feasibility review of the impact of this on the design.  Two workshops were held to explore options for making the most of the associated land, and a new Scheme was approved by the Project Board on 1 May, 2024. Work to estimate costs is ongoing, together with an initial assessment of its affordability against the grants that have been recognised to date for the project. The intention is to complete the assessment by June 2024.

 

The next steps following this will be to develop the design further and then prepare the Outline Business Case to be submitted by the end of the year.  Grŵp Cynefin will be looking to hold a series of community engagement events, such as those successfully held last summer, to provide residents and the wider community with an update on the project.

 

Subject to approval, Grŵp Cynefin hopes that construction will begin in 2026."

 

Supplementary Question by Councillor Llio Elenid Owen

 

For how longer will Cyngor Gwynedd be able to keep the money that has been reserved for this project, with so many of the Council's other services on their knees, and can you also give assurance that the money will be spent on the Lleu Project which is already running so far behind?

 

Response – Cabinet Member for Adults, Councillor Dilwyn Morgan

 

An excellent supplementary question in the current climate. Major schemes such as Canolfan Lleu, Pen-y-berth etc., are supported and prioritised at a very high level within this Council e.g., the members on the Board are the Cabinet Member for Housing, me as the Cabinet Member for Adults, and the Statutory Director of Social Services.  As you can see, we place these schemes at a high level and they are a very high priority for us.  Working in partnership with housing associations, the Health Board etc., is also a priority for us, and there is more regarding this in the Council Plan which sets out our intention.  In terms of promising, I do not have a crystal ball, therefore I cannot predict the future, but if it is some comfort, what I have said about the priorities of the Council's senior officers helps somewhat.  Also, of course, this scheme is included in our latest Assets Plan where we have earmarked £3.5m for it, and this is a 10-year Assets Plan, as such this is the only commitment I can give for the time being.

 

(3)     Question by Councillor Rhys Tudur

 

Considering that:

- this Council has long-term objectives to tackle flooding and climate change problems;

- several households, such as one within my ward, have suffered damage to their homes from flash floods and a lack of supply of sandbags;

- some individuals are too vulnerable to protect their homes with sandbags;

- the Council has a 24-hour helpline but no 24-hour sandbag provision;

- some individuals cannot afford to buy sandbags;

Will this Council review the sandbag provision for the public during emergencies?

 

Response – Cabinet Member for Highways and Municipal and Gwynedd Consultancy, Councillor Berwyn Parry Jones

 

Thank you for the question. It is a very timely question bearing in mind that we are in the process of preparing a Flood Risk Management Strategy. The consultation on the new draft has just ended very recently and any comments will be taken into consideration before the Cabinet is asked to adopt the Strategy. The written response to the question has been shared with you beforehand, but I will take the opportunity to emphasise some points.

 

There is a duty on the Department to have a policy for protecting properties from flooding that comes from the highways network.  This means a 24-hours service with gangs on duty to respond and distribute sandbags as appropriate.  If resources allow, they will also distribute them to residents suffering from flooding that hasn't stemmed from the highways.  Whilst one sympathises with everyone who has suffered because of flooding, unfortunately the particular flooding incident that the Member is referring to happened on a busy night when the gangs were all out dealing with other floods, and there was not an additional supply of sandbags available either.  Situations like these will come up more frequently as a result of climate change and it will be more important than ever for communities to work with the Council to try and protect themselves.  This is one of the objectives of the new Strategy.

 

Supplementary Question by Councillor Rhys Tudur

 

Considering that our Flooding Plan relates to all kinds of properties, whether on private roads or not, and that there are a high number of properties on private roads, does the Council intend to improve its provision of sandbags to properties located on private roads?

 

Response – Cabinet Member for Highways and Municipal and Gwynedd Consultancy, Councillor Berwyn Parry Jones

 

It would be nice to be able to do this, and there is an opportunity to review our arrangements when completing the Strategy.  I would also give a health warning because, unfortunately, we will be dependent on the budget and the resources available to the service.

 

(4)     Question by Councillor Richard Glyn Roberts

 

Bearing in mind that there is a perception among the residents of Llŷn and Eifionydd (and possibly more widely in Gwynedd) that the planning system gives free rein to allow large residential housing developments by housing associations and private developers (where the local need is not very evident in the eyes of local people) and that at the same time it throws every obstacle in the way of small developments (where the local need is crystal clear to all), and given that this perception is, by and large, a true reflection of the operation of the planning system in our area in recent years (where very few large incompatible developments have been rejected but where the burden of providing costly reports is placed on the person who wants to build a house for himself or herself, when he or she has any hope of doing so), is there a will and desire to revolutionise this dismal system?

 

Response – Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Dafydd Meurig

 

Thank you for the question.  ⁠A fairly comprehensive written response has been provided, therefore I will not read it, but only note in respect of the requirements on applicants and developers, that the requirements for the type of information and evidence needed have increased substantially over recent years, in order to meet additional requirements deriving from Welsh Government legislation and policies.  Of course, these requirements affect every applicant, large and small.  Decisions on planning applications are made on the individual merits of that application, in accordance with the Joint Local Development Plan.  Of course, the Council is currently in the process of preparing a new Local Development Plan which will be an opportunity to consider these policies, and there will be an opportunity for every member of this Council to contribute to that process.

 

Supplementary Question by Councillor Richard Glyn Roberts

 

Is such a system, that favours large developments by large developers, but impedes or is dismissive of local, organic need at a level of a single family or a few families, fair?

 

Response – Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Dafydd Meurig

 

It seems that the question you are asking is whether there is a will and a desire to overhaul the system based on perception.  Well, if there are facts and firm evidence showing that we need to change the system, and that that change is within the authority or Council's scope, then there is room to do so.  Of course, so much of the planning system is led by Welsh Government legislation, and if that is the case, and a change is required in that area, then we need to work and lobby for a change there.