Agenda item

(a)  To consider any questions from members of the public, the appropriate notice for which have been given under Section 4.17 of the Constitution.

 

Question by Mr Ieuan Wyn (address provided in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution).

 

It is completely unacceptable that Gwynedd pupils from Welsh-speaking households and non-Welsh-speaking households receive less Welsh-medium provision than Welsh school pupils in less-Welsh communities in other parts of our nation. Children and young people, parents and communities in Gwynedd deserve schools where the most comprehensive Welsh-medium provision is being offered. ⁠This is what would be educationally, culturally and socially appropriate. As a result of the fact that the Welsh Government has published an education bill and that a language shift is intensifying considerably in the county, will Cyngor Gwynedd take this golden and crucial opportunity to replace a dated education language policy and introduce an ambitious, clear and completely new education language policy for their schools?

 

(b)  To consider any questions from elected members, 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.)

 

(A)      Question by a Member of the Public

 

A question by Mr Ieuan Wyn (address provided in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution)

 

It is completely unacceptable that Gwynedd pupils from Welsh-speaking households and non-Welsh-speaking households receive less Welsh-medium provision than what pupils of Welsh schools in less Welsh communities receive in other parts of our nation. Children and young people, parents and communities in Gwynedd deserve schools with the most comprehensive Welsh-medium provision being offered.  ⁠This is what would be educationally, culturally and socially appropriate.  In light of the fact that the Welsh Government has published an education bill and that the language shift is intensifying considerably in the county, will Cyngor Gwynedd take this golden and crucial opportunity to replace a dated education language policy and introduce an ambitious, clear and completely new education language policy for their schools?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Dewi Jones

 

Thank you for your question and for your interest in this important field, a field that is important to all of us in this Chamber, I'm sure.  Also, thank you very much for your willingness to come to discuss with me a few weeks ago, when we had this exact debate.  Yes, Cyngor Gwynedd wants to take this golden and critical opportunity to introduce an ambitious, clear and completely new education language policy for our schools.  As I am sure you are aware, and as several members in the Chamber today are aware, there is significant work already taking place, led by Meirion Prys Jones to create a policy , which will be presented in draft form to the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee on 10 April.  Following this there will be opportunities to consult with the public, and I am sure there will be a part for you to play in that too.

 

Supplementary Question from Mr Ieuan Wyn

 

Thank you for your positive and encouraging reply here today, publicly that the new policy will be ambitious, clear and completely new.  As such, can you confirm that the new policy will not be merely suggestions and aspirations, but a clear and firm policy that will set clear targets for the schools to increase the Welsh-medium provision within a specified timescale and milestones, and a policy to be actively implemented in a missionary spirit, with the Education Department's guidance and support in terms of monitoring, reviewing and offering practical support to the schools?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Dewi Jones

 

I can assure you that the policy will be ambitious, and the policy will ensure that we as a county play our part in ensuring that we have one million Welsh-speakers by 2050.

 

(B)      Questions by Elected Members

 

(1)     Question by Councillor Richard Glyn Roberts

 

Given that there is a strong feeling locally that council tax policy in the field of empty houses and second homes, in some circumstances, imposes a disproportionate and unfair taxation burden on Gwynedd residents and given that the Welsh Government guidance on council tax on empty houses and second homes states:

 

It is a matter for a local authority as to whether it uses the discretionary powers in sections 12A, 12B or 13A to reduce council tax liability in respect of a premium or to reduce the standard council tax liability, or both, as appropriate. This policy should cover a range of situations where a local authority would consider using its discretionary powers, including properties that do not meet the criteria to be classified as non-domestic.  To ensure fairness and transparency, a local authority should have a clear policy on whether and how these powers are used. However, the authority should consider each case individually after weighing up the circumstances of the case.

 

Does Gwynedd have such a clear policy with a view to using discretionary powers to reduce the rate of basic council tax (e.g. in the case of self-catering holiday units, without planning permission to become permanent households, which fail to meet the 182-day letting threshold) and how the authority evaluates the circumstances of each case individually with a view on this matter and the associated matter of the premium?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Huw Wyn Jones

 

This is what the Council's position is at the moment.  We enforce the law and any statutory exceptions we have to apply according to the law.  We do not make any discretionary exceptions at this time.  The concern is that we would create a precedent which could come back to bite us, unless we have a completely clear policy.  Exceptions, of course, are difficult because every situation is different.  Creating a clear policy, that does not set a precedent, is difficult and please feel free to come back to us to discuss this, and to perhaps help us try to formulate some sort of clear policy on this issue.  The door is not closed, but at the moment trying to find a way to create an exceptions policy without setting a precedent that brings problems is difficult, therefore anyone here today is welcome to contact me to discuss this to see if we can formulate a policy that works, but it is difficult because every case is a little different.  I receive emails about this issue quite frequently. 

 

Supplementary Question from Councillor Richard Glyn Roberts

 

Let us therefore confirm that by intention rather than by default we do not have a policy at the moment and that the door is open to possibly making a policy in the future so that genuine local family farms, social enterprises, local holiday accommodation businesses that fail to meet the threshold do not get a surprise bill for £5,000 instead of £2,000?  So, the door is open for us to discuss that kind of policy?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Huw Wyn Jones

 

The list of exceptions you have given demonstrates how difficult it is to create a policy that will not come back to bite us in the future.  The door is open.  Please contact me – I am very happy to discuss with you, but it is very difficult to create a policy in this field.  Certainly, no policy will please everyone.

 

(2)       Question by Councillor Rhys Tudur

 

Given that an individual can be identified as someone in need of housing for several areas simultaneously on the Housing Associations' list or the Common Housing Register, thus adding and multiplying the 'demand for housing' figure for all those areas they have shown an interest to live in;

 

And given that the 'demand for housing' data is based on an interest in an area rather than the need of its population and is therefore misleading to the extent that it justifies all developments everywhere despite them being incompatible and despite the absence of population growth in our County;

 

What willingness does this Council have to identify data of the actual need of the population of the area where a planning application is located rather than consider all the county 'interest' that has been stated for the area?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, Councillor Paul Rowlinson

 

Thank you for raising this important point. It is important that all of us understand the exact nature of the need for social housing and what the figures tell us, particularly those who make decisions on planning issues.  I am confident that the data we publish on housing need accurately reflects the true need.  The figures on the Open Data section of the Council’s website notes the “Housing Need” in every area, defining housing need according to the number of applications for a social house.  The true housing need may be even higher than this as some don’t apply, thinking they are unlikely to get a house, but it is not possible to measure this at present.  In the data the county is split into 144 areas, approximately two areas in each ward on average therefore they are typically very small.  When someone is searching for a house, as a rule they are willing to consider several areas.  Applicants are encouraged to note on their application form all the areas where they would be willing to live in order to maximise their chance of being offered a home e.g. if someone is in search of a house in Bangor, they can apply for nine areas within the city.  Within the Llanystumdwy ward, there are five areas.   These areas are very small, some are just one village.

 

Should someone add together the figures for all areas, the total would be misleading as it would count the same applicants multiple times. Perhaps this is where the confusion has originated.  However, the published data does not do this; the published figures for the number of applicants on the waiting register, over 2,000, and the number of individuals on the waiting register, over 4,000, are correct.  There are a significant number of people and children on the list, and it is important to build more social housing to meet the need and reduce these numbers.

 

When a planning application is submitted to develop social housing, the Strategic Housing Unit provides observations, including the number of applications for a house in the area and the types of houses needed.  This method of measuring the need is a nationally recognised method and this information is used to prove whether a local need exists to justify the application.  

 

If we only counted those living in the village, this would not reflect the true need.

 

Some applicants on the waiting list live in the village itself, some in nearby areas, some may come from the area originally but now live far away and wish to move back home. Some may have had to move from the area previously due to the lack of affordable housing and are keen to return home, and we should help them do that. Perhaps others are homeless, temporarily staying at a hostel or a bed and breakfast far from the village and are keen to return home.  Others must move to another community because of a need for a particular type of accommodation, e.g. a property for older people, flats etc., which are not available in every community.  People also often move out of necessity rather than desire (e.g. moving to be closer to their family to provide or receive support, moving for employment, education or training reasons, moving to flee violence or threats of violence – and these are far more common than one would think). These reasons are recognised in law and therefore the Council must reflect them in its allocation arrangements.

 

Gwynedd's Common Housing Letting Policy prioritises individuals and families who have resided for five years or more in the Community Council area for all allocations made through the register to ensure that priority is given to individuals with a connection to the particular area but, as I have explained, attempting to define the local need for housing by restricting it to those who currently live there is misleading.

 

No one tries to confine property buyers to the villages where they already live; we should not seek to impose similar restrictions on those in need of social housing.

 

Supplementary Question from Councillor Rhys Tudur

 

Given that the data that we currently gather is the county need data, and also area data which – and I'm reading a note here on the data itself that states "The housing need data is a record of each area an individual has selected on the application".  So, in view of that, may I ask what willingness does this Council have to collect data for how many individuals have selected an area as their number one top priority, and also how many individuals, who live in an area where there is already a planning application, are in need of housing?  That data will empower us to measure where the people in need of housing are and will empower the data we have on the need locally.

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, Councillor Paul Rowlinson

 

Well, I have already explained why it would not be appropriate to state the number who live in the village, in the area.  With regard to the question about first choice, thinking about the original question, we did consider whether it would be wise to include that additional information to help the decision-makers, but it was decided that it was not appropriate.  When allocating houses, we do not take into account the order people have stated anyway. Someone who has noted the village as their second choice is considered the same as someone who has selected it as first choice, and also many people do not indicate their choice when filling out the form, but tick maybe half a dozen boxes for where they want to live.  They do not place them in order of priority and therefore, if they are in the village, they have to accept the offer.  If they refuse, they fall down the list therefore people do not submit applications for housing unless they are genuinely willing to live somewhere, for example, if someone wanted a house in Bangor, they might be willing to live in any of the 9 areas in Bangor.  People do not list places in order of priority on the forms, and it would not be possible for us to provide robust data in that regard.  There are also practical problems, and you would have to go through the system checking everyone's first choice.  There are hundreds on the list.  In my ward alone in Rachub there are 177 so there are practical problems involved in doing that, and this is not something that would give you any meaningful data I'm afraid.

 

(3)       Question by Councillor Gwynfor Owen

 

Three years ago I asked a question in the Council "What is the Council planning to do about the problem of speeding in our communities?

 

I received a reply at the time from the Cabinet holder, former Councillor Gareth Griffiths, saying that the 20mph speed limit would be coming in soon and that it would hopefully improve the situation.

 

The reality is that the situation has not improved at all. I receive complaints everywhere in my ward starting in Llandecwyn, on to Talsarnau, Glan y Wern, Ynys, Harlech, Llanfair and Llanbedr.  Would the Council be willing to examine alternative ways to prevent the speeding that is creating genuine concern to so many of my constituents?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Craig ab Iago

 

I share your concerns about the speeding.  Over the years, in my role as a Councillor, I have managed to reduce the driving speed limits on roads in my area.  I have had several conversations with many officers from the Council regarding this, and the reality from the perspective as a councillor is that there is not much the Council can do to change people's behaviour on the roads.  If you have any suggestions or ideas, I would welcome a conversation about them any time.  I think it would be worth taking the matter before a scrutiny committee at some point, and I would welcome a conversation with you about the matter.

 

Supplementary Question from Councillor Gwynfor Owen

 

Thank you for the comprehensive answer.  Although the written response is full of facts, only the last paragraph answers my question, and although I am incredibly grateful for this response, I would like to ask for further assurance that the Council officers will be willing to discuss every option with me for slowing down traffic on roads within my ward. Travelling through Wales and beyond, one sees all sorts of things being used to slow down traffic e.g. narrowing of lanes, creating crossing points, flashing signs or something to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding, and it would be nice to see some of these options being used in my ward.  As such, can you assure me that the Council officers will be willing to discuss with me all possible options for slowing down traffic within my ward?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Craig ab Iago

 

I am happy to discuss with you.  Any other members are also welcome to contact me to have a chat about speeding in their ward.

 

(4)       Question by Councillor Jina Gwyrfai

 

What consideration is given to the 'conservation area' designation when considering planning applications, particularly applications to install solar panels and heat pumps?

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Craig ab Iago

 

The question is very technical.  I have nothing to add to what is contained in the written response. ⁠Is the answer of assistance to you?

 

⁠⁠Supplementary Question from Councillor Jina Gwyrfai

 

From the answer, it is good that special consideration is given to the appearance of conservation areas whilst every planning application is addressed individually, which is fair enough.  However, the principle of then looking after conservation is at risk in my view, therefore I would like to ask how these two important principles can be reconciled to ensure that the cumulative result of permitting a large number of solar panels etc., is not the destruction of conservation areas?  There must be some kind of monitoring.

 

Response from the Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Craig ab Iago

 

I would agree with you, but again the question is a technical question.  I am happy to have a chat with you and the officers to find a solution that truly answers your question.