Wrthi'n llwytho
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Resolved: To adopt Cyngor Gwynedd's Waste and Recycling Strategy 2025–2030 as the strategic document setting out the Council's direction, vision and priorities for waste and recycling over the next five years. To approve the principle of using Extended Producer Responsibility Funding (EPR) as the main source of funding to support and enable the implementation of the Strategy's priorities, including plans to increase recycling, improve services, maintain existing infrastructure and invest in future infrastructure. To approve the strategic direction for the use of EPR funding to: · manage the service's direct financial risks by creating "just in case" financial provision, such as dealing with overspending on service delivery where there is no alternative approach, reducing the risk of penalties for failing to meet recycling targets and preparing for Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) costs. · provide a sound financial basis for the implementation of the schemes set out in the Strategy, including the steps to reach the 70% recycling target and the short-term investments needed for upgrades. · establish a Co-funding Fund to support significant development at future sites in Caernarfon and Harlech. To note that further decisions will be required on some individual operational elements of the Strategy and the use of the EPR funding, but that adopting the Strategy and approving the EPR use direction provided a policy framework and the financial foundation to move forward with the work programme. To note that the Council will need to consider all possible sources of funding when setting the revenue budget for 2027/28 and subsequent years and that the possibility of having to revisit the above decisions cannot be ruled out if an element of the EPR funding needs to be diverted in order to be able to set a balanced budget. DISCUSSION It was highlighted that this was the first Waste Strategy that the Council had developed, and added that it set a clear direction for the Council's handling of the topic of waste. Reference was made to the Welsh Government's target of recycling 70% of the County's waste, and the Cabinet Member stated that he would like to see the County recycle 100% of its waste as well as trying to reduce the amount of waste generated here. Although the Council had no control over the amount of waste generated in the County, it was stated that much more needed to be done than just recycling. The need to strengthen our circular economy, see waste as a resource and also focus on the re-use element was suggested. Some of those reasons were put forward behind attempting to introduce such a Strategy in the County, noting that the service faced a variety of challenges. Reference was made to the statutory target to recycle 70% of the County's waste, explaining that Gwynedd was not currently meeting this target. The risk of receiving a significant financial penalty was then mentioned if the Council did not meet this target, adding that there was a risk of carbon-related costs on the horizon as well. The Strategy's attempt to modernise the service was explained and its wider vision was then clarified. The six main priorities of the Strategy were identified, namely: · Communication and Engagement, · Reduce, Re-use and Repair, · Increase Recycling, · Providing a High-quality Service, · Achieving Net Zero, · Infrastructure that is Fit for the Future It was stated that EPR funding was a new funding stream based on the principle that the "polluter pays" the cost of managing the packaging waste they create. It was noted that the Council had received a significant amount of EPR funding last year and that an increase in this figure was forecast for this year. It was highlighted that there was an intention to use this funding in a balanced way, as recommended in the Report. It was said that the Strategy alone was not enough, and that resources were needed to bring about change. The support received for the Strategy in the public consultation held in 2025 was discussed. It was recognised that some concerns had been raised, relating to the need to ensure that the service was fair and accessible to all. Observations arising from the discussion: · The Strategy was welcomed and its importance was emphasised. · The high cost of the service was noticed, and it was asked what caused the service to be more expensive than services within other counties. In response, it was confirmed that the latest report from the Welsh Local Government Association indicated that the Council was going in the right direction in terms of reducing this cost. Reference was made to geographical factors affecting these costs in Gwynedd, highlighting the rural geography of the County compared to other counties. · Pride was expressed for the attention given to people with dementia, the elderly, and disabled people, as well as the help available to support them. Concerns were raised about the use of recycling sacks rather than carts, anticipating an increase in demand for back-door collections as the sacks were harder to move. · An update was provided on the recycling sack pilot that was scheduled to take place in another area. It was noted that it would not be mandatory to use a sack, it was highlighted that these sacks were cheaper than the cart, held more, and had not blown away in the previous pilot. · In response to a question about the Council's recycling performance over the 2025/26 period, it was confirmed that the Department currently had draft figures. It was reported that Natural Resources Wales had asked all Councils to reconsider their approach to wood recycling, and this had consequently had a negative impact on local authority recycling figures across Wales. · In relation to the Reduce, Re-use and Repair priority, it was explained that the Council would rely on community enterprises, etc. to assist with this work. It was added that there were plans to open a re-use shop at a recycling centre in September for local people, and that guidance would be available for community enterprises to help deliver the Strategy. When discussing a recent conference attended by the Cabinet Member for Environment, rental models for bodies such as the Council were mentioned, in an attempt to promote re-use rather than buying new.
It was highlighted that this was the last Cabinet meeting before the summer recess, and the opportunity was taken to thank all Council staff and Members for their work throughout the year. It was confirmed that much had been achieved by the Council in the last busy six months, with many exciting plans in the pipeline for the second half of the year. Attention was drawn to the Euro Under-19 Football Championship which was currently being held in Gwynedd. Pride was taken that the County had been able to welcome teams from all over Europe to play here, and the Welsh team's effort in the competition was praised. No apologies were received.
Declarations of interest were received from Councillors June Jones and Dewi Jones in relation to Item 13. Both Members left the meeting during the discussion.
There were no urgent matters.
There were no matters arising from overview and scrutiny.
The minutes of the meetings held on 9 June 2026 were accepted as a true record.
The report was submitted by Cllr Nia Jeffreys. DECISION To accept the submitted report which reported on the work of the Supporting People Programme for 2025/26. DISCUSSION It was stated that the submitted report was the first annual report on the progress of the Supporting People programme. It was explained that the aim of the programme was to assist residents of the County as they attempted to cope with the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis, offering support, information and access to a service that ensured fairness for all. Reference was made to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on residents' well-being, and therefore there was a clear need for practical assistance in this area. It was then explained that the report showed the support offered to residents, and stories from the recipients of the support about the positive impact the support had had on their lives. Council staff, its partners, local organisations and communities were thanked for their work in supporting the people of Gwynedd. It was noted that this work was an addition to the Council's day-to-day work, highlighting that the report noted the additional interventions that had been put in place by the Council to prioritise this area. The arrangements in place, in conjunction with local partners, were detailed to ensure that there are hubs within communities to enable access to information and support for residents locally. It was mentioned that well-being champions were present within these hubs to offer support to residents as well. Reference was made to the training on nurturing an empathetic way of working based on being trauma-informed, and which placed the person at the centre. The importance of this work having a positive impact on the people of Gwynedd was emphasised, highlighting the case studies of the experiences of users of the services, which were included in the report. It was confirmed that automatic registration for social tariffs would continue to be promoted, ensuring that those people who are eligible for them were aware of the support available to them. It was added that campaigns would be carried out to ensure that people have access to information and activities available across the County at certain times. It was noted that the hub network continued to develop and evolve, and it was planned to continue working with services to try to run the Trauma Informed and children's rights awareness training across the Council. Observations arising from the discussion: · Reference was made to the programme's focus of trying to put the person at the centre, mentioning that 'Dewi's Story' which was included in the Report was an example of this in practice. It was noted that an informal conversation, developed from the original request made by 'Dewi' had resulted in him being able to receive additional support. It was highlighted that the rise in artificial intelligence was affecting several services, and it was enquired about the future of telephone services for example, in going forward. In response, reference was made to the "Gafael Llaw" pilot project noting that this work highlighted the positive impact of holding informal conversations on individuals' ability to receive support beyond the requirements of their original request, to meet all their needs. In relation to the future of this type of service, the enduring importance of a conversation with a person to cohorts of the community was emphasised. Furthermore, it was highlighted that offering this service could assist with isolation as well, by providing contact with another person to individuals. · The community hubs were highlighted, mentioning their importance to the Adults, Health and Well-being Department, as they provided an opportunity to bring services closer to the residents of the County. A discussion was then held on the broader work taking place within these hubs as well, such as elements of respite care, preventative work and carer support. Gratitude was expressed for this provision. · It was suggested that those within the most rural areas of the County may not be aware of the provision and services offered by the Council. This was expanded upon, proposing that promoting the services available through Community Councils, for example, would mean that the message could be further shared and more residents could be reached. It was confirmed that the hubs were mostly located in town centres, but that a bulletin would be included in local papers stating contact details in order to be able to access the information should an individual be unable to reach one of the hubs. It was noted that a communication plan was in place, and it was agreed that cascading the information and cost-of-living bulletin for Community Councils was something to consider for the year ahead. The Cabinet Member was thanked for her recommendation. It was enquired about the ability of the Council's provision to respond to the current increasing demand for support services, and its ability to respond to anticipated future demand. In response, it was acknowledged that the programme was evolving to try to meet the challenges posed by the increase in demand, as well as the change in that demand. Looking to the future, it was explained that an investment would be made to up-skill workplaces to respond to the change in the type of people being supported, and with what they were being supported.
The report was submitted by Cllr Craig ab Iago. DECISION That Cabinet approves the modifications to the Climate and Nature Emergency Plan and adopts Cyngor Gwynedd's Climate and Nature Emergency Plan 2022/23 – 2029/30 (V.2). DISCUSSION It was explained that the Climate and Nature Plan had been adopted for four years now, and therefore it was timely to review it. It was highlighted that Cyngor Gwynedd was a leader in this area in Wales and more widely, recognising that this Council was one of the first councils to declare a climate change emergency, and subsequently established a Climate and Nature Board. There was pride in the fact that officers had been working on reducing the Council's carbon footprint for over a decade now, and the calibre of staff working in this area within the Council was praised. It was acknowledged that the next step in relation to the Plan was to work with residents, and it was mentioned that the public consultation held last year had highlighted the need to do so as well. It was explained that groups had discussed the Plan at conferences, and those discussions informed this review. Cabinet was reminded that applications for funding for the projects identified in the Plan would be submitted before it in due course. The former vice-chair of the Communities Scrutiny Committee was welcomed to the meeting to present the Committee's recommendations to the Cabinet. It was noted that the Plan had been re-scrutinised by the Committee in January this year, explaining that the Committee had scrutinised the proposed changes to the Plan, the responses to the public consultation, and the funding sources that had been identified. It was stated that the Committee had welcomed the intention to revisit the Council's target of Net Zero Carbon by 2030. The message raised at the Scrutiny Committee was detailed, namely the need to be more ambitious. It was confirmed that the Department had responded to all the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Committee, and that the majority of them had been incorporated into the Plan as well. Observations arising from the discussion: · It was emphasised that it was key for the Council to remain ambitious in this area, especially given the extreme heat affecting the country at the moment. In light of the Welsh Government's review of the national Net 0 target and associated carbon budgets, it was asked if there was any update on this. The relevant Cabinet Member revealed that the Department was currently awaiting guidance from the Government, noting that it would be prepared to work with officers within the Government to try to turn the ambitions of this Council into a reality. · In response to a question about the next steps of this Plan, it was intended to share the Plan on social media and on the web, seeking to ensure that it was as accessible as possible. The photographs used throughout the document were praised. An update on the plans to move towards a fleet of electric vehicles was requested. It was confirmed that this work was in the hands of the Council, while also acknowledging that support would be received from the Government to undertake some of this work. It was then noted that the turnover of lorries and heavy equipment took time as a result of having to wait to see what the market had to offer in terms of these heavy vehicles.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
Resolved: To adopt Cyngor Gwynedd's Waste and Recycling Strategy 2025–2030 as the strategic document setting out the Council's direction, vision and priorities for waste and recycling over the next five years. To approve the principle of using Extended Producer Responsibility Funding (EPR) as the main source of funding to support and enable the implementation of the Strategy's priorities, including plans to increase recycling, improve services, maintain existing infrastructure and invest in future infrastructure. To approve the strategic direction for the use of EPR funding to: · manage the service's direct financial risks by creating "just in case" financial provision, such as dealing with overspending on service delivery where there is no alternative approach, reducing the risk of penalties for failing to meet recycling targets and preparing for Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) costs. · provide a sound financial basis for the implementation of the schemes set out in the Strategy, including the steps to reach the 70% recycling target and the short-term investments needed for upgrades. · establish a Co-funding Fund to support significant development at future sites in Caernarfon and Harlech. To note that further decisions will be required on some individual operational elements of the Strategy and the use of the EPR funding, but that adopting the Strategy and approving the EPR use direction provided a policy framework and the financial foundation to move forward with the work programme. To note that the Council will need to consider all possible sources of funding when setting the revenue budget for 2027/28 and subsequent years and that the possibility of having to revisit the above decisions cannot be ruled out if an element of the EPR funding needs to be diverted in order to be able to set a balanced budget. DISCUSSION It was highlighted that this was the first Waste Strategy that the Council had developed, and added that it set a clear direction for the Council's handling of the topic of waste. Reference was made to the Welsh Government's target of recycling 70% of the County's waste, and the Cabinet Member stated that he would like to see the County recycle 100% of its waste as well as trying to reduce the amount of waste generated here. Although the Council had no control over the amount of waste generated in the County, it was stated that much more needed to be done than just recycling. The need to strengthen our circular economy, see waste as a resource and also focus on the re-use element was suggested. Some of those reasons were put forward behind attempting to introduce such a Strategy in the County, noting that the service faced a variety of challenges. Reference was made to the statutory target to recycle 70% of the County's waste, explaining that Gwynedd was not currently meeting this target. The risk of receiving a significant financial penalty was then mentioned if the Council did not meet this target, adding that there was a risk of carbon-related costs on the horizon as well. The Strategy's attempt to modernise the service was explained and its wider vision was then clarified. The six main priorities of the Strategy were identified, namely: · Communication and Engagement, · Reduce, Re-use and Repair, · Increase Recycling, · Providing a High-quality Service, · Achieving Net Zero, · Infrastructure that is Fit for the Future It was stated that EPR funding was a new funding stream based on the principle that the "polluter pays" the cost of managing the packaging waste they create. It was noted that the Council had received a significant amount of EPR funding last year and that an increase in this figure was forecast for this year. It was highlighted that there was an intention to use this funding in a balanced way, as recommended in the Report. It was said that the Strategy alone was not enough, and that resources were needed to bring about change. The support received for the Strategy in the public consultation held in 2025 was discussed. It was recognised that some concerns had been raised, relating to the need to ensure that the service was fair and accessible to all. Observations arising from the discussion: · The Strategy was welcomed and its importance was emphasised. · The high cost of the service was noticed, and it was asked what caused the service to be more expensive than services within other counties. In response, it was confirmed that the latest report from the Welsh Local Government Association indicated that the Council was going in the right direction in terms of reducing this cost. Reference was made to geographical factors affecting these costs in Gwynedd, highlighting the rural geography of the County compared to other counties. · Pride was expressed for the attention given to people with dementia, the elderly, and disabled people, as well as the help available to support them. Concerns were raised about the use of recycling sacks rather than carts, anticipating an increase in demand for back-door collections as the sacks were harder to move. · An update was provided on the recycling sack pilot that was scheduled to take place in another area. It was noted that it would not be mandatory to use a sack, it was highlighted that these sacks were cheaper than the cart, held more, and had not blown away in the previous pilot. · In response to a question about the Council's recycling performance over the 2025/26 period, it was confirmed that the Department currently had draft figures. It was reported that Natural Resources Wales had asked all Councils to reconsider their approach to wood recycling, and this had consequently had a negative impact on local authority recycling figures across Wales. · In relation to the Reduce, Re-use and Repair priority, it was explained that the Council would rely on community enterprises, etc. to assist with this work. It was added that there were plans to open a re-use shop at a recycling centre in September for local people, and that guidance would be available for community enterprises to help deliver the Strategy. When discussing a recent conference attended by the Cabinet Member for Environment, rental models for bodies such as the Council were mentioned, in an attempt to promote re-use rather than buying new.
The report was submitted by Cllr Craig ab Iago. DECISION Resolved: To adopt Cyngor Gwynedd's Waste and Recycling Strategy 2025–2030 as the strategic document setting out the Council's direction, vision and priorities for waste and recycling over the next five years. To approve the principle of using Extended Producer Responsibility Funding (EPR) as the main source of funding to support and enable the implementation of the Strategy's priorities, including plans to increase recycling, improve services, maintain existing infrastructure and invest in future infrastructure. To approve the strategic direction for the use of EPR funding to: · manage the service's direct financial risks by creating "just in case" financial provision, such as dealing with overspending on service delivery where there is no alternative approach, reducing the risk of penalties for failing to meet recycling targets and preparing for Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) costs. · provide a sound financial basis for the implementation of the schemes set out in the Strategy, including the steps to reach the 70% recycling target and the short-term investments needed for upgrades. · establish a Co-funding Fund to support significant development at future sites in Caernarfon and Harlech. To note that further decisions will be required on some individual operational elements of the Strategy and the use of the EPR funding, but that adopting the Strategy and approving the EPR use direction provided a policy framework and the financial foundation to move forward with the work programme. To note that the Council will need to consider all possible sources of funding when setting the revenue budget for 2027/28 and subsequent years and that the possibility of having to revisit the above decisions cannot be ruled out if an element of the EPR funding needs to be diverted in order to be able to set a balanced budget. DISCUSSION It was highlighted that this was the first Waste Strategy that the Council had developed, and added that it set a clear direction for the Council's handling of the topic of waste. Reference was made to the Welsh Government's target of recycling 70% of the County's waste, and the Cabinet Member stated that he would like to see the County recycle 100% of its waste as well as trying to reduce the amount of waste generated here. Although the Council had no control over the amount of waste generated in the County, it was stated that much more needed to be done than just recycling. The need to strengthen our circular economy, see waste as a resource and also focus on the re-use element was suggested. Some of those reasons were put forward behind attempting to introduce such a Strategy in the County, noting that the service faced a variety of challenges. Reference was made to the statutory target to recycle 70% of the County's waste, explaining that Gwynedd was not currently meeting this target. The risk of receiving a significant financial penalty was then mentioned if the Council did not meet this target, adding that there was a risk of carbon-related costs on the horizon as well. The Strategy's attempt to modernise the service was explained and its wider vision was then clarified. The six main priorities of the Strategy were identified, namely: · Communication and Engagement, · Reduce, Re-use and Repair, · Increase Recycling, · Providing a High-quality Service, · Achieving Net Zero, · Infrastructure that is Fit for the Future It was stated that EPR funding was a new funding stream based on the principle that the "polluter pays" the cost of managing the packaging waste they create. It was noted that the Council had received a significant amount of EPR funding last year and that an increase in this figure was forecast for this year. It was highlighted that there was an intention to use this funding in a balanced way, as recommended in the Report. It was said that the Strategy alone was not enough, and that resources were needed to bring about change. The support received for the Strategy in the public consultation held in 2025 was discussed. It was recognised that some concerns had been raised, relating to the need to ensure that the service was fair and accessible to all. Observations arising from the discussion: · The Strategy was welcomed and its importance was emphasised. · The high cost of the service was noticed, and it was asked what caused the service to be more expensive than services within other counties. In response, it was confirmed that the latest report from the Welsh Local Government Association indicated that the Council was going in the right direction in terms of reducing this cost. Reference was made to geographical factors affecting these costs in Gwynedd, highlighting the rural geography of the County compared to other counties. · Pride was expressed for the attention given to people with dementia, the elderly, and disabled people, as well as the help available to support them. Concerns were raised about the use of recycling sacks rather than carts, anticipating an increase in demand for back-door collections as the sacks were harder to move. · An update was provided on the recycling sack pilot that was scheduled to take place in another area. It was noted that it would not be mandatory to use a sack, it was highlighted that these sacks were cheaper than the cart, held more, and had not blown away in the previous pilot. · In response to a question about the Council's recycling performance over the 2025/26 period, it was confirmed that the Department currently had draft figures. It was reported that Natural Resources Wales had asked all Councils to reconsider their approach to wood recycling, and this had consequently had a negative impact on local authority recycling figures across Wales. · In relation to the Reduce, Re-use and Repair priority, it was explained that the Council would rely on community enterprises, etc. to assist with this work. It was added that there were plans to open a re-use shop at a recycling centre in September for local people, and that guidance would be available for community enterprises to help deliver the Strategy. When discussing a recent conference attended by the Cabinet Member for Environment, rental models for bodies such as the Council were mentioned, in an attempt to promote re-use rather than buying new.
The report was submitted by Cllr Nia Jeffreys. DECISION To accept the report which is the fourth quarterly report from the Chair of the Response Plan Programme Board. DISCUSSION It was explained that the submitted report was the fourth quarterly report by the Chair of the Response Plan Programme Board. It was stated that the report raised awareness of the developments in relation to this work, and also reported on what remains to be achieved by the Response Board. It was noted that Professor Sally Holland was unable to attend this meeting to present her report, therefore it was intended to re-submit the item at the September Cabinet meeting so that the Chair of the Board could present the report. As a result, the intention to hold a more detailed discussion on the item in September was confirmed. The courage of the victims and survivors was acknowledged, reiterating that they were at the forefront of everyone's minds when discussing this topic.
The report was submitted by Cllr Dewi Jones. DECISION To accept the Safeguarding Strategic Panel's Annual Report for the year 2025/26. DISCUSSION The importance of this Panel was highlighted, and it was recognised that the last few years had been challenging for the Council. Pride was expressed at the action taking place following the publication of the Our Bravery Brought Justice Report, to strengthen the Council's arrangements in this area. Referring to the Council's attempt to be open and transparent in its response, it was explained that this item had been submitted to the Care Scrutiny Committee, and that it was intended to submit it to the Full Council in due course as well. Concerns were raised about the increase in the number of child and adult referrals being received, and the impact of this on the services and staff of the relevant departments. It was then noted that the number of staff who had completed the VAWDASV training had increased, and that the figure of schools that had delivered safeguarding training to their staff was now 100%. Thanks were expressed to all Council staff who had undertaken this work, reminding everyone that safeguarding was a matter for all departments. Attention was drawn to the fact that data at the front of the Report was still being verified, and it was noted that some of these figures may be updated by the time the Report was submitted to the Full Council in due course. The Vice-chair of the Care Scrutiny Committee was welcomed to the meeting to present the Committee's recommendations to the Cabinet. The Committee's satisfaction with the progress in the work of the Panel was confirmed. Observations arising from the discussion: · Reference was made to the increase in the number of referrals to children's services in 2025/26, and it was questioned whether increased awareness and higher levels of training among staff was a factor when considering this increase. The increased awareness among staff was welcomed. The concern about the number of referrals was reiterated, but on the other hand the need to ensure that people referred appropriately, without delay and without hindrance was noted. · In response to a question about the training situation for Governors, reference was made to the data noted in the Report regarding the Safeguarding training sessions for Chairs and designated Safeguarding Governors. Reference was made to the crucial role of Governors in the system, and therefore that it was vital for them to be aware of all the safeguarding arrangements and the responsibility they had. It was highlighted that an additional officer was now working within the team supporting Governors within the Education department. · When discussing whether this increase in referrals was common across the country, it was explained that the County received slightly fewer referrals on average than other counties. However, it was highlighted that every county in Wales was seeing an increase in referrals and it was assumed that there were national sociological questions about what was behind this increase and how to address it. Attention was drawn to the fact that Gwynedd followed the national trend of recent years, noting that there was an increase in the number of children on the child protection register as well as the number of referrals. · An observation was made about the clear concern regarding the DoLS service for quite some time now, and it was asked how the department hoped to address this. In response, it was stated that the recent Supreme Court ruling meant that there would be a significant change in this area. While the statutory guidance regarding this decision had not yet been received, it was anticipated that hundreds of people could be removed from the DoLS waiting list as a result. It was stated that nothing would be changed until the guidance was received. As the Council had invested in the workforce, it was hoped that there would be an adequate resource to cope with the pressures of this area going forward. · Reference was made to the percentage of Council staff who had completed the VAWDASV training and it was asked how it was intended to increase this percentage. It was stated that this training was statutory and the fact that Wales was at the forefront in this regard was welcomed. This was elaborated upon noting that plans were underway to try to increase the number completing that training as well as the safeguarding training. Reference was made to the role of the Safeguarding Promotion Officer in trying to ensure the accessibility of the training to all parts of the workforce and ensuring that staff completed it. · Attention was drawn to the British Sign Language (BSL) training that had been provided to Siop Gwynedd staff. There was pride in the fact that videos of a person signing on several pages of the Council's website were now available, so that the most general information was accessible. · In response to a question about the 'Safe Zones' that had been developed in Bangor and Caernarfon, it was revealed that the Council was still working closely with the Police. It was detailed that they were trying to ensure that there were areas with adequate street lights and CCTV cameras to enable people to walk safely after dark. It was reported that the Council was seeking to undertake a joint assessment with the Police, to try to understand where the greatest risks were and identify those areas where crime had taken place in the past so that this scheme could be developed across the County. A Cabinet Member acknowledged that officers no longer looked at these cameras in real time, and there was concern that this was a step backwards due to the risk of missing an opportunity to intervene if a person was in danger. It was noted that this had been mentioned at a recent meeting of the Bangor/Ogwen Area Forum in a conversation with the North Gwynedd Region Inspector. It was stated that this had not been raised in the Safe Places Group or the Safeguarding Strategic Panel, but it was agreed to discuss it with relevant officers to see if it was something that should be considered. · Reference was made to a previous comment about Governors, reporting that a questionnaire had been circulated to Governors to express their confidence in their roles and safeguarding roles. It was hoped that the results of this questionnaire would be shared soon. · When offering more information about the Children's Services' proactive approach to ensure that the child's voice is heard when responding to concerns relating to individuals working with children and young people, it was stated that the change in the system meant that a social worker would go to speak to the child if any allegation about anyone in a position of trust was made. It was mentioned that there were a few occasions where the child themselves or a parent had refused that contact, and that could be challenging. · Reference was made to the scrutiny investigation carried out by members of the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee, about talking to children to find out their understanding of how to make a referral or allegation, and who to turn to if they had a concern. It was confirmed that a report on this had been submitted to the Scrutiny Committee, and that children seemed generally aware of the processes to follow. The continued work also underway in this area was then discussed. It was noted that a report on the scrutiny investigation was about to be published, and all those involved in the work were thanked. It was highlighted that support had also been provided to the scrutiny investigation by independent investigators. · There were concerns about the increasing number of children being home-educated, and that parents had the right to refuse any contact from the Council. It was highlighted that it was a matter that arose in the Education Department's performance challenge meetings, and it was explained that this increase was seen nationally. This was elaborated upon by noting that a system had been created for the purpose of visiting those who de-registered, and that this was monitored. The challenges involved in this area were mentioned, and a suggestion was made for the need for national discussions in light of the progress. The different cohorts within the figure of home-educated children were then highlighted; it was mentioned that some of these children had de-registered from school, and others had never attended school and therefore had received their entire education at home. It was emphasised that cohorts of the children receiving home education were well educated, but that there was concern about other cohorts of these children. It was explained that the support offered to those who were home-educating their children was optional and therefore the Council had no right to enforce that contact, unless there were safeguarding concerns. It was proposed that this was something that the Government should be looking at, and it was believed that there were some cases where the authority needed more rights. As a result of the increase in the field of Additional Learning Needs, it was believed that some children did not receive the necessary support within the education system, and that this was a factor in some parents' decision to remove their children from school. · The work undertaken to prevent violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence was recognised, and it was confirmed that more needed to be done in this area. The need for society to be doing more in this area was also emphasised, highlighting the fact that the number of people experiencing domestic violence in north Wales was one of the highest in Britain. It was noted that there was a need to look at the development of domestic violence services better across the Council and across other public organisations. The need was then noted to ensure that these matters remained at the top of the Council's agenda, and the need to offer ongoing training to staff and residents.
The report was submitted by Cllr Dewi Jones. DECISION That the Cabinet adopt the Revised Safeguarding Policy 2026 and approved the awareness actions set out in the report. DISCUSSION It was reported that this Policy was reviewed every two years to ensure that it was up to date and addressed the latest legislation and guidance. The importance of the Care Scrutiny Committee's views and recommendations as they scrutinised the item was emphasised, noting that their recommendations had been included in the document. The Vice-chair of the Care Scrutiny Committee was welcomed to the meeting to present the committee's recommendations to Cabinet. The recommendations were presented, namely to move the list of definitions to the front of the document, and to consider including a clause within the Policy relating to raising awareness of the signs that a child is being groomed or bullied on-line. It was acknowledged that considerable change had been made to the policy since the last review, emphasising that this reflected the lessons learnt in this field. It was noted that no equality impact assessment had been completed here as only policy revisions were being done at this point. This was elaborated upon stating that an assessment would need to be undertaken when it would be submitted to the Cabinet in two years. Observations arising from the discussion: · In response to a question relating to assurance about the effectiveness of this policy, it was stated that the information would be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee, the Leadership Team, and the Cabinet on a regular basis. Reference was also made to the Director's Annual Report, and that it was intended to commission an additional audit to assess staff's understanding of the Safeguarding Policy and how it should be implemented. It was hoped that the work would provide assurance of workforce awareness. It was emphasised that safeguarding was a matter for all departments across the Council, and it was recognised that safeguarding was now on the agenda of every meeting of the Corporate Management Team and departmental management teams.
The report was submitted by Cllr Huw Wyn Jones. DECISION To allocate the additional income from the premium on empty properties and second homes to the priority areas set out in Part 4 below. DISCUSSION It was reported that a total surplus of £917,770 for 2025/26 was available for allocation. It was explained that this was a combination of £3,700 of the Premium up to and including 2024-25 which had not yet been committed, and £914,070 of the 2025-26 Premium collected above the commitments. For transparency, it was highlighted that the Council was expected to announce how the additional income raised would be used to address the problems caused by long-term empty properties and second homes, or to address other local housing problems. The new proposals to be funded were listed, namely storage and transport of household property in emergency accommodation / temporary accommodation, and a Project Manager post for the Housing Action Plan. Observations arising from the discussion: · It was explained that the purpose of the premium was to try to ensure that no one is homeless in Gwynedd, and then a wider context was given regarding the new proposals noted in the report. It was mentioned that there would also be a significant one-off sum to correspond with one of the proposals, but that this would ensure long-term savings for the Council.
The report was submitted by Cllr R Medwyn Hughes. DECISION To agree to commit the £6,317,640 from the funding provided for Cyngor Gwynedd to allocate to projects in 2026/27, to the 10 schemes listed in the report. To authorise the Head of Economy and Community, in consultation with the Head of Legal Service, the Head of Finance and the Chief Executive, to confirm the details of the plans and financial contribution, decide on the provision of a letter of offer and any other documentation for agreeing the funding of the projects. DISCUSSION It was reported that the introduction of the Local Growth Fund (LGF) had been presented to Cabinet earlier this year, and it was stated that the first year of the Fund had now begun with an offer of funding from the Welsh Government to north Wales having been accepted. It was stated that 2026/27 would be considered as a transition year to the new Local Growth Fund arrangements. It was highlighted that the same governance and administration arrangements as the Shared Prosperity Fund would continue to be in place for 2026/27. It was explained that responsibility for the LGF would transfer to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee from 2027/28. It was noted that a budget of £6,317,640 was available to Cyngor Gwynedd for 2026/27, to be committed to projects. This was elaborated upon by stating that 73% of the funding was capital, and that planning was required on the basis that the money was spent before 31 March 2027. It was explained that the programmes had been selected on the basis of the themes of the Economic Strategy; Enterprise, People, and Place. The identified schemes were then highlighted, which were noted in Appendix 1. Pride was expressed in the fact that around 50 projects had been supported across the County. The Fund's priorities were noted, which were • More productive and competitive businesses, • Increasing skills and supporting people into work, • Improving regional infrastructure. It was then noted that the criteria to identify the 10 priority projects had been determined on the basis of these priorities. The key considerations for bringing together a package were listed, highlighting the need to be able to operate within the time constraints of the LGF. Observations arising from the discussion: · Pride was expressed in being able to discuss a positive matter and the Department was congratulated for finding exciting projects, which would make a difference. · Frustration was expressed in reference to the difference between what the Council now received in grants, compared to what had been received before the exit from the European Union. Attention was drawn to the challenge of the barriers that must be overcome to receive this funding, along with the many changes in the rules of these grants, and the tight timetable for spending the money. · The frustration regarding the constraints in terms of the timetable for spending the money was reiterated, explaining that many good projects were missing out on the funding as a result. It was disappointing that most of the money was capital as well. It was believed that the Department had succeeded in meeting the priorities of the Fund.
The report was submitted by Cllr Menna Trenholme. DECISION To agree to reduce the quorum of the meetings of the National Adoption Service and Foster Wales Joint Committee from 60% to 40%, provided that at least three regions are represented. DISCUSSION It was explained that 60% of Joint Committee members were required to be in attendance at present, in order to have a quorum to hold a meeting. It was stated that two meetings had been cancelled due to a lack of quorum since the establishment of the Joint Committee in 2024. It was confirmed that this change would not affect the functions or role of the Joint Committee, and that it was only a practical change to try to prevent the cancellation of meetings due to a lack of quorum. Observations arising from the discussion: · In response to a question as to why so few members were present at the meetings, it was explained that the answer was not entirely clear and that a definitive answer could not be provided. This was elaborated upon and it was proposed that holding meetings at a national level caused a barrier in trying to ensure attendance. Frustration was expressed by the Cabinet Member that these meetings were being cancelled. · It was noted that there was no certainty about the rationale behind the decision to note 40% as a new quorum, rather than 50% for example. · It was asked if there were any risks in terms of impact on decisions in reducing the quorum to less than half the membership. It was acknowledged that 40% was quite low, but attention was drawn to the condition that ensured that at least three regions out of five were represented. The meeting commenced at 1:00pm and concluded at 3:35pm.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.