Cyngor Gwynedd council held a Planning Committee meeting on the 2nd October, 2023.
It began with an announcement from the chair, Edgar Wyn Owen, that the monitoring officer, Iwan G D Evans, has resigned his position as solicitor for the planning committee. Miriam Evans is now responsible for any legal matters arising...
Councillors voted to approve one application contrary to the recommendation of the officers. The application by a former councillor was allowed. His son who sits on the committee had to leave the meeting during discussion and was not allowed to vote.
"Where are your principles", asked councillor Elwyn Edwards. The chair quickly moved the meeting on... The webcast can be found here - press english for the translated video - https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/812297
The committee has a history of voting contrary to its own planning policies...
Nine days later on the 11th October, Andrew Forgrave, wrote in the Daily Post - Cyngor Gwynedd Council was adjudged to have 'behaved unreasonably' over the issue The decision, by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), overturned previous rulings made Cyngor Gwynedd Council’s planning committee which went against officers’ recommendations. Welsh Government inspector Janine Townsley considered the local authority to have “behaved unreasonably”. https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/century-old-footpath-row-ends-27881162?int_source=nba
Perhaps the Cabinet Member could give an explanation? With a breakdown of the costs incurred by the appeal... How many more appeals against planning decisions are there?
Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...
Gwynedd's Care Scrutiny Committee met on the 21st September, 2024. The
Housing Allocation Policy And Housing Waiting List was discussed. It was reported that empty homes are not being refurbished as quickly as was hoped. For the translated feed press the english tab - https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/808714
One councillor asked about the social housing that would be built through the council tax premium. No social housing is to be built - the premium is for 'affordable' housing. Does affordable housing attract more grants? Can they then be rented out for higher/market rates?
Problems with the online application form was mentioned and issues with the data was raised. The cabinet member for housing, Craig ab Iago, challenged the officers with regard to outsiders being given a house and said he knew of an example where this happened. He asked for anyone with examples to contact the department and to also inform him. With regard to homelessness, the cabinet member mentioned a sticking plaster on cancer and what was needed was solutions...
Councillors wanted knowledge of who was moving in to their area and if there was a local connection. One councillor mentioned that refugees have been given a house while six local families are left waiting in one village and said that animosity will increase...
Councillors asked for the senior officers of the housing associations to attend a meeting. The report was accepted while asking for an update - in a years time.
On supported housing - one councillor expressed his disappointmrnt at the housing officers who had already left the meeting. A lack of accountability for these homes was also raised with the fear of abuse for those vulnerable residents. The Head of Adults SS, Aled Davies, said the quality assurance team responsible for services 'is not as strong as it should be'. In light of the recent embargo on care homes in Gwynedd could this be considered a high risk?
The Autism plan was discussed... A task and finish group is to be established. Concerns were raised with the wording of the report and what was highlighted. Vera Jones, the lead officer who was to present the report was absent but her colleague said it was a mistake and the whole plan should have been included in the brief.
The draft brief focuses on learning disabilities and there was a call for those in the autism field to be included in the autism plan. Councillor Gwynfor Owen who has a son receiving support said he was not allowed to be a member of the task and finish group after discussion with the monitoring officer.
The former chair of the care scrutiny committee stated that his wife received domiciliary services but this was not considered prejudicial by the monitoring officer - he simply declared an interest where money was discussed and left the meeting. Others did not think it an issue either. It was thought the councillor's knowledge of autism would be invaluable...
One officer suggested the autism plan may be too large for the task and finish group... It was agreed to consider the whole plan and not simply the two points highlighted in the report by the democratic services manager. The webcast then ended so the committee could have an informal meeting behind closed doors...
It must be remembered that the autism plan is separate from learning difficulties and the council has already received 'ringfenced' monies from government to create such services - since 2008 and the introduction of the autism SAP.
In other news, a member of a separate committee sits on a task and finish group that has been set up to investigate the county's smallholdings and rents in particular. This member has a smallhoding rented from the council...
