Cyngor Gwynedd Council - Sympathy For The Planning Officer?

Cyngor Gwynedd council held a planning committee meeting on July, 29th, 2024.
The webcast can be found here -
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/900838

Application No C24/0011/30/AM Bodernabwy, Aberdaron, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 8BH was submitted by Aled Bryn Williams, through agent Berwyn Owen, of Berllan Properties Ltd.

Miriam Williams, the legal head for the planning committee, declared an interest and left the meeting.

Gareth Williams, the local councillor supported the application.

There had been concerns that this application was outside the local development plan and inside an area of outstanding natural beauty but was passed.

It was reported in the local press -
Local Councillors Approve Self-Build Housing Scheme in Gwynedd Village
https://north.wales/news/gwynedd/local-councillors-approve-self-build-housing-scheme-in-gwynedd-village-49507.html

Application No C24/0083/18/LL Cartref Nyrsio Penisarwaun, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 3DB was to turn a former care home that closed in 2019 into a holiday hostel.

The applicant was a local person with the idea of starting his own business and the planning department recommended the application for approval. But most of the councillors were against the proposal, claiming over development and too much traffic...

Councillor Gruffydd Williams proposed a motion that councillors reject it. It was rejected by 9 votes to 2.

This too was reported on -
https://north.wales/news/gwynedd/planners-reject-proposal-to-convert-former-gwynedd-care-home-into-holiday-hostel-49496.html
Planners Reject Proposal to Convert Former Gwynedd Care Home into Holiday Hostel -

Cllr Louise Hughes was concerned over the impact of the “clientelle that hostels attract. “They attract youngsters having a good time…coming and going,” she said.

John Pughe Roberts also noted there was a chapel in his area had been converted into a hostel.“It sleeps 10 people and there have been problems, people go there to drink and so on,” he said.

Application No C23/0556/19/LL Land At Cae Stanley, Bontnewydd, LL55 2UH was refused by the committee. The proposal was for development of 21 residential units comprising of 6 one bedroom flats, 12 two bedroom flats and 3 three bedroom houses, along with associated landscaping and new vehicular access. 6 of these units would be 'affordable'.

Daniel Russell, the agent speaking in english over video claimed that the entire scheme was to be for affordable units but the council would not support this. He also claimed that there was a shortage of one and 2 bedroom properties in Bontnewydd. He stated that in April, 2024, there were 291 people on the social housing list, 81 wishing for a one bedroom property. The video was stopped blaming sound quality so his words were then read out by an officer.

Menna Trenholme, the local councillor for the area, spoke against the application stating there was no need for this type of housing in the area and questioned where the agent got his figures from...

So what are the true figures? Many areas in Gwynedd lack one bedroom units thus preventing people downgrading and freeing up larger properties. Is Bontnewydd any different? And what of the agent's claim that all the properties were originally meant to be 'affordable'? What happened there?

Next up was Application No C24/0331/41/LL Tŷ'n Lôn, Afonwen, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 6TX. This was for nine additional caravans for the current touring caravan site and the planning department recommended acceptance. 

The applicant has not long won an appeal against the planning committee and this was mentioned often in the discussion. One councillor appeared to blame officers and even the commissioner for the council losing the appeal and asked for the cost to the council...

In this case, it was explained, there were no costs as such bar that of officers time in preparing the case. No consideration was given to the costs of the commissioner and its office dealing with the appeal, nor the applicants further time and costs.

A vote to accept the application was proposed. A registered vote was called for and the decision was 9 votes to 3 not to accept.

The meeting then became messy. A new proposal was raised by Elin Hywel to reject the application. The planning officer called upon the councillor to state the legal grounds for refusal. She mentioned over development, the cumulative effect in the area and cited a planning rule. 

The planning officer intervened and suggested a different rule more relevant to what she was saying and basically coached her through her proposal so he could make a case if needed - at appeal?

The committee then refused the application by 9 votes to 2 - suggesting one member did not vote...

The agenda pack with all planning applications can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5209/Public%20reports%20pack%2029th-Jul-2024%2013.00%20Planning%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Deprivation Of Liberty - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

The Care Scrutiny Committee at Cyngor Gwynedd council held a meeting on the 13th June, 2024.

Dewi Jones, the mayor of Caernarfon and councillor for the Peblig ward, was elected as deputy chair of the committee and began his tenure by making a political statement. He was quickly rebuked by more experienced councillors and made to withdraw his comments. 

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.
The meeting on the 11/4/24 heard from one councillor who described his experience of the social services complaints process and felt the process merely defended the service. The minutes state -
It was not believed that the Children's Services behaved defensively and that everyone was always ready to learn from the lessons and improve services.

A reminder that the Ombudsman for Wales has called out the service for its ignorance of law, policy and procedures and that the head of department has herself commented on the need to read and understand reports...

The first report of the meeting was the Council's Ability To Implement The Deprivation Of Liberty Safeguards, authored by Mannon Emyr Trappe and can be found on page 17 of the agenda pack -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5187/Public%20reports%20pack%2013th-Jun-2024%2010.30%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Gwynedd council do not have the ability...
This is a high risk to the public purse as some local authorities are having to pay compensation of between £3000-4000 for every month in which the individuals have been deprived of their liberty without authorisation. There is a waiting list in Gwynedd of 340 individuals who have been deprived of their liberty without authority and 20 individuals have been waiting over 3 years for an assessment.

On average, 67 DoLS applications are received monthly by the council. Gwynedd council state they have one best interest assessor (BIA) who works two days a week and one co-ordinator who works four days.
But there are in fact 18 trained BIA's working within the Adult's department...

The meeting was notable not just for the slapdown of councillor Jones but also concerns were raised that recruitment of much needed staff may be hindered by the requirments for the Welsh language being spoken.

Also, this was yet another meeting where the Chair ignored requests of councillors.
Following on from Elin Hywel ignoring proposals from councillors of a different committee, Beth Lawton now did the same at this meeting. Non Plaid councillors may be wondering what is the point of the care scrutiny committee?

One can only imagine what these councillors will think when they realise that the reports they were meant to be scrutinising had already been accepted and passed by members of the cabinet two days earlier. How can something be scrutinised after it has already been accepted by the policy makers...?

Usually, webcasts are uploaded to the council's website one day after the meeting. In this instance, neither the Cabinet nor the Care Scrutiny meetings are yet available for the public and other councillors to view.

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...