Cyngor Gwynedd Council - Us And Them...?

Once again, cyngor Gwynedd council's planning committee has voted against the very policies they helped create. An application to build 18 affordable houses on land near Cae Capel, Botwnnog, Pwllheli, LL53 8RE was rejected by councillors.

The application, which was supported by planning officer's with conditions can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/s41658/Land%20At%20Cae%20Capel%20Botwnnog%20Pwllheli%20LL53%208RE.pdf

Opposition to the homes for social rent was led by the local member Cllr Gareth Williams.

The webcast of the planning meeting can be found here -
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/907555

Councillor Gruff Williams also opposed the scheme and proposed the motion to reject saying most of the need for housing is around the Caernarfon area. In his summing up he said -
'Social media and people try and claim we are racist when we are trying to protect the language...' 

The meeting heard claims that Gwynedd council were gatekeepers of the Welsh language and that they were there to protect the language and not follow policy. Adra's track record was attacked and it was mentioned that non Welsh speaking families had been allocated houses in Nefyn and that it harms the social fabric in these estates. Williams also mentioned small children in Nefyn speaking english...

After the vote, Gareth Jones, the long suffering planning officer called for a 'cooling off' period, which means the decision is not yet finalised as there are risks to the council.

Councillors of the planning committee have a long history of going against their own department's recommendations. In February, 2023, Gwynedd council's monitoring officer, Iwan G D Evans, pleaded for consistency with regard to decision making after councillors rejected one application for a touring caravan site in Afonwen, Pwllheli. Councillor Gruff Williams led the opposition to this application. (This decision was later overturned on appeal).

In October, 2023, the committee passed one application contrary to the department's recommendations. The application was from Gruff Williams father - a former councillor -  in relation to his own caravan site in an area of outstanding beauty. The decision caused an outburst from councillor Elwyn Edwards, who angrily asked the committee 'where are your principles'? 

The October meeting was also notable for the monitoring officer resigning his position as solicitor for the planning committee...

Nine days after this meeting, the Daily Post reported -
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

Then there was the case of the family in Nefyn, whom one councillor claimed were 'under siege by their neighbours. This application was for the construction of an affordable dwelling on farm land near Uwch y Don, Bwlch Gwynt, Pistyll, Pwllheli, LL53 6LP, owned by the applicant's father.
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/s33598/21-3-22%20Committee%20Report.pdf

Some councillors appeared to know the applicant well and spoke of the family’s troubles. Mention was made that the family already own an ex council home in Nefyn but that the family have been experiencing abuse from some in their community which is now affecting their children.

The applicant is an Information Technology Programmer/Analyst and one wonders if he is employed by Gwynedd council in some capacity? Planning officers had recommended refusal - for many reasons - but councillors voted to support the applicant and permission was granted, despite fears of intervention by the Welsh Government.

There are other cases where councillors have acted contrary to their own policies...

To an onlooker, there is a perception that the rules do not apply for some applicants and this has led some people to ask themselves if there is a two tier planning system in Gwynedd?

In other news, the Llŷn A.O.N.B Joint Advisory Committee held a meeting. Projects on the peninsula such as litter picking and repairs to dry stone walls by volunteers were discussed and praised for their success. The agenda pack can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5302/Public%20reports%20pack%2010th-Sep-2024%2016.00%20Lln%20A.O.N.B%20Joint%20Advisory%20Committee.pdf?T=10

But councillors of this committee appear focused more on the Welsh language than anything else and many were unhappy with the council - and other organisations - for being bilingual. Members discussed using their positions to put pressure on the council to push the Welsh language even more.

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Rebuilding Communities - A Future For Gwynedd By Looking To The Past ?

A recent article, by Branwen Jones, a community reporter, has the headline - 
'Ban the sale of second homes or Welsh speaking communities face being wiped out, councillor claims' amid calls for a two tier market to be introduced in Gwynedd.

With nearly 40% of house sales bought as second homes last year, the paper returns us to 1973 and an article written by Ann Clwyd, the ex Labour MP, though makes no mention of Meibion Glyndŵr, a group of activists who, during the 1980's and early 90's set fire to over 200 English owned homes in the area and also letter bombed the estate agents they considered profitering from the house sales. 

Police reported finding a bomb in the garden of a local actor - (neighbours spoke of seeing a stranger in the garden the previous day) - and he was arrested and taken for questioning to Dolgellau. Rumours of MI5 involvement in the case were denied. Whilst the actor was finally released, one man was eventually jailed.

Many in the area were supportive of Meibion Glyndŵr, who saw the Welsh language being diluted and youngsters forced out of the area to seek housing and employment, ironically, in England. This was the time for local politicians and the council to act - they did not and the opportunity of buying cheap housing to improve and rent to locals was lost. It would be interesting to see the property portfolio's of those whose job it was to serve the local communities, back then and today.

Gwynedd Cabinet Member for Housing, Craig ab lago has said - "It doesn't matter how many homes we can build or how many empty ones we bring back into active use, until we sort out the root issue what we're doing is putting a sticking plaster over a gaping wound." 

The Councillor is right. 'Build more homes' has been the loud shout reverberating throughout Wales - mostly by those who can not think further than their own profitable links with property developers and the building industry. There is no need.

The idea of heavily taxing the property of wealthy incomers more, while attractive to many is also a non starter. Jersey is not a good example of how it could be done though not without some merit it will simply alienate and divide people even more.We must also remember that many locals have bought second homes as an investment and those who use such property as a business.

Cyngor Gwynedd recently revealed there are 1000 people on the housing list; coincidentally there are 1000 empty properties in the area. Let the council employ a small in-house team of builders, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters, let them take on local youth as apprentices, renovate the empty homes and rent them to the apprentices who have been working on them. Then move on to the next house, creating job security and affordable rental housing as it goes. 

I do believe, Councillor, Craig ab lago, has been working on such a program but progress will be too slow without the council and its senior officers fully supporting him.

The scheme would eventually pay for itself by the rental income and council tax raised on the properties that are currently rotting and worthless. When the apprentices become the masters, let them teach the new influx of apprentices. They will eventually move on, hopefully start their own businesses and create opportunities for other local peiople.

Insulate these properties properly - with the climate crisis in mind carbon neutral would be the goal or as near as damn it. Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru shadow rural affairs minister has been vocal with regard to Welsh wool being used as insulation in homes to support the regions sheep farmers who have been on their knees for years. Excellent. Use the wood from the regions sustained forests and Welsh slate for the roofs, too. This would not only support these businesses but massively reduce the carbon footprint importing these products from abroad.

These homes would not be available to buy and their tenancies would be linked to their employment with the council. Creating jobs and security for the local youth in the area. Once the program has started then renovate the houses for those in need on the housing list.

So where will the money come from initially ? 
UK governments have always provided money for apprentice schemes so use those grants now while still available. Other grants will also be available Across the North Wales council's is a £2 Billion pension pot - much of which is invested abroad. Why not invest that money in schemes supporting the region(s) ?

Ask for those in the community with expertise and knowledge to come forward to pass on their skills to the youth and the unemployed; stonemasons, engineers, metal workers, fishermen, computer coders et al. The area is awash with retirees and others who would be more than happy to volunteer their time and knowledge as the recent covid19 crisis has shown.

Reopen the youth clubs and community centres so these skills can be taught in the local communities by the local community.These schemes run locally will not cost much and if small amounts of monies are needed then dip into the council reserves. Schemes such as these will also deal with the issue of gangs of bored, youth roaming the town centres and estates. Dispersal notices are not the answer as the reported attacks on police in Bangor have shown. These centres could also be used as a focal point for all ages within the community - a meeting place for music, sport and drama - as they used to be.

The effects of the Covid19 pandemic, on health and the economy, will be with us for decades. Gwynedd, its people and the Welsh language could thrive with the right leadership. The last forty years has shown where mistakes were made - those lessons must be learnt otherwise they will only be repeated.